Koenig-Specials 360 Biturbo: The Ferrari 360 Reborn with Twin-Turbo Fury

Boosted Heritage - There was a time when the pursuit of speed wasn’t merely about numbers on a spec sheet, but about a kind of mechanical artistry — a dance between raw power, precision engineering, and human audacity. The early 2000s captured that spirit perfectly, and among the rare creations of that era, one machine stood out as a renegade masterpiece: the Koenig-Specials 360 Biturbo. 

The Koenig-Specials 360 Biturbo was neither a commercial project nor a publicity stunt, but a bespoke commission for a Saudi Arabian sheikh seeking a machine bold enough to impress even the most seasoned supercar connoisseurs. (Picture from: FF1.it)

At first glance, it looks familiar — unmistakably shaped by Ferrari’s 360 Modena lines — yet something about it feels different, sharper, almost predatory. That’s because beneath the elegant Italian form beats a German-engineered heart of rebellion. Koenig-Specials, a name already whispered with awe among tuning purists, was the mastermind behind this transformation. Founded by Willy König, the Munich-based outfit had a long history of taking Maranello’s masterpieces and infusing them with something uniquely daring — a blend of mechanical ferocity and aerodynamic flair that could only come from someone bold enough to tinker with perfection. 

The Koenig-Specials 360 Biturbo may echo the familiar lines of the Ferrari 360 Modena, yet its presence feels sharper, more aggressive, and unmistakably predatory. (Picture from: FF1.it)

The 360 Biturbo wasn’t conceived as a commercial venture or a showpiece for publicity. It was commissioned by a Saudi Arabian sheikh, a collector whose garage was already lined with modified exotics and a 1000-horsepower “redhead” Ferrari. But this project demanded something different — something that would make even the most seasoned supercar blush. The task fell to Koenig-Specials’ lead engineer, Konrad Gruber, a craftsman known for his almost obsessive devotion to precision. His mission was simple on paper: take Ferrari’s 3.6-liter V8 and make it terrifyingly fast, without betraying its soul. 

The Koenig-Specials 360 Biturbo hides a German-engineered heart of rebellion beneath its Italian form, masterminded by the legendary tuning house Koenig-Specials. (Picture from: FF1.it)

To achieve this, Gruber and his team disassembled the 3586cc, 40-valve V8 entirely. Every component was reconsidered, refined, or replaced. The pistons, for example, were swapped for lightweight Mahle units, each 15 grams lighter than stock — a subtle but crucial adjustment that lowered the compression ratio from 11.0:1 to 8.6:1. This wasn’t merely an exercise in weight savings; it was preparation for something much greater. Two Garrett T04 turbochargers were mounted to breathe new life into the engine, delivering 0.7 bar of boost pressure with ruthless efficiency. 

The Koenig-Specials 360 Biturbo features a race-focused cockpit with sculpted bucket seats, exposed carbon details, and a driver-centric layout that emphasizes control over comfort. (Picture from: UniqueCarsForSale in Facebook)

To cope with the added stress, Koenig-Specials engineered a new oil circulation system that increased lubrication by 20% in high-heat zones and added a second radiator. The cooling system, redesigned from the ground up, boasted a staggering 500% improvement in capacity. Even the exhaust was reinvented — a set of custom steel terminals with dual outlets, singing a new, deeper symphony of controlled chaos. 

The Koenig-Specials 360 Biturbo presents a refined yet purposeful dashboard, highlighted by a KS-branded steering wheel and subtle modifications that blend Ferrari elegance with tuner identity. (Picture from: FF1.it)

The result of all this precision and boldness was staggering: 600 horsepower at 7200 rpm and 58.1 kg of torque at 6000 rpm. Compared to the standard Modena’s 400 horsepower, it was an entirely different beast. Yet the character of the original engine wasn’t lost; the camshafts remained untouched, preserving the natural rise and fall of power delivery, only now with an immediacy that made every press of the throttle feel like the release of compressed energy.

 

Visually, the car carried its transformation with grace and aggression in equal measure. The most striking element was the enormous red-painted intercooler sitting proudly beneath a reimagined engine hood, split by a massive NACA duct — the largest ever fitted to a road car at the time. This functional incision wasn’t just about performance; it became part of the car’s new identity. Even the rear lights were re-sculpted with turbine-like vents to channel hot air out of the bay, creating an aesthetic that blended race engineering with avant-garde design. 

The Koenig-Specials 360 Biturbo was rebuilt from the ground up as its 3.6-liter 40-valve V8 was fully dismantled and fitted with lighter Mahle pistons, reducing compression from 11.0:1 to 8.6:1 to support forced induction. (Picture from: FF1.it)

Interestingly, the chassis remained mostly untouched. Ferrari’s active suspension system was deemed capable enough to handle the increased demands, and the same could be said for the braking setup. For testing, however, the car was fitted with bespoke Koenig wheels — 19-inch rims measuring 9J at the front and 11J at the rear — wrapped in sticky Pirelli P-Zero Asymmetrico tires. They looked right at home, giving the car a slightly wider, more planted stance.

 

Driving it, however, was no serene affair. The standard F1-style gearbox struggled to keep up under full power, and the acceleration was so ferocious that even slight misjudgments of throttle input could send the rear wheels into a frenzied dance. From 0 to 100 km/h, it could reach the mark in just 3.5 seconds — a full half-second quicker than the standard 360 — and continue to a top speed of 336 km/h. It demanded respect, not bravado. Push too hard in the lower gears, and it would happily remind you who was in charge. 

The Koenig-Specials 360 Biturbo retained its stock chassis, suspension, and brakes, though test runs saw it fitted with 19-inch Koenig wheels and Pirelli P-Zero Asymmetrico tires for a wider, more planted stance. (Picture from: FF1.it)

What makes the Koenig-Specials 360 Biturbo fascinating today isn’t just its performance figures or exclusivity — it’s what it represents. It belongs to an era before hybrid systems and electronic safety nets became the norm, when tuners were guided more by intuition than algorithms. It’s a snapshot of a time when innovation was mechanical, tangible, and born from human daring rather than computer modeling. There isn’t a video of this car available, so instead, here’s one featuring its base model — the Ferrari 360 Modena. | Xisc84_PoKM |

In an age where supercars often feel sanitized by technology, the 360 Biturbo stands as a mechanical outlaw — unapologetically loud, imperfect, and alive. It reminds us that the pursuit of speed isn’t just about getting somewhere faster; it’s about feeling every heartbeat of the machine as it fights the limits of physics, and perhaps, of reason itself. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | KOENIG-SPECIALS | SUPERCARS.NET | FF1.IT | CARSIGHTING IN X | UNIQUE CARS FOR SALE IN FACEBOOK ]

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