Forget the 458 Italia and forget the Enzo supercar, for when it comes to Ferrari’s fastest ever road car the 599 GTO takes top honours. However, be that as it may, the Ferrari tuning gods at Novitec Rosso have seen fit to work over the limited edition supercar and boost its performance even further.
Taking the stock 599 GTO, which in standard guise produces 500 kW, Novitec Rosso’s engineers have managed to dial-up output to a stupendous 662 kW and 862 N.m of torque. The extra output is courtesy of a pair of high-performance superchargers, driven by a cogged V-belt and lubricated by a dedicated oil circuit. Maximum boost pressure, however, is limited to a relatively mild 0.4 bar. A large water-to-air intercooler is also fitted and features a dedicated water circuit, an essential piece for maximum power yield and healthy engine temperatures. The intake side of the engine is further modified with an intake manifold custom-developed for the V12 engine and features high-performance air filters and high-performance injectors. Additionally, Novitec Rosso has installed a high-flow stainless steel exhaust system with a Manettino button on the steering wheel that allows the driver to adjust the exhaust note. To make sure all the modifications work in harmony, a recalibrated ECU is also fitted.
The combination of a powerful engine, extremely fast shifting six-speed F1 transmission and the low weight of the 599 GTO (just 1 495 kilograms) results in exceptional performance – the car now sprints from rest to 100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds and to 200 km/h in just 9.1 seconds. Top speed is more than 330 km/h. The modified 599 GTO also sports special forged wheels, which help to reduce unsprung weight. They are shod with Pirelli PZero tyres measuring 295/25 ZR 21 up front and 335/25 ZR 22 in the rear. Sports suspension springs have also been installed, and at the push of a button the driver can lift the front axle of the car by as much as 40 mm. Upon reaching a speed of 50 mph the suspension automatically reverts to its original position.
In case you were wondering, the silver paint with yellow cross stripe and white patches for the starting number is a hat tip to the Ferrari 250 GTO racing car with chassis-no. 4153. In it, the Belgians Lucien Bianchi and Georges Berger won the Tour de France in 1964.
