For those of you not familiar with Novitec, it’s a German tuning company specialized in tuning cars that are already among the leaders of the industry. Currently they offer tuning programs for Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, McLaren, Rolls-Royce and, most recently, Tesla. Basically, they take the best and make them better.
Their latest effort is the GTC4Lusso — the embodiment of how Ferrari sees hot hatches (sure, it’s a grand tourer, but if Ferrari ever attempted to make a hot hatch, I don’t think it would be a lot different). Now, the GTC4Lusso, even when stock, is far from lacking.
There are two versions of the car.
GTC4Lusso
The first one came out in 2016 and replaced the Ferrari FF. It has a 4RM Evo AWD system from Ferrari paired with 4WS, which is a four-wheel steering system. The push comes from a 6.3 l V12 with no forced induction. That’s right, in the era of downsizing and “discovering” the perks of forced induction, Ferrari still offers a naturally aspirated supercar.
This means that, unless you throw in a turbo, the GTC4Lusso doesn’t really give much room for tuners to add horsepower. However, it’s not that you will ever crave more power.
The GTC4Lusso packs 690 hp and 514 lb-ft of torque. The healthy grunt is, as already said, naturally aspirated, so the sound is simply out of this world and the power buildup is incredibly smooth. The top speed sits at 214 mph and acceleration to 62 takes only 3.4 seconds.
GTC4Lusso T
The added T shuns AWD, but keeps four-wheel steering. OK, not a big problem, honestly, especially if we have in mind that it probably makes the car more agile. It’s a sports car, so RWD is a great perk.
It also does away with the V12. OK, this is dangerous territory. The car packs an amazing 3.9 l V8. But it’s amazing because it features one thing fanboy purists will definitely frown upon — twin turbochargers.
Yep, the T has forced induction and it gives 610 hp and 561 lb-ft of torque — the latter figure surpassing the V12.
Having less power and being RWD, the GTC4Lusso is 0.1 second slower to 62 than the V12 powered version and it tops out at 199 mph. Yeah, I know, they should have squeezed out that one mph more, but in metric units this is a nice, round 320 km/h.
What does Novitec offer for these cars?
What most pieces of news regarding this tuneup miss is the fact that Novitec offers a wide range of individual improvements for these cars. You can opt for some, exclude the rest and make your GTC4Lusso truly unique. So, there is not just one fully completed product, but several different individualization options.
Let’s talk power upgrades first. There are three of them and they only come with the GTC4Lusso T. The V12 has no power upgrade option — not that it needs any.
However, the V8 can pack some serious extra punch. The first tuning stage includes the Novitec N-TRONIC engine management system that uses plug & play connectivity to the stock ECU and produces 691 hp and 632 lb-ft of torque. This massive improvement takes the upgraded V8 way beyond the possibilities of the revered V12. Novitec people claim it gives the acceleration to 62 of just 3.3 seconds.
The second stage adds a new exhaust system, X-pipe replacement, catalyst replacement and TECTRONIC. This is the most powerful version and it produces 709 hp and 651 lb-ft of torque, pushing the GTC4Lusso T to 62 in 3.2 seconds and all the way to the top speed of 201 mph.
The third tuning stage uses 100 Zeller sport catalyst that actually reduces the power by 6 hp, but also makes the total power and torque available a bit earlier. Neither of the stages includes flap regulation for the exhaust — it comes as an extra.
With this kind of power, the V8 easily beats the V12 in everything except the top speed and, let’s face it, you will rarely need more than 200 mph. The best thing is that they claim it’s perfectly suitable for everyday driving conditions.
All the other upgrades are available for both cars
These include things like stainless steel or INCONEL exhaust systems that drop the weight by up to 20 lb (depending on the material and flap regulation), new X-pipe and tailpipes, the mentioned catalyst options, two different wheel designs with 7 colors in total, sport springs that work with the original suspension, aluminum spacers and titan wheelbolts, as well as roof, front and rear spoilers, front struts, side panels, add-ons for the diffuser, and mirrors.
The exhaust notes are one of the trademarks of Novitec and they don’t disappoint with these offerings either. The video below gives an audio glimpse of what they can do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ed4KIgXTqM
Suspension and aero upgrades are not just for show; they also improve handling and high speed stability.
The interior also got some tweaks, but nothing spectacular. Leather and Alcantara trim is the most notable interior upgrade.
Which one is better?
That really depends on what kind of a car freak you are. Do you want the GTC4Lusso to be the fastest it can be, or do you want to enjoy the beautiful sounds and power buildup of the V12, as well as its exclusivity in the world that is slowly forgetting the wonderful complexity and plush of V12s?
Even though every sane bone in my body says the V8 by Novitec would be the better choice, I have to say that not many people will buy the GTC4Lusso to break speed records and shave off seconds on the track. With that kind of a price, there are options that give more track-oriented setup.
The Novitec GTC4Lusso in any form is a wonderfully elegant grand tourer made by one of the most revered manufacturers in the world and tuned by one of the best tuning houses. It is a car made for enjoyment and driving pleasure whether you’re cruising around a mountainous countryside or hitting the top speed at the Autobahn. And enjoyment is just a matter of preference.