Ferrari and Brabus bling California T

German tuning specialist Novitec Rosso and Ferrari itself have revealed two unique new versions of the California T convertible within days of each other.

Sending the $409,888 Ferrari roadster on a new trajectory is the wide-body California T created by the Brabus sister brand, dubbed the Novitec Rosso N-Largo.

The worked-over Ferrari follows other projects that have seen the company transform the likes of the Ferrari 360 (its first project, in 2004), its successor, the F430, the front-engined 599 and its replacement, the F12 Berlinetta.

The latest project is a balls-and-all rework that endows the Novitec Rosso California T with – in its most powerful form – a shrieking 491kW accompanied by 871Nm of twisting power that enables the car to accelerate to 100km/h in 3.2 seconds and reach a maximum of 325km/h.

Two Novitec Rosso engine modules work in with a high-performance exhaust system to lift respective power and torque figures of the 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 by 79kW and 116Nm over the regular California T.

Road-grabbing capabilities are ramped up accordingly with a front-to-rear mix of wheels and tyres that sees the adoption of purpose-designed 9Jx21 three-piece alloy wheels at the front, and 12Jx22 wheels at the rear, all shod respectively with 255/30ZR21 and 315/25ZR22 Pirelli P Zero tyres.

And although suspension height has been dropped by 35mm, the Novitec Rosso California T offers a hydraulic lift system that takes some of the fear out of negotiating ramps or steep driveways by lifting the front end 40mm at the push of a button.

To prevent the Ferrari from becoming airborne as speeds rise, the front automatically drops back to its normal ride height after reaching a speed of 80km/h.

That’s the dynamic side, but it’s the heavily re-styled body of the Novitec Rosso N-Largo that will capture the most immediate attention.

With heavy use of carbon-fibre add-ons that have been wind tunnel tested to ensure their efficacy, the two-seat drop-top Ferrari was developed using the expertise of German designer Vittorio Strosek.

At 2020mm it is 11 centimetres wider overall than the regular version and sports a new look at both front and rear, complete with refashioned front bumpers to suit the wider, all-new front guards, and a one-piece rear bumper incorporating a downforce-enhancing integrated diffuser that is flanked by four stainless steel tailpipes.

The brakes are kept cool by redesigned air vents in the front bumper assembly and rear side panels, and there’s the choice between a rear airfoil or a subtle lip spoiler that can be treated, if the owner requires, with clear-coat paint to show off the carbon-fibre.

Novitec Rosso underlines its specialist nature by offer customers the ability to specify their own interior trim and colour combinations, as well as a “limitless” range of colours for the bodywork.

Meantime, Ferrari has revealed a unique 'Tailor Made' California T at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, said to be inspired by the passion and colours of polo and horse racing.

It features a Bianco Italia three-layer exterior with a double-asymmetric stripe in Blu Hellen, accompanied by a sumptuous Blu Sterling interior with Bianco highlights. The car is finished off with 20-inch forged wheels in Blu Hellen and Argento Nurburgring paint.

Ferrari says the special California T showcases a new high-tech 'Mycro Prestige' fabric made exclusively for Ferrari. It claims the highly resistant material offers an exceptional level of grip and -- thanks to its unique mixture of fibres only 0.7mm thick – weighs only a third that of traditional leather, as well as being flameproof and water resistant.

The latest example of Ferrari's Tailor Made personalisation program will be displayed inside the exclusive Ferrari VIP hospitality enclosure at Goodwood this weekend.

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