Novitec’s ferrari sf90 xx: when 1,016bhp just isn’t enough
The Ferrari SF90 XX is already one of the most extreme road-going Ferraris ever to come out of Maranello. Traditionally, the “XX” designation has been reserved for Ferrari’s most hardcore, track-only specials—machines like the FXX, 599XX, and FXX-K that are engineered without compromise for the track and often live their lives within Ferrari’s own Corse Clienti program. But with the SF90 XX, Ferrari broke with tradition. For the first time in history, they created an XX car that’s fully road-legal. The SF90 XX Stradale and its open-top sibling, the SF90 XX Spider, blend outrageous track capability with just enough compliance and civility to wear license plates. Armed with a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 paired with a trio of electric motors, the standard SF90 XX is already an engineering marvel. It produces a colossal 1,016bhp and rockets from 0 to 62mph in just 2.3 seconds, delivering the kind of performance once reserved for full-blown race cars. The SF90 XX is an apex predator in the automotive food chain—blisteringly fast, razor-sharp, and drenched in cutting-edge tech. Yet for Novitec, one of the world’s most revered tuning houses when it comes to exotic Italian machinery, the SF90 XX represented not the pinnacle, but a starting point. Their goal wasn’t to tame this beast, but to unleash it further. And unleash it they did, transforming Maranello’s most electrifying hyper-hybrid into a 1,046bhp symphony of speed, aggression, and ultra-exclusivity.
more power, more drama: novitec extracts 1,046bhp
At the heart of the Novitec SF90 XX lies a relatively restrained but impactful modification: a new high-performance exhaust system that allows the V8 to breathe more freely. While Ferrari’s hybrid system remains untouched—Novitec wisely avoids meddling with the sophisticated trio of electric motors or the high-voltage systems—the combustion engine itself gains about 30bhp from improved flow dynamics and reduced backpressure. That modest bump brings total system output to a staggering 1,046bhp. In a car that already redefined the upper limits of road car performance, this new figure pushes it into uncharted territory. To put it in context, that’s more horsepower than a LaFerrari, more than a Bugatti Veyron, and nearly 200bhp more than a McLaren P1. The result is a machine that doesn’t just dazzle on paper—it assaults your senses in the real world. It’s quicker through the rev range, more urgent at every throttle prod, and significantly louder. And when it comes to hypercars, those are the things that really matter. Novitec’s upgrade may seem minor numerically, but in a car this highly strung and surgically sharp, every extra horsepower counts. It's not just about raw numbers—it’s about the intensity of the experience.
inconel and gold: materials for the gods
The exhaust system isn’t just functional—it’s a technological work of art. Novitec gives buyers the option to upgrade to a version crafted entirely from Inconel, a rare and incredibly heat-resistant alloy typically found in Formula One exhausts and jet engines. Inconel doesn’t just reduce weight compared to stainless steel—it withstands extreme thermal loads and maintains structural integrity even under brutal track conditions. For the true connoisseur, there’s an even more exotic option: Inconel with fine gold plating. Yes, real gold. While it might sound like ostentation for its own sake, the choice is actually grounded in engineering. Gold is one of the most effective materials on Earth for thermal reflection and dissipation. This helps reduce engine bay temperatures, enhance reliability, and preserve peak performance over repeated hard use. It’s not the first time gold has found its way into a supercar’s underpinnings—McLaren’s legendary F1 used gold foil as engine bay insulation. But seeing it integrated into a street-legal Ferrari’s exhaust system speaks volumes about Novitec’s commitment to both performance and theater. And then there’s the sound. With or without the optional butterfly valves for noise control, the Novitec SF90 XX delivers a soundtrack that’s richer, angrier, and more evocative than anything this side of a race track. It spits and snarls like a cornered animal, layering turbo whistles over a deep V8 war cry that announces your arrival long before you’re seen.
restrained but refined: the exterior remains mostly stock
Visually, Novitec has shown surprising restraint. The SF90 XX already looks like a Le Mans prototype for the street, complete with a fixed rear wing (a first for Ferrari in decades), aggressive diffuser work, and complex aero sculpting that screams motorsport. Rather than clutter the body with unnecessary wings and scoops, Novitec leaves the factory bodywork untouched. The aerodynamic design of the XX model is already honed to perfection in Ferrari’s wind tunnel, so Novitec chooses to add small touches rather than reinvent the car’s identity. Among those optional extras are exposed carbon fiber mirror caps—lightweight, beautiful, and subtly eye-catching. But the real visual statement comes via the wheels. Novitec collaborated with American wheel specialist Vossen to develop a bespoke set of forged alloys specifically for the SF90 XX. They measure 20 inches up front and 21 inches at the rear, perfectly filling the arches and aligning with the car’s aggressive stance. Better still, they’re available in 72 different finishes, allowing customers to personalize their SF90 XX without compromising on form or function. The result is a hypercar that maintains Ferrari’s factory aerodynamics but wears a subtle layer of personalization—one that hints at its enhanced performance without shouting about it.
