Ferrari F430

Ferrari F430
Overview
Manufacturer	Ferrari
Production	2004–2009
Assembly	Maranello, Italy
Body and chassis
Class	Sports car
Body style	2-seat Berlinetta 2-seat Spider
Layout	Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine	4.3 L V8
Transmission	6-speed manual 6-speed 'F1' electrohydraulic manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	102.4 in (2,601 mm)
Length	177.6 in (4,511 mm)
Width	75.7 in (1,923 mm)
Height	Coupe: 47.8 in (1,214 mm) Spider: 48.6 in (1,234 mm)
Curb weight	1,450 kg (3,197 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Ferrari 360
Successor	Ferrari 458 Italia

The Ferrari F430 is a sports car that was produced by the Italian automaker Ferrari from 2004 to 2009, as a successor to the 360. It debuted at the 2004 Paris Motor Show.^[1] Its replacement, the Ferrari 458 Italia, was unveiled on 28 July 2009.^[2]

The MSRP for a Ferrari F430 is $186,925 to $217,310 in the United States,^[3] £118,500 in the United Kingdom,^[4] approximately €175,000 in the European Union and $389,000 for the base model to $450,000 for the Spider F1 in Australia.

The body has been redesigned to be more curvaceous and aerodynamic. Although the drag coefficient remains the same, downforce has been greatly enhanced. A great deal of Ferrari heritage is found in the car: at the rear, the Enzo's tail lights and interior vents have been added. The car's name has been etched into the Testarossa-styled driver's side mirror. The large oval openings in the front bumper are reminiscent of Ferrari racing models from the 60s, specifically the 156 "sharknose" Formula One car and 250 TR61 Le Mans cars of Phil Hill.

The F430 features a 4.3L V8 petrol engine derived from a shared Ferrari/Maserati design. This new power plant is a significant departure for Ferrari: all previous Ferrari V8s were descendants of the Dino racing program of the 1950s. This fifty year development cycle came to an end with the entirely new 4.3L, the architecture of which is expected to replace the Dino-derived V12 in most other Ferrari cars. The engine's output specifications are: 490 PS (360 kW; 483 hp) at 8500 rpm and 465 N⋅m (343 lb⋅ft) of torque at 5250 rpm, 80% of which is available below 3500rpm. Despite a 20% increase in displacement, engine weight had grown by only 4 kg and engine dimensions have decreased, for easier packaging. The conrods, pistons and crankshaft are all entirely new, the four-valve cylinder head, valve heads and intake trumpets directly takes measurements from F1 engines, for better volumetric efficiency. The F430 has a top speed of 200 mph (320 km/h).^{[citation needed]} Ferrari also claims the car sprints from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.0 seconds, 0.3 seconds quicker than the old model.^[5]

The brakes on the F430 were designed in close collaboration with Brembo.^[6] The result has been a new cast-iron alloy for the discs. The new alloy includes molybdenum which has better heat dissipation performance. Another option Ferrari is providing are Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide (C/SiC) ceramic composite discs. Ceramics have much higher resistance to heat and brake fade than metals, the F430's brakes offer not only good performance but also a longer lifespan. Ferrari claims the brakes will not fade even after 300-360 laps at their test track.

The F430 includes the E-Diff, a computer-controlled limited slip active differential which can vary the distribution of torque based on inputs such as steering angle and lateral acceleration.^[1][7]

Other notable features include the first application of Ferrari's manettino steering wheel-mounted control knob.^[1] Drivers can select from five different settings which modify the vehicle's ESP system, "Skyhook" electronic suspension, transmission behavior, throttle response, and E-Diff. The feature is similar to Land Rover's "Terrain Response" system.

The Ferrari F430 was also released with exclusive Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 EMT tires, which have a striking V-shaped tread design, run-flat capability, and OneTRED technology.^[8]

In the US the company requested an exemption from the airbag design requirements, which was eventually granted, allowing the car to continue to be sold in the US.^[9]

The F430 Spider is the convertible version based on the coupé. The F430 Spider is Ferrari's 21st road going convertible. The Spider is—just like the coupé—quite similar in looks to the Ferrari 360.

The Ferrari F430 Spider made its world premiere at the Geneva motor show. The car was designed by Pininfarina who used aerodynamic simuation programs which the F1 cars used. ^[10]

The roof panel automatically folds away inside a space above the engine bay. The conversion from a closed top to an open-air convertible is a two-stage folding-action. After a short to and fro the entire top disappears into a closed storage area between the seating and the engine.

