German tuning company NOVITEC Rosso have spruced up Ferrari’s folding-roof California in its own inimitable style. The California’s 4.3-litre V8-engine receives a supercharger lifting its power from the standard car’s 453 bhp to a more visceral 597 bhp. Novitec Ross have named the resulting model, the RACE 606, which is perhaps no worse than a car originally named after a sunny North American state, but neither does it show a great deal of imagination (the 606 referring to the new power output in PS – Pferdestärke).
This engine is available for the special RACE 606 model and as an after-market fitment on any standard California model. The compressor system consists of a mechanical supercharger driven by the crankshaft via a cogged V-belt, and produces a maximum boost pressure of 0.4 bar. The conversion also includes a water-to-air intercooler, a newly designed intake manifold and larger injectors.
For better exhaust-gas flow the supercharged engine is fitted with a flap-controlled high-performance exhaust system with sport catalysts – controlled by the Manettino button on the steering wheel. The driver can choose between a subtle and subdued tempo, right up to an extrovert sports exhaust note.
In addition to the hike in power, the RACE 606 boosts peak torque from the standard car’s 485Nm to 603 Nm at 5,500 rpm. Performance is suitably impressive with a claimed 0-62mph sprint time of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 203 mph.
The NOVITEC ROSSO designers went into the wind tunnel to develop body components that further reduce lift on front and rear axle and thus contribute to further optimized directional stability at high speed. All parts of the aerodynamic-enhancement package are made from matte clear-coated carbon fibre, making them especially light and yet highly resistant. The front and rear spoilers together with the rear diffuser create an optimal aerodynamic balance and are essential for the racing look of the sports car. Rocker panel blades, side air outlets in the front fenders, mirror covers and the rear moulding add further highlights.
To further emphasize the wedge shape of the sports car the wheels were manufactured in a staggered combination of size 9Jx21 for the front and in size 11.5Jx22 for the rear axle. The matching PZero high-performance tyres in 255/30 ZR 21 (rear) and 315/25 ZR 22 (front) are said to provide considerably more grip combined with sports springs which lower the ride height of the Ferrari by some 35 mm.
To avoid frequent (and expensive) repair bills to thos vulnerable carbon fibre body parts, the RACE 606 is fitted with a hydraulic front lift system, activated at the push of a button in the cockpit which raises the front of the car by 40 mm and makes navigating speed bumps and garage ramps a little less of a nerve racking experience.
The RACE 606 will make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month and is available to order now.
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A supercharged Ferrari. That’s just cool. Regardless of whether it is a drivers Ferrari or a posers Ferrari, this conversion means the California can actually be both and potentially fill a tiny niche between ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ Ferrari models.