Ferrari F430 Reviews

The fastest open-top Ferrari was unveiled this week in Sydney. The car has anextremely limited production run that will see a mere dozen coming to Australia. Needlesss to say, it’s a stunner. But the numbers add up too.Starting with the name, or nomenclature in true Ferrari terminology;16M – represents the number of times Ferrari has won the World Constructors Championship. Luca di Montezemolo is personally responsible for the 16M as he requested a car to celebrate last years constuctors title.499 – the number of 16M to be built, of which 12 have been purchased by Australian cognesenti and 3 will make New Zealand their home.375 – as in kilowates, the output of the 4.3 litre engine.470 – the nM of torque established at 5250 rpm60 – the speed in milleseconds it takes for a gear change when the driver flips the paddle.80 – the kilograms saved over the standard Spider from the introduction of additional carbon fibre and special light weight wheels as well as the deletion of carpet (not optional) and noise reduction material.3.7 – the number of seconds it takes to reach 100km/h315 – the manufacturer quoted maximum velocity in km/h675,000 – the price in Australian dollarsAlso of note is that all of the 12 coming to Australia are going to existing Ferrari owners who are purchasing their 16M as an additional car to join their collection.  The Ferrari market is not suffering under the global recession as the production numbers are still limited enough for the clientele to be somewhat immune from the full impact of the crisis. The same cannot be said for the higher production exotics such as Porsche, who have just seen a 29% drop in sales for March in the American market.Also of note is that with the introduction of the new California, Alan Hind -- Ferrari Sales Manager for Italia Motori in Sydney -- says that the market reach is being extended to non-traditional Ferrari buyers who may have been considering a Mercedes SL or higher spec SLK, but for whom the addition of the occasional rear seat in the California is seen as an extra bonus. Another niche grow areas for Ferrari is the female market with three recent buyers of standard F430 Spider and three orders for the new California.Carsguide

