RE: Novitec turns its hand to the 296 GTB

RE: Novitec turns its hand to the 296 GTB

Monday 20th March 2023

Novitec turns its hand to the 296 GTB

Ferrari's finest doesn't need any more power, but when did that ever stop Novitec?


As cars become ever more complex, so the task presented to the aftermarket becomes more challenging. Where once an ECU was the most difficult nut to crack, they’re now having to deal with multiple control units, hybrid assistance and the simple fact that many people don’t actually own their cars. It’s braver folk than us that start meddling with leased cars…

Anyway, the level of tech in a new supercar might explain why Novitec’s upgrades for Ferrari’s sublime 296 GTB are - for the moment, at least - pretty minor. There’s no meddling with the MGU-K hybrid element or even tweaking the superb new twin-turbo V6; those with experience of the car might suggest there’s no need to change anything, even if you could. Instead the focus is on cosmetic upgrades and a new high performance exhaust. Sometimes there’s no beating the old ways.

Better breathing on a car as heavily turbocharged as the 296 GTB was always going to yield results but, even so, another 38hp is a sizeable gain from a set of pipes. So, yes, this is an 868hp series production Ferrari berlinetta, with more in the works. How much do people want from a rear-wheel drive Ferrari?!

Perhaps that’s a debate for another day. Certainly, we can all be in agreement that Novitec’s work has been a success - the 296 sounds superb. Not that the ‘piccolo V12’ 2.9 didn’t before, but now it’s really got the timbre of a larger engine with more cylinders.

Furthermore, while grey with black wheels is never going to show a car off to its best, it’s easy to see why some 296 customers might be tempted by Novitec’s wheels, springs and spacers. It’s not for the purists, and there will be hex placed on you by Ferrari’s Classiche department, but a car as deftly designed as the GTB was always going to benefit from being a bit lower and drawing attention to those gorgeous rear haunches. The reality only proves the point.

Everything currently available, from exhaust to wheels, can be finished in pretty much any colour the customer desires, and all the new bits are available to order now. Heaven knows where this thing will end up if Novitec starts changing turbos and the like. Those happy with just the V12 tribute act and twice the power of a V8 M3 might want to head to the classifieds for a 296 to get started with - this one even matches the Grigio Scuro and Giallo Asseto Fiorano spec…


Author
Discussion

pycraft

Original Poster:

764 posts

183 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
OK, I admit it, I like the yellow arse. It's like a photonegative version of those old black-painted Kamm tails of my youth.

Water Fairy

5,475 posts

154 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
Ditch the yellow for a start (keep brake callipers).

I don't think I would be left wanting foe anything if I had a 'standard' 296 GTB tbh.

J4CKO

41,281 posts

199 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
over 800 bhp to start with, 39 from a new exhaust it quite impressive, wonder how many owners think "Hmm, this isnt fast enough, definitely needs a remap" ?

Its all got a bit silly really, getting on for the power of 2 F40's in what is the "cooking" Ferrari, as cooking as Ferraris ever get but its part of the 324, 348, 355, 360 etc lineage isnt it ?

It does 100 in 5.1 seconds which is between the 0-60 figure for the 348(5.3) and 355(4.7)

Not a bad looker, maybe with less yellow stuff.



Seano1878

82 posts

27 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
I absolutely love the yellow, looks similar to one I saw in the showroom in Budapest last month.

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
pycraft said:
OK, I admit it, I like the yellow arse. It's like a photonegative version of those old black-painted Kamm tails of my youth.
Same

Darnoc95

432 posts

29 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
Unless your an F1 driver is any one else who drives it gonna say . " Yes you can really feel the extra 38BHP at work"
Bloody pointless for a road car imo!

Wab1974uk

981 posts

26 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
I hate the Yellow bits. Looks naff.

TheMilkyBarKid

532 posts

28 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
I was followed by a standard 296 through a 40mph contraflow on the A34 a couple of months back, and as the road opened up back into a 70mph dual carriageway he unsurprisingly booted it for a few seconds. Whilst the acceleration was like nothing I've ever seen in a road car what surprised me just as much was that it didn't seem to make a stirring noise whilst doing it.

Maybe the Novitec 'zorst will make more of a difference aurally than a noticeable difference to the performance on the road. Oddly enough the 296 just leaves me slightly cold, crazy fast though it is. I must be getting old because I'd much rather have the lovely 328 from a few days ago.

Robertb

1,354 posts

237 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
Are there any tuners who make cars actually look better than the original?

