Novitec Rosso Edizione 747: Ciao Scuderia!

Ferrari's 458 Italia is imminent, but as a final hurrah for the F430 Scuderia, German tweaker Novitec Rosso has conjured up a twin-supercharged version that all but puts an Enzo to shame.

Known as the Novitec Rosso Edizione 747, the super-Scud's V8 gains an intercooler and a cogged-belt-driven high-performance supercharger strapped on to each of its cylinder banks and this, along with various other fiddles, yields a towering 549kW (which equates to 747 horsepower, hence the name) and peak torque of 738Nm.

The Novitec bods developed a special underbody with integrated air deflector to feed the blown engine with an adequate supply of cooling air, which is routed to the combustion chambers using a custom-tailored heat-insulated intake manifold with larger cross sections.

Eight high-flow injectors ensure adequate fuel supply for the compressor conversion, and the Novitec Rosso engine management system synchs all high-performance components and increases redline speed by 200rpm.

The performance figures are predictably staggering, with the 0-100km/h split dispatched in less than 3.4 seconds. Acceleration barely tails off, as 200km/h flashes past in 9.4 seconds and 300km/h in 22.9 seconds.

Top speed, for what it's worth, is 351km/h (if you order the optional taller gearing ratios).

The engine mods are complemented by Novitec Rosso sport springs, which lower the ride height of the Ferrari by some 30mm.

However, steep driveways needn't be an insurmountable obstacle, as at the push of a button a hydraulic lift system raises the front by 40mm. Once the driveway has been dealt with, another push of the button reverts the suspension to its original position. If the button is not pushed the front end drops to its original position automatically once the car reaches a speed of 80km/h.

The fleet-footed Fezza rides on three-piece 20-inch NF3 double-spoke wheels (8.5Jx20 at the front and 12Jx20 on the rear), shod with Michelin Pilot Cup sport rubber (245/30 ZR 20 at the front and 315/25 ZR 20 at the rear).

For added bling, the bodywork is coated in a special two-tone matte yellow and grey paint, adding stark contrast to the black taillights, side markers and reflectors. The racing theme also dominates the engine's appearance, as all carbonfibre engine components are coated in a matte finish.

Inside, the Edizione 747 scores a leather/carbonfibre Supersport steering wheel, and its flattened bottom is said to make entering and exiting the vehicle easier. The carbonfibre shift paddles are longer than their production counterparts and make manual shifting of the F1-SuperFast2 transmission even easier, says the company.

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