Tuesday 24th August 2004

Ferrari F430

Best part of 500bhp and a superquick gearbox

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The F430 signals the arrival of a brand new generation of Ferrari 8-cylinder models. This new car takes Ferrari’s extraordinary achievements with aluminium technology, begun with the 360 Modena, to a whole new level, and offers a series of extremely significant innovations directly derived from the Ferrari Formula 1 single-seaters.

Two of these innovations are world firsts for production cars: the electronic differential (E-Diff) and the steering wheel-mounted switch (better known to the Formula 1 Scuderia’s drivers as "manettino"), which manages the integrated systems governing vehicle dynamics.

The other main characteristics of the new F430 are its light, compact 4,300 cc 90° V8 engine, which punches out 490 hp to achieve a specific output of 114 hp/litre, also providing the new Ferrari berlinetta with a weight-to-power ratio of 2.8 kg/hp (dry weight); a braking system with carbon-ceramic discs for optimal efficiency under extreme use (optional); a Formula 1-derived gearbox that cuts gear shifting times down to 150 milliseconds allowing the driver to make the very most of this truly high performance car (0-62 mph acceleration in 4 seconds flat, a top speed in excess of 196 mph) and an aerodynamic design that embodies the very latest competition technologies, specifically the flat underbody and large rear diffuser to increase downforce.

The car will be officially presented during the Paris Motor show in September 2004.

[Brendan G]

I really HATE the lettering on the mirrors

[John Nowak]

Ditto, first thing I noticed. Bleh! I hope that's not on the actual product... or I'll cancel my order!!

[Tuna]

Brendan G said:

I really HATE the lettering on the mirrors

Good reason not to buy the car. If you want to give it to me, I would look after it though :-)

Have to say that reading about the technology just reminds me of Lotus - c'mon guys don't leave all the fun for the Italians.

[Raks]

agreed on the lettering, but the rest of that car IMO is absolutely fantastic

no gratuitous frontal shots ?!?

[Nightmare]

er...it's all photoshop from start to finish.....so dont think this will be the final anything! Is it supposed to be the replacement for the 360 or something else...I never quite keep up with what Ferarri are up to!

oh, but damn those mirrors look chav!

[vadim69]

did I see a hint of Chris Bangle at side??? Please no

[bar_steward]

where is the front elevation??? i assume one of the interior pics is meant to be it.....

[DustyC]

article said:

Best part of 500bhp and a superquick gearbox ... The F430 signals the arrival of a brand new generation of Ferrari 8-cylinder models. This new car takes Ferrari’s extraordinary achievements with aluminium technology, begun with the 360 Modena, to a whole new level, and offers a series of extremely significant innovations directly derived from the Ferrari Formula 1 single-seaters. Two of these innovations are world firsts for production cars: the electronic differential (E-Diff) and the steering wheel-mounted switch (better known to the Formula 1 Scuderia’s drivers as "manettino"), which manages the integrated systems governing vehicle dynamics. The other main characteristics of the new F430 are its light, compact 4,300 cc 90° V8 engine, which punches out 490 hp to achieve a specific output of 114 hp/litre, also providing the new Ferrari berlinetta with a weight-to-power ratio of 2.8 kg/hp (dry weight); a braking system with carbon-ceramic discs for optimal efficiency under extreme use (optional); a Formula 1-derived gearbox that cuts gear shifting times down to 150 milliseconds allowing the driver to make the very most of this truly high performance car (0-62 mph acceleration in 4 seconds flat, a top speed in excess of 196 mph) and an aerodynamic design that embodies the very latest competition technologies, specifically the flat underbody and large rear diffuser to increase downforce.

Who cares about the fecking mirrors!!!!

>> Edited by DustyC on Tuesday 24th August 11:34

[Murcielago]

It's got a nice arse.

[mr_tony]

Better start saving for the Stradale now!!

[andy355]

ooh its got a steering wheel switch. ooh.

[Raks]

Anyone know if they've started allocating yet ?

Was thinking this would be a sound investment in the production line, to later sell at a premium ?

[annodomini2]

They have some shots of the front on 4car:

www.channel4.com/4car/news/news-story.jsp?news_id=10981

[aaandy]

The logo on the mirrors is a design cue taken from the F40. It had the same markings on one side of the rear spoiler.

[Mr Whippy]

Agreed about the mirrors bit ugly, they look like new Porsche 911 ones too.
It's nice to see something a bit more mean about the car though, I thought F40 when I saw the F430 mirror embossing. It's a nice feature, but not there!

The back, sides, top, front all look nice, but that front bumper looks damn awful on the C4 link... Not at all chisled like the Enzo which this kind of mimics. I hope that and the mirrors change, the rest is gorgeous.

Still, rather have a jet black Stradale with the stripe

Dave

[the fury]

Ultra bitchin'. Don't mind the mirrors – as mentioned it's a reprise of something similar to the F40 spoiler. Front end is a great improvement over the 360 with it's 'scattergun' headlight arrangement.

[FunkyNige]

So what does the steering wheel switch actually do? I've zoomed in on the picture but can't quite make it out.

I'm talking about the right hand switch btw, not the one with 'Engine Start' in big letters. Which in iteslf doesn't seem a brilliant idea as you may accidentally hit when driving rapidly.

[456mgt]

Raks said:

Anyone know if they've started allocating yet ? Was thinking this would be a sound investment in the production line, to later sell at a premium ?

You'll be lucky. I put an order in for the (F430) Spider at the end of 2002 and might just see an early one. But not as early as those who handed over 5G in 1999.

Oh, and bloody gorgeous.

Kev

[granville]

Kev, do you really need to replace the Stradale?

Or is this in addition?

You already have the ultimate brace, there is nothing more to do...

[456mgt]

Derestrictor said:

Kev, do you really need to replace the Stradale? Or is this in addition? You already have the ultimate brace, there is nothing more to do...

By early, I mean early 2007DeR Oh, and I'm positive they'll do a 430CS. Since I bought the car, I've had
1) A letter from Luca di Montezemolo noting with pleasure that I recently bought a CHALLENGE STRADALE (their capitalisation) and hoping to meeting me in person at Maranello (feck me, I bet he says that to all the boys)
2) Some Italian woman call me from Italy asking me about the 'buying experience'
3) Been given a 5-6 page customer survey for my views on the car.

I hope they don't take my customer survey responses too much to heart actually. I was a bit pissed when I filled it in and I don't really want the temperatures to rocket and the cabin to fill with smoke, so I know I'm in a proper Ferrari.