Ferrari to launch open-top 599

Ferrari is set to launch an open-top 599 in August at the Pebble Beach concourse in California. Described by Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo as a ‘roadster’, the new car will be sold in limited numbers in the same vein as the company’s previous open-top V12, the 575 Superamerica launched in 2005 with a folding-metal roof and a 25bhp power hike over the standard model to counteract its extra weight.

It’s not yet known whether the open 599 will have a similar roof or more grunt, but di Montezemolo told Autocar that it’s unlikely to have the Superamerica moniker. "It will have an emotional, romantic name such as Italia or Fiorano," he admitted.

He also confirmed that the new car would not be shown at a traditional motorshow. Instead prospective customers will get a private viewing of the car at Ferrari’s HQ in Maranello.

The company is also known to be putting the finishing touches to a Spider version of the new 458 Italia which is expected next year. However anyone expecting a hardcore Scuderia version of the 458 is going to have to wait a while longer, according to Ferrari’s boss.

"We have no intention to do Scuderia version of the 458 yet. It would be difficult to do it better," said di Montezemolo.

Further into the future he also admitted that a replacement for the four-seat 612 Scaglietti is being planned. "We’ve always had clients for such a car and we want to maintain a 2+2 V12. So we are thinking of something for the future," he said.