Every week there seems to be another disfigured offering from Novitec, Manhard, Techart or somesuch

dunnoreally

950 posts

107 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
As has been said already, unlikely to make a jot of difference to how it actually drives, but I can still see why you would. What's more impressive than a new Ferrari? A tuned up new Ferrari, right? You'd do it just to say you did.

Gecko1978

9,603 posts

156 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
Robertb said:
Are there any tuners who make cars actually look better than the original?

Every week there seems to be another disfigured offering from Novitec, Manhard, Techart or somesuch
look better is hard to say but RUF made some nice things as have Alpina, oh an Singer have done some nice things with old 911s

wpa1975

8,600 posts

113 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
Water Fairy said:
Ditch the yellow for a start (keep brake callipers).

I don't think I would be left wanting foe anything if I had a 'standard' 296 GTB tbh.
Agreed

Matt_T

370 posts

73 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
I have to admit that the Ferrari range seems to confuse me... what is the difference meant to be between the SF90 and the F8?

SF90 just seems crazily expensive for no reason other that it needs to be more than the F8, then the F8 seems to offer the same as the 296.

The 296 does seem like the best buy of the range...




Edited by Matt_T on Monday 20th March 14:02

ChocolateFrog

24,850 posts

172 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
A less than 5% power hike yet every single owner will definitely notice it if you ask them hehe

robsprocket

109 posts

177 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
Robertb said:
Are there any tuners who make cars actually look better than the original?

Every week there seems to be another disfigured offering from Novitec, Manhard, Techart or somesuch
Which element of Novitec's cosmetic changes are you most disappointed with, the wheels or the exhaust? Everything else, including the paint scheme is standard/optional Ferrari.

AmyRichardson

1,007 posts

41 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
J4CKO said:
Its all got a bit silly really, getting on for the power of 2 F40's in what is the "cooking" Ferrari, as cooking as Ferraris ever get but its part of the 324, 348, 355, 360 etc lineage isnt it ?
"Junior" Ferraris used to be 911 Turbo money and generally had performance that fell between a standard 911 and a Turbo - or do a 1997 road test tells me.

They "broke free" in the 2000s and romped upmarket, and I suspect this was a deliberate strategy of differentiation. I can remember reading an article on a leaked Ferrari strategy document from ~2000 that had the while range going to 500+hp V12s - in a world of oligarchs and SEA new-rich and an increasingly unequal West, it made sense to put perdeptible clean air between themselves and the Germans.

Nish Gnackers

997 posts

40 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
Matt_T said:
I have to admit that the Ferrari range seems to confuse me... what is the difference meant to be between the SF90 and the F8?

SF90 just seems crazily expensive for no reason other that it needs to be more than the F8, then the F8 seems to offer the same as the 296.

The 296 does seem like the best buy of the range..




Edited by Matt_T on Monday 20th March 14:02
The 296 replaces the F8 (the F8 was really a stop-gap model, mainly due to Covid.)

The SF90 sits above the 296 in the Ferrari mid-engine hierarchy in terms of price and performance.

ChocolateFrog

24,850 posts

172 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
Nish Gnackers said:
Matt_T said:
I have to admit that the Ferrari range seems to confuse me... what is the difference meant to be between the SF90 and the F8?

SF90 just seems crazily expensive for no reason other that it needs to be more than the F8, then the F8 seems to offer the same as the 296.

The 296 does seem like the best buy of the range..




Edited by Matt_T on Monday 20th March 14:02
The 296 replaces the F8 (the F8 was really a stop-gap model, mainly due to Covid.)

The SF90 sits above the 296 in the Ferrari mid-engine hierarchy in terms of price and performance.
It might as well be Greek to me these days. Lost track of the Ferrari range around the time the 488 came out. Literally no idea which model replaced that one.

Whereas I could probably name every single model for the preceeding 30 years and where they say in the line up.

SteveStrange

3,752 posts

212 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
The 296 is fast becoming my favourite Ferrari since the FF, which in itself was my favourite since the F50. Can't argue with the looks, performance, tech, interior, IMO. A triumph and nailed-on future classic.

ETA me and the kids were salivating over the one in the advert above at the dealers up the road the other day. That was parked next to a beautiful blue GTC4 Lusso and we were debating which one would be better on the driveway should our lottery numbers come up!

Edited by SteveStrange on Monday 20th March 14:28

LordOfTheManor

1,267 posts

110 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
The tail pipes are not central at the rear !
that would drive me crazy hehe