chassis tweaks: sharper, lower, and meaner
The Novitec SF90 XX doesn’t just go faster in a straight line—it’s sharper through the bends, too. Part of that is down to a lowered ride height, achieved via Novitec’s sport spring kit that drops the car by 25mm. That may not sound like much, but it makes a significant difference both visually and dynamically. The car looks hunkered down, more serious, more menacing. And dynamically, the benefits are immediate: lower center of gravity, improved front-end bite, quicker turn-in, and reduced body roll. The stiffer springs also make the chassis feel more communicative at the limit, though they do come at the expense of ride comfort. Then again, if you’re buying a 1,046bhp hybrid Ferrari that’s been fine-tuned by Novitec, comfort is probably low on your list of priorities. Interestingly, Novitec stops short of altering the car’s dampers or active suspension software, choosing instead to work within Ferrari’s already advanced setup. That shows respect for the base vehicle’s engineering integrity and suggests that Novitec’s upgrades are about sharpening and enhancing, not reinventing.
driving into hyperspace: performance redefined
Official performance figures for the Novitec-modified SF90 XX haven’t been released, but we can make some educated guesses. The standard car’s 0–62mph sprint of 2.3 seconds could drop slightly with the extra power and reduced weight, perhaps to 2.2 or even 2.1 seconds in ideal conditions. More significant is the in-gear acceleration—how violently the car pulls from 40 to 100mph, or how fast it can blast from corner to corner. That’s where the Novitec SF90 XX truly sets itself apart. The throttle response is sharper, the torque curve feels even more bottomless, and the sense of speed borders on teleportation. You don’t drive this car as much as you command it, like a fighter jet in a dogfight. It reacts instantly, without hesitation, and it wants to go fast all the time. While the top speed remains electronically limited to 199mph, what matters more is how quickly the car gets there—and how consistently it delivers peak performance lap after lap. With its high-tech hybrid system and thermally optimized exhaust, this car isn’t just fast for a few sprints. It’s fast all day long.
pricing the thrill: what does it cost to go beyond?
Ferrari’s SF90 XX Stradale starts at around $850,000 before options—and that’s if you can even get one, since production is highly limited and reserved for Ferrari’s most loyal clients. Once you factor in Novitec’s upgrades, the price climbs steeply. A full Inconel exhaust with gold plating, forged Vossen wheels, sport springs, carbon fiber extras, and finish customization can easily add between $75,000 and $100,000 to the total. That means the Novitec SF90 XX comfortably sits in the $1,000,000+ territory—possibly more depending on spec and local taxes. But let’s be honest: this isn’t a car for buyers concerned with budgets. It’s a statement piece for collectors, drivers, and enthusiasts who want to own something that even other Ferrari owners will gawk at. It’s about exclusivity, performance, and emotion in equal measure. Compared to more outlandish tuners like Mansory—whose builds are often visually divisive—Novitec’s approach is more restrained, more refined. Their modifications are technical, elegant, and complementary. They enhance the DNA of the base car rather than overwrite it.
conclusion: when too much becomes just right
The Novitec SF90 XX is not a car that needs justification. It exists for the few who look at one of the fastest, most advanced Ferraris ever built and think, “Yeah, but what if it was just a little bit crazier?” It’s a rolling contradiction—at once clinical in its engineering and wildly emotional in its delivery. It combines hybrid efficiency with V8 fury, modern luxury with motorsport brutality. Novitec’s upgrades don’t change what the SF90 XX is—they magnify it. They take the raw ingredients Ferrari cooked up and add seasoning: louder, lighter, sharper, and just that little bit more exclusive. It’s not for everyone. But for the few who crave the edge, who live for the sound, the sensation, and the bragging rights, this is a hypercar without equal. The Novitec SF90 XX isn’t just a car—it’s an experience, a spectacle, and a statement all at once. And in a world where too much is never enough, Novitec reminds us that sometimes, more really is more.
