Novitec Makes the Ferrari 812 Competizione Even Louder
Enhancing the Ferrari 812 Competizione is a delicate business. It is rather like fitting trainers to Michelangelo’s David. You either commit an act of heresy or produce something unexpectedly brilliant. German tuning house Novitec clearly believes in the latter, deciding that Maranello’s naturally aspirated V12 could do with less restraint and considerably more precious metal.
The 812 Competizione already stands as one of the most extreme road going Ferraris of the modern era. Its 6.5 litre V12 left the factory with 830 hp and a red line north of 9,000 rpm. For most people, that would suffice. For Novitec, it was merely a starting point.
Novitec did not settle for cosmetic tweaks. The company replaced the entire factory exhaust system with a new setup crafted from Inconel, a heat resistant alloy more commonly associated with aerospace engineering. Then it added a coating of 999 fine gold.
This is not jewellery for its own sake. Gold reflects heat with impressive efficiency, helping to lower temperatures in the engine bay and maintain stable exhaust gas flow. In theory, cooler surroundings mean greater consistency when the V12 is working hard. In practice, it also ensures that anyone peering through the rear grille knows this is no standard Ferrari.
The revised exhaust system, complete with 100 cell metal catalytic converters, reduces back pressure and sharpens throttle response. Power climbs from 830 hp to 866 hp. That equates to more than 133 hp per litre, achieved without a single turbocharger in sight. In an age obsessed with forced induction, that figure feels quietly defiant.
With the golden throated exhaust in place, 0 to 100 km/h now takes 2.8 seconds. Top speed pushes well beyond 340 km/h. On an unrestricted stretch of autobahn, this is less driving and more low altitude flight.
Novitec complements the mechanical upgrades with bespoke Vossen wheels, measuring 21 inches at the front and 22 at the rear. Lowering springs bring the centre of gravity closer to the tarmac, while a hydraulic front axle lift system spares the low nose from an undignified encounter with speed bumps.
Novitec understands its clientele. A standard 812 Competizione is already a rare and costly machine. For the ultra wealthy, rarity alone is not enough. They want differentiation, even among other Ferrari owners.
A gold plated exhaust system ticks that box. It is both a technical solution and a social signal. The material cost of gold in this context remains modest compared with the price collectors will pay for what may be the loudest and most powerful naturally aspirated V12 Ferrari available.
Of course, damp autumn evenings and dusty asphalt mean much of that power will be mediated by traction control. Even so, Inconel and gold bring an unexpected advantage. Both resist corrosion, a small but tangible benefit when salt covered roads stand between a heated garage and the horizon.
Novitec does not simply sell extra horsepower. It sells the next layer of exclusivity. In a world where even a limited edition Ferrari can start to feel familiar, that might be the most valuable upgrade of all.
