There’s a fine line between preservation and provocation in the restomod world. Coventry-based Evoluto Automobili has decided to ignore that line entirely and redraw it in carbon fibre.
Its latest creation—the 355 by Evoluto—is what happens when you take a mid-’90s Ferrari icon, subject it to 12 months of engineering scrutiny, 5000 miles of track abuse, and then hand the styling pen to Ian Callum. The result is a 420bhp, 1250kg love letter to the analog era, sharpened for 2026.
A Shape You Know, A Surface You Don’t
At a glance, you’ll recognize the donor car: the sublime Ferrari F355 GTS. But linger for a second and the differences stack up.
The nose now wears a larger grille and a pronounced carbonfibre splitter. The pop-up headlights—once a defining ’90s flourish—are gone, replaced by fixed LED units. Around back, a proper diffuser anchors the tail, flanked by ring-shaped LED brake lights that echo the original’s quad-round theme without lapsing into retro pastiche.
Every external panel is now carbonfibre. That alone slashes kerb weight from the F355 GTS’s 1422kg to a target of 1250kg, depending on how indulgent a buyer gets with their spec sheet. It’s a dramatic cut, and one that transforms the car’s fundamental character before you even twist the key.
Stiffer, Lighter, Sharper
Underneath, Evoluto hasn’t simply refreshed the chassis—it’s reengineered it. The structure is now spot-welded and reinforced with carbonfibre bracing, boosting torsional stiffness by 23 percent. Reinforcements cluster around suspension hardpoints, precisely where a 1990s Ferrari would most benefit from modern thinking.
The suspension geometry has been reworked with a wider track, while braking is handled by modern slotted Brembo discs. For those who see kerbs as apexes rather than warnings, carbon-ceramic discs are optional.
Yet Evoluto resists the temptation to sanitize the experience. The car rides on 19-inch wheels wrapped in road-biased Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rubber, chosen specifically to allow a degree of rear slip. This isn’t about crushing lap times with clinical efficiency; it’s about letting the chassis breathe and move beneath you.
A V8, Reconsidered
The 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V8 remains, but only in the same way a cathedral remains after restoration: spiritually intact, structurally transformed.
A new ignition system sharpens timing and throttle response. The cylinder heads are ported for improved airflow, and bespoke camshafts enhance high-rev stability. The notorious quill shaft—long regarded as a weak link in the original drivetrain—has been replaced with a strengthened Evoluto-designed component to reduce vibration and improve reliability.
There’s also a full-length titanium exhaust with equal-length headers, promising what Evoluto calls an “emotional” soundtrack. Given the F355’s reputation as one of the best-sounding V8s ever fitted to a road car, that’s a bold claim.
Output climbs to 420bhp—40bhp more than the factory-rated 380bhp the F355 boasted in 1994, when it had the highest specific output of any production engine on sale. Combined with the weight loss, power-to-weight improves by 69bhp per tonne. The numbers matter less than what they imply: urgency.
Crucially, drive is still sent through a six-speed manual gearbox. It’s been modified for improved shift feel, but the gated romance remains. No paddles. No dual-clutch. No apologies.
Tested, Not Just Tuned
Before a single customer car rolls out in March, the 355 by Evoluto has endured a 12-month development programme, including 5000 miles of track driving. High-speed aerodynamic and noise testing took place in Northamptonshire’s Catesby Tunnel—a proving ground more often associated with OEM validation than boutique restomods.
Backing that up is a 20,000-mile, two-year warranty—an unusual commitment in a sector where craftsmanship sometimes outpaces durability.
Only 55 Chances
Production is capped at 55 cars. Each buyer can commission bespoke paint finishes, tailor-made interior upholstery, and presumably a spec sheet limited only by taste and budget.
The original F355 was often described as the moment Ferrari rediscovered its edge in the 1990s. The 355 by Evoluto feels like a similar inflection point for the restomod world: less nostalgia trip, more engineering reset.
In a market crowded with carbon-clad classics chasing concours glamour, Evoluto’s Ferrari doesn’t want to sit still under soft lights. It wants to be driven—hard, often, and preferably sideways.
Source: Evoluto