It was a telling moment. Our striking red Ferrari Scuderia stopped to let two pedestrians cross the road on the outskirts of Maranello, and our view of this supercar changed forever.The low-slung two-seater's 4.3-litre V8 engine throbbed loud enough for the two young men to realise this was no ordinary Ferrari, if there was such a thing.They paused, stared and smiled, then waved the Ferrari through.As we passed there was a knowing nod of approval and one mouthed the word “magnifico”.We couldn't agree more.That's life in the Italian city of Maranello, Ferrari's spiritual home and global headquarters.Here, pedestrians give way to Ferraris, old people clap and youngsters smile. They never tire of seeing these supercars on their streets.The rumble from our car's twin exhausts, the smoky grey alloys, twin body stripes and discrete “430 Scuderia” badging on the tail signify this is no dressed-down F430.Discrete panels of carbon fibre adorn the body, a racetrack-ready aerodynamic splitter fills most of the space under the rear bumper.Behind the steering wheel your senses are alerted to the soft touch of the leather and alcantara interior, the grain of the almost industrial-look carbon fibre on the doors and dashboard, and the imposing controls.Directly in front of the driver is a bright red rev counter that redlines at 8500 revs. The 360km/h speedo is to its right.Bright red LED lights in the top of the thick-rimmed carbon fibre and leather steering wheel display revs.Our Scuderia also has trim from the Carrozzeria Scaglietti personalisation program, which means secure racing seats with four-point seatbelts, and aluminium footwells instead of carpet.The whole cabin looks as polished and precise as an Armani suit.We strap ourselves in, then get down to the business of driving.Turn the key, press the red “engine start” button and the V8 erupts like Mt Vesuvius.The Scuderia V8 develops 375.4kW at 8500 revs and 470Nm at 5250 revs, and 80 per cent of maximum torque is available at 3000 revs.With the V8 sed amidship behind the driver and passenger, you're always aware of the volcanic power. Even at low speeds the V8 strains on its leash.Blip the throttle and the V8 bellows, exceed 4000 revs and it roars, approach 8000 revs and it howls.Despite its racetrack credentials, the Scuderia can potter along at commuter speeds like a well-behaved BMW, thanks to its refined manners.But if you think Ferrari has gone soft, you'd be seriously mistaken. The prancing horse has been tamed ever so slightly, but unleash the V8 and it will still make your hair stand on end.On full song the Scuderia will hit 100km/h in less than 3.6 seconds and exceed 220km/h in less than 11.6 seconds.The Scuderia's new six-speed F1 transmission contributes to this lightning-fast acceleration. Above 4000 revs and with the accelerator more than 40 per cent depressed, the transmission automatically switches to superfast mode.Top speed? That's academic on Australian roads, but it will reach 320km/h.The Scuderia has been timed on the Fiorano test track at 1 minute 25 seconds, making it two seconds quicker than the standard F430 and equal to the lap time of the famous V12 Enzo Ferrari.Significantly, at 300km/h the car's fixed spoiler and ultra-clean underbody generate 330kg of negative lift over the front and rear of the car.We don't see those speeds, but even at 220km/h around Fiorano, the Scuderia feels like the hand of God is pushing down on the car.So where does the Scuderia fit in? Essentially it's a race car built for the road, the type of supercar that makes the hearts of even Ferrari aficionados beat faster.It makes no apologies for being a thinly disguised racetrack car using Ferrari's Formula One knowledge.Ferrari F1 driver Michael Schumacher had a telling role in the development of the manettino — the steering-wheel-mounted switch that alters the car's electronic brain and traction systems — and the tyres and suspension.The five-function manettino can be switched to low road-holding, sport, race, CT off or CST off.Low road-holding is for slippery conditions.The brave can turn off the traction control via CT to allow for some wheelspin, but it keeps the stability control on.In CST off, traction and stability control are switched off for maximum freedom and driving control on a racetrack.The addition was necessary because Ferrari believes 20 per cent of owners will do some serious track work in the car.Ferrari says the combination of the E-diff electronic differential and F1-Trac traction and stability control will increase the Scuderia's exit speed out of a corner by 40 per cent. The suspension uses the same magnetic ride system as that fitted to the Chevy Corvette and top-spec HSV cars.To help achieve its targets, the Scuderia lost 100kg off the F430's weight, bringing it down to 1350kg.Another part of the F1 equation is the car's gearchange. Called Superfast, it reduces changes to 60 milliseconds (an F1 driver takes 30 to 40 milliseconds).The new traction control system combines the E-diff and F1-trac into a single integrated system.At Schumacher's insistence, Ferrari added an adjustable damper setting late in the car's development.Dial in the soft mode and the Scuderia behaves with a level of compliance and ride comfort more fitting of a sports touring sedan.Ferrari Australia and New Zealand importer Ateco Automotive have taken orders for 40 Scuderias. With a price 20 per cent above the $440,000 F430, that means it can be yours for a cool $550,000. Testing time at Fiorano Ferrari's Fiorano test track (left) is at the end of the appropriately named Via Dino Ferrari. However, the entrance is actually nearby on Via Gilles Villeneuve.Conveniently, several small streets end at the track's perimeter fence and Ferrari spotters armed with cameras and telephoto lenses can be seen every day of the week.Ferrari uses the 3km Fiorano track regularly for Formula One testing, and to try out its prototypes and normal production cars.The track was built in 1972 at the behest of Enzo Ferrari.The average lap speed is 190km/h, the peak speed of more than 300km/h being achieved down the straight. The trickiest corner is turn five, which is deliberately built off-camber and over a hump.Ferrari has a full garage, closed-circuit TV and a sprinkler system that wets the whole track in minutes. Maranello's driving force Maranello, in the foothills of the Italian Apennines, began its love affair with Ferrari in 1929, when founder Enzo started Scuderia Ferrari.The depth of feeling is evident throughout the small town 18km from Modena. Streets are named after great Ferrari Formula One drivers.Today, you can stay at a four-star complex called Maranello Village, close to the factory.Each year thousands visit Maranello to watch trackwork at the Fiorano test track or dine at Cavallino restaurant directly opposite the Ferrari factory gates, one of three top spots to see F1 drivers.Enzo Ferrari is said to have dined at Cavallino every day.Other top-class Ferrari restaurants are the Montana and the Paddock.Enzo died in 1988 but his legacy is strong. And the locals don't forget he put Maranello on the map.Passions run deep in this part of the world. 

It's funny how you always find women's magazines in doctors' waiting rooms, because I think they actually cause a mild form of illness themselves.