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…
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.
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.
Every week there seems to be another disfigured offering from Novitec, Manhard, Techart or somesuch
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...
Every week there seems to be another disfigured offering from Novitec, Manhard, Techart or somesuch
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.
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..
The SF90 sits above the 296 in the Ferrari mid-engine hierarchy in terms of price and performance.
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..
The SF90 sits above the 296 in the Ferrari mid-engine hierarchy in terms of price and performance.
Whereas I could probably name every single model for the preceeding 30 years and where they say in the line up.
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!
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