Ferrari Novitec Rosso F430

Ferrari aficionados can’t seem to get enough of Ferrari’s F430’s, which is why it’s one of the most desirable vehicles on Earth. Significantly more expensive than an F360, the extra digits in the price are backed up by its superior driving dynamics. In fact, if both models were compared back-to-back, one wouldn’t hesitate choosing the F430.

For some, having the most sought after exotic just isn’t enough. No, they need to be different from all the rest of the people driving F430s, which is why they choose to modify the already stunning exotic. Most would question why anyone would want to modify an already near perfect machine, but you’d be surprise to know just how much more attractive a customized F430 is. Customizing makes the vehicle truly unique and personalizes your driving experience. You’ve already dropped all that cash for the car, so why not go a bit further adding extra touches that make it all your own?

Style

There are two ways to be distinctive when you modify cars; you can be subtle in your changes where it looks as if the car rolled out of the production lines looking glamorous, or you can be flashy and choose to really “bling” it out. If you’re more on the subtle side, then you’ll definitely like Novitec Rosso designs since they don’t overdo their customizations. Their aftermarket products feature aerodynamic components that are designed to integrate with the styling of the car rather than stand out like a sore thumb. Made from the highest quality materials (usually carbon fiber) these parts are not all just for show since they also add to the car’s overall performance. Novitec Rosso’s parts help reduce weight and even enhance stability when driving at high speeds. Using such quality components doesn’t come cheap, but they are certainly worth the investment, especially on such a fine vehicle as the F430.

The new parts for the body kit consist of a front air splitter fitted below the factory nose section; skirts for the rear of the side sills; and a new rear undertray to enhance the ground effects of the factory flat bottom and central venturi. The finishing touch is the rear wing, and all these parts can either be left in black carbon or painted to match the bodywork.

Mechanics

The suspension is lowered by 25mm with either sport springs that work with the stock dampers, or a complete new suspension kit. The new suspension kit, as fitted to the test car, has separate fluid reservoirs race-style, stainless steel damper housings and is adjustable for height, bounce and rebound. The larger anti-roll bar kit is also fitted to this vehicle. Novitec Rosso uses 19-inch alloy wheels in front and 20-inch at the rear fitted with 255/30ZR19 and 345/25ZR20 Pirelli P Zero Rosso tires. The upgraded brake system can be clearly seen through the spokes of these attractive wheels. Especially made for Novitec Rosso by Brembo, this brake upgrade consists of massive 380mm ceramic discs at each corner, with eight-pot calipers in front and four-pots at the rear.

Novitec Rosso's normally aspirated tuning option for the F430 is perfect if you just want a slightly sharper and more incisive drive with its added twin superchargers and the possibility of 636 horsepower. This adds a pair of flow-optimized, carbon-fiber air boxes with free-flow air-cleaners on the intake side, while at the other end of the motor, the gorgeous looking and sounding stainless-steel exhaust system with 100-cell metal catalysts to reduce back-pressure sucks the spent gases out much quicker.

Rounding out the mechanical upgrades is the ECU is recalibrated to increase fuelling, advance the ignition curve and raise the rev limit to 8,850 rpm, which allows a speed increase to 199 mph. The power increase takes the horse count from 490 to 520 at 8,600rpm, with a torque increase of 361.7 lb.-ft. at 5,350 rpm.

Hitting the tarmac

Off the production line, the F430 has a crisp turn-in, with a perfect relationship between steering and chassis and none of the nervous feeling you get while driving a F360. The lower ride height, larger anti-roll bars and wider rubber deliver an even more race car-like feel to the car in sharp turns, with even less roll.

Novitec Rosso amps up the noise that the stock F430 makes. With the V8 orchestra playing tunes just behind your head, you can make out the deeper roar of the new intake system as the motor spools up through the gears. This high-revving motor quickly moves its voice up a few octaves as the tacho needle swings past the 4,000-rpm mark, and soon it is screaming like a muted Formula 1 car, as it approaches its crescendo in each gear. After using the F430 to its maximum potential, the braking is simply breathtaking. The exotic would stop on a dime and dig its wheels into the road if it had to with its excellent anti-lock braking system.

The Novitec Rosso F430 F1 experience really comes full circle when you get into a smooth rhythm on a twisty road. The bigger lungs on the intake side and the freer-flowing exhaust help the engine rev even faster. So while the extra horsepower is partly consumed by the wider rubber, the car feels sharper to respond and even keener to rev. Its easy steering is excellent under any circumstance and balance is unaffected by anything.

Interior

The interior of a Novitec Rosso-customized F420 is as brilliant as its exterior. The seats are replaced with lightweight carbon-fiber material that are lightweight and, are carefully trimmed in leather and two-tone Alcantara to match the rest of the cabin.

You can opt to buy the whole Novitec Rosso F430 package or simply purchase individual components to your liking, but one thing for sure is that this customized Ferrari is unlike any other. Its subtle additions make it even more desirable, beautiful and distinctive than any other fully tuned Ferrari.