A company called Vorsteiner makes aftermarket wheels. They have started a new program called CTR to restore old European sports cars and give them new carbon bodies. The Ferrari 458 is the first car in the CTR program. Customers can change how the car looks by upgrading the engine, seats, and paint. A new S-duct in the front, updated front fender vents, and a new rear bumper are among the small changes made. If you like high-end European luxury and high-speed cars, you may have heard of Vorsteiner, a California-based company that makes aftermarket wheels. You might be surprised to learn that Peter Nam, the founder of Vorsteiner, also founded Gunther Werks, a business that builds Porsche 911s with carbon-fiber bodies. Nam’s new CTR (Classic Tuning Restoration) program, which made its debut at SEMA this year, adds to Vorsteiner’s product line by using Gunther Werks’ skills to make modern European classics look like they did in the 1970s. We spoke with Daniel Song from Vorsteiner at SEMA to learn more about the project. The CTR brand starts with a personalized version of the Ferrari 458—one of the best modern cars from the Italian company and the last naturally aspirated V-8-powered mid-engine Ferrari. Vorsteiner has been making carbon-fiber aerodynamic parts for a while now. Still, the CTR program brings everything together by leveraging the company’s more than 20 years of experience in the carbon-composite business to deliver whole packages for the whole vehicle rather than separate parts that can be added as needed. Every project CTR works on comes with new forged magnesium or aluminum wheels, new paint jobs, custom interior furnishings, and a body fully redesigned with aerodynamics in mind. Vorsteiner plans to add performance boosts if users ask for them. Even though the CTR program changes almost every part of the 458, this isn’t a crazy Fast & Furious-style change. When you compare the CTR-built 458 to the crazy ideas that fill the SEMA show halls, it’s pretty normal. “It’s easy to design something wild; it’s actually much harder to design something with restraint,” he stated. “The goal was to design a vehicle so seamlessly integrated that the everyday driver couldn’t tell where CTR’s work ended and the original manufacturer’s design began — everything should blend together effortlessly.” The new hood and splitter built into the carbon-fiber front bumper create an S-shaped airflow path that passes through the grille, out the hood opening, and over the top of the car. It doesn’t look out of place here because it adds downforce and looks like the tough Ferrari 458 Speciale roof. The Song calls the style “OEM plus, plus, plus.” Vorsteiner had to make two additional radiator ducts and modify the trunk to fit the S-duct. To make the car cooler, the vents on the front fenders, next to the headlights, have been redesigned to look more like sculptures inspired by racing. You can only spot the small detail where the fenders stick out a little below the front wheels, making a hole that lets hot air from the brakes escape if you look at the car from the right angle. Song also said, “It kind of has a widebody look.” Vorsteiner said, “The cool thing is that we didn’t change the track width of the car at all.” This meant the Ferrari’s handling geometry, praised at the start, remained unchanged. “Let’s give it the aggressive look, without changing the stance of it,” the Song said. Carbon-fiber side skirts make the 458 look better, and the rear bumper now features a carbon diffuser and center exhaust ports. The billet triple-exit exhaust tips that Vorsteiner made can be used with both OEM and aftermarket exhaust systems, such as those from Akrapovič. The 458 CTR has unique 20- and 21-inch forged magnesium wheels that reduce unsprung weight. There is also a small wing just above the back decklid. In the future, there will be many more CTR cars. The 458 is just the beginning. “There are going to be a couple of other follow-up applications as well,” Song said. If you can’t get the set cars, you can bring in other models to get the full CTR experience. The CTR program would likely focus on European brands since Vorsteiner already has experience there. However, Song said, “There are some incredible opportunities to do some classic JDMs, maybe.” We could get an Acura NSX-R or a Lexus LFA if someone bought our car. I’m ready to take part in the talk. The 458 is currently the main focus of the CTR program, though. The carbon-fiber body package starts at $64,950, and magnesium wheels add an extra $17,480. More money will be needed for improvements such as painting, new seats, and performance upgrades. The customer has full freedom to choose: if the inside of your 458 is still in great shape, you can add the aero package; if the cabin has been well cared for, you can redesign the inside and match it to a new paint job on the outside. “We customize each 458 to the point where every customer receives a truly one-of-a-kind vehicle,” Song explained. “We aim for every 458 that rolls out of our facility to be completely unique, with no two looking alike. Production of the first models is set to begin this quarter, and inquiries are already welcome.”
