Cool Hunting

Kicking off this year's New York International Auto Show last week, we attended the U.S unveiling of the new Ferrarri 599XX and Maserati GranTurismo S Automatic at Ferrari's Park Ave showroom.

Both were originally exhibited at the Geneva Auto Show a few weeks prior and are the focus of much desire. While the GranTurismo is the more practical choice, the Ferrari, a professional level race car for the (wealthy) amateur driver, offers more of a fantasy-come-true.

Since it's not street-legal, the 599XX is unrestricted by any sport rules or regulations making it unmatched in the auto world. To accomodate, Ferrari is organizing a program of dedicated track events for owners in 2010/2011, where the very best of Ferrari technology (some of it derived directly from their perennial championship F1 cars) will be put to the test. The extreme car may be viewed too intense by some with its new gear box shift strategy and carbon-fiber makeup, but the 599XX sets itself apart by retaining the ergonomics and some of the comfort of a road-going model.

The Maserati also received enhancements, now boasting a 20" Trident design wheel, a range of new generation passenger air-bags with Low Risk Deployment functionality and an enriched equipment package for the multi-media system that includes Bluetooth Wireless Technology and an iPod interface.