auto sport tuning: Ferrari

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Novitec Rosso in Giallo - 458 Italia Spider

The NOVITEC ROSSO designer suit for the Ferrari 458 Spider
Carbon aero kit, superlight forged wheels, 609 hp and 325 km/h

Haute Couture at the highest performance level: NOVITEC ROSSO not only tailors a thrilling designer suit made from lightweight clear-coated carbon fiber for the Ferrari 458 Spider. Superlight forged wheels in a unique staggered 21- and 22-inch combination together with a sophisticated suspension system featuring hydraulic ride-height adjustment make the drop-top sports car even more dynamic. In addition, there is a power increase to 609 hp / 448 kW and an equally lightweight high-performance exhaust system with sound management by means of a butterfly valve. Further custom details such as black lamps or interiors custom-tailored to the owner's individual preferences substantiate NOVITEC ROSSO's leading global position in tuning and refining the sports cars from Maranello.

Carbon fiber is not only the top choice in Formula 1 racing, but also for the NOVITEC ROSSO aerodynamic-enhancement components for the Ferrari 458 Spider. The designers concentrated not merely on striking looks, but first and foremost on aerodynamic efficiency, which was fine-tuned in the wind tunnel of the University of Stuttgart.

The standard front fascia is upgraded with a two-piece front spoiler and side flaps for further reduced lift at high speeds. To round out the carbon-fiber look the wings in the air scoops and the ventilation grilles in the front fenders are also manufactured from this material. Tasteful carbon-fiber covers on the exterior mirrors complete the ensemble.

NOVITEC ROSSO carbon-fiber sill skirts can give the two-seater an even more sporty side appearance.

Also made from this high-tech material are the NOVITEC ROSSO diffuser and the bezel surrounding the rear fog lamp. To generate even more downforce on the rear axle the Spider can be upgraded either with a tasteful rear spoiler lip or a rear wing - both made from carbon fiber as well.

Further NOVITEC ROSSO styling features are black taillights, which are also emphasized visually with carbon-fiber bezels, black side markers and the black auxiliary LED brake light.

The new NOVITEC ROSSO NF4 forged wheels perfectly combine visual assets with increased driving dynamics thanks to reduced unsprung weight. To give the Ferrari even more of a wedge-shaped appearance a staggered tire/wheel combination with diameters of 21 and 22 inches was developed.

Despite their king-sized dimensions - 9Jx21 in front and 12Jx22 on the rear axle - these wheels with five delicate double spokes weigh just 9.9 and 13.5 kilograms. This makes the NOVITEC ROSSO wheels some of the lightest of their type in these sizes. Technology partner Pirelli supplies PZero high-performance tires in sizes 255/30 ZR 21 and 335/25 ZR 22. The popular three-piece NOVITEC ROSSO NF3 wheels with diameters of 20, 21 and 22 inches will continue to be available as an option.

Another NOVITEC ROSSO high-tech development is the hydraulic suspension system for the 458 Spider. At the push of a button in the cockpit the front of the car can be raised by 40 millimeters to navigate safely past curbs or to enter an underground parking garage. At a second push of the button or automatically upon reaching a speed of 80 km/h the front reverts to its original position. In addition, NOVITEC ROSSO sport springs lower the ride height of the Spider by some 35 millimeters. It goes without saying that the standard damper adjustment of the 458 Spider is retained fully.

NOVITEC ROSSO sport sway bars are available to further minimize body roll in fast corners and to improve turn-in.

This makes the 458 Spider perfectly suited for an extra helping of power. The most powerful version to date is the NOVITEC ROSSO Performance Level 1. In this case the 4.5-liter V8 is fitted with a special carbon-fiber air box with modified air routing and a NOVITEC ROSSO high-performance exhaust system. The exhaust system, manufactured from INCONEL, a highly stress-proof yet extremely lightweight material also used on exhausts for Formula 1 engines, consists of two high-performance manifolds, sport catalysts and a rear muffler. The latter is optionally available with a butterfly valve for changing the exhaust note with the Manettino on the steering wheel. The sport exhaust plays not only a crucial role in the increase in power by 39 hp / 28.7 kW, it also weighs 21 kilograms less than the production exhaust.

In order to perfectly coordinate the interaction of all high-performance components the engine conversion also comprises newly programmed engine electronics with custom mapping for ignition and injection.

After the conversion the engine produces a peak power of 609 hp / 448 kW at 9,100 rpm and a peak torque of 569 Nm at 5,400 rpm. Even more important for day-to-day driving situations are the even more aggressive throttle response and the moderately higher redline speed for further improved shift points. The Ferrari 458 Spider with NOVITEC ROSSO engine tuning reaches a top speed in excess of 325 km/h.

NOVITEC ROSSO goes beyond simply offering more power. The engine design itself is of an extremely sporty character with clear-coated carbon-fiber covers that turn the engine compartment into a feast for the eyes as well.

NOVITEC ROSSO also adds some outright racing highlights in the interior with tasteful carbon-fiber touches such as the center console that has been extended downward, the bezels above the speedometer and the climate sensor as well as with shift paddles that are longer than their production counterparts. Naturally there are also exclusive NOVITEC ROSSO all-leather interiors in any color imaginable.

Yellow Classics: Ferrari Dino 246 GTS

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Ferrari Enzo Replacement Will Pack 920 HP, Debut In Early 2013

Since the Enzo’s departure in 2004, Ferrari has had an empty spot at the top of its lineup.
As of this fall, that will no longer be the case – Ferrari is just finishing preparation of a new supercar to fill in as a brand-leading halo car. What you see in these illustrations is our artist’s interpretation of what the next-generation Ferrari halo car might look like.

The new car – which will likely be called F70, in keeping with the previous F40 and F50 models – will maintain the old Ferrari flagship’s striking design (as seen in these renderings by Scott Olsen), rear-wheel drive, and mid-mounted engine, but little else. It had been rumored that the Enzo’s replacement would eschew the traditional V-12 powerplant in favor of a direct-injected, twin-turbo V-8, but that won’t be the case: the F70 will likely use the same 6.3-liter V-12 as the F12 and FF gran turismos, but in a much more powerful guise. In F70 tune, that twelve-cylinder should produce about 800 hp, and it will also be paired with KERS (kinetic energy recovery system) driveline that includes a 120-hp electric motor. That motor allows zero-emission travel under light load, but can also assist the V-12, bringing the car’s net power output to 920 hp. Don’t assume a twin-turbocharged V-8 is entirely down for the count just yet – it’s quite likely that the F70 will serve as the swan song for the engine, which will in all probability eventually be superseded by a twin-turbo V-8.

Since the weight target of the carbon-fiber supercar was clearly inspired by the Millechili (1000 kilogram, 2200 pound) concept, the F70 should come close to the track-only FXX, which weighed just 2550 pounds. Despite the carbon fiber body, Ferrari is planning to use copious amounts of aluminum – including an aluminum chassis – to keep construction complexity down. Ferrari wants the F70 to be quicker off the line and faster overall than the 1001-hp Bugatti Veyron. Don’t be surprised to see weight savings help the F70 best the 0-62 mph time of 2.46 seconds held by the Veyron.

Rumor has it the Ferrari F70 will make its debut this fall to select Ferrari customers before it’s formally unveiled in the spring of 2013, most likely at next year’s Geneva motor show., and then to the public in the spring, most likely at the Geneva show. With the previous Enzo costing around $700,000, it wouldn’t be surprising if Ferrari stuck a seven-figure price tag on the new car.

motortrend