.To an automotive journalist, Maranello in October beats the stuffing out of Paris in the spring. Especially when the occasion is the first chance to drive the Ferrari F430 — a 483-bhp, Ford GT-eating caricature of the 360 Modena with near Enzo-level performance. For a full road test of the car, see our January 2005 issue. But for a small glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes at Ferrari’s fabled birthplace, and a closer look at some of the technicalities that make this new Ferrari special, read on.
| Compact, dohc 4-valve-per-cylinder heads. Intake ports, whose shape has profited from Formula 1 development, are fully machined and then hand-polished. |
| F430 and F1 undertrays shows the lengths that Ferrari has gone toward generating downforce in their road cars. Blue shading indicates areas of greatest negative pressure. |
| Carbon-ceramic brake rotors, impressive but cost $14,300 extra! Double-wishbone suspension has forged aluminum links and shocks with variable damping. |
| This cutaway transaxle shows the clutch pack of Ferrari's E-Diff, a hydraulically modulated, electronically controlled limited slip with a wide range of adjustability. |
| Time to drive! Both Ferraris and journalists assemble in the courtyard adjacent to the company-owned Fiorano circuit. This will certainly be a good day. |
| Decisions, decisions: silver, red or yellow? Both photographer Stephane Foulon and I opted for the last, but there is no wrong choice here for the F430. |
| The F430’s more powerful engine needs more air, and the coolant radiators get an extra shot through front intakes that recall the “shark nose” Formula 1 Ferraris of the early 1960s. |
No comments:
Post a Comment