The interior of the Spider is identical to that of the coupé.

The F430 Challenge is the racing version of the F430 for the Ferrari Challenge. The engine remains untouched but the vehicle's weight has been reduced and it can reach a top speed of 196 mph (315 km/h). The production model was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January, 2005.

Built to replace the 360 GTC in 2006, the GT2 is a racing car designed to compete in international GT2 class competition, such as in the American Le Mans Series, Le Mans Series, and FIA GT Championship. F430 GT2s also compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. They are the fastest and most developed racing versions of the F430.

In FIA GT2 championship, in order to render the car performances more uniform, the cars are forced to run with a specific minimal weight and with an engine restrictor that depends on the engine displacement.^[11] Hence the 4.3 L V8 engine in GT2 races is destroked to 4.0 L in order to compete in the 3.8–4.0 L class, which is allowed to race with a minimum weight of 1,100 kg (2,425 lb).^[11] Using the 4.3 L engine, the minimum weight of the F430 would increase by 50 kg (110 lb).^[11] In this race configuration, the engine produces somewhat less power, but this is compensated by the lower car weight, which yields a better weight/power ratio.

The F430 GT2s won their class championships in the ALMS and FIA GT, as well as scoring a class win at the 2007 12 Hours of Sebring.^[12]

Originally based on the F430 Challenge, the F430 GT3 is a specialized racing car designed for the FIA GT3 European Championship and is also used in other national GT championships such as British GT and FFSA GT. It is mechanically similar to the F430 Challenge, but has better developed aerodynamics and more power.

The car has a 4.3 L V8 engine which produces 550 hp (410 kW; 558 PS) making the GT3 more powerful than its GT2 counterpart. However due to the GT3 regulations stating that the car must have a power to weight ratio of around 2.6 kg/hp, the car weighs 1,219 kg (2,687 lb) in race trim (driver and fuel excluded),^[13] which is roughly 119 kg (262 lb) more than the GT2 spec car . Despite the higher power and the car only weighing slightly more, it is significantly slower than the GT2 version; for example in the 2007 Spa 24 hours endurance race, in which both models were entered, the GT3 spec vehicles' best qualification time was around 8 seconds slower than that set by the GT2 spec vehicle.

Serving as the successor to the Challenge Stradale, the 430 Scuderia (scuderia meaning "stable of horses", but also used in the context of motor racing teams, including Ferrari's own) was unveiled by Michael Schumacher at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show. Aimed to compete with cars like the Porsche RS-models and the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera (superleggera meaning super light weight), it is lighter (by 100 kg/220 lb) and more powerful (515 PS (379 kW; 508 hp) at 8500 rpm) than the standard F430. Increased power comes from a revised intake, exhaust, and an ion-sensing knock-detection system that allows for a higher compression ratio.^[14] Thus the weight-to-power ratio is reduced from 2.96 kg/hp to 2.5 kg/hp. In addition to the weight saving measures, the Scuderia semi-automatic transmission gains improved "Superfast", known as "Superfast2", software for faster 60 millisecond shift-times. A new traction control system combines the F1-Trac traction and stability control with the E-Diff electronic differential. The Ferrari 430 Scuderia does 0-100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) in 3.6 seconds,^[15] with a top speed of 198 miles per hour (319 km/h).^[16] Ferrari claims that around their test track, Fiorano Circuit, it is faster than a Ferrari Enzo.

When tested on Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson said "It appears to have been welded together by apes", referring to the exposed metalwork. However, he also said that it was a knife-edge racer, which is how a Ferrari should be. He was deeply impressed with its performance, and said that it blew away any Lamborghini. When given to the Stig to take round the Top Gear Test Track, it completed the circuit in an impressive 1 minute 19.7 seconds - as fast as the Nissan GT-R, but faster than the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (1:20.9) and the Porsche Carrera GT (1:19.8). However, it was still slower than the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 (1:19.5).

Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M

Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2009

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To commemorate Ferrari's 16th victory in the Formula 1 Constructor's World Championship 2008, Ferrari unveiled Scuderia Spider 16M, at World Finals in Mugello. It is a convertible version of the 430 Scuderia.

Engine is rated 510 PS (380 kW; 500 hp) at 8500 rpm and 470 N⋅m (350 lb⋅ft) torque at 5250 rpm. The car has 1,340 kg (2,954 lb) dry weight (80 kg lighter than F430 Spider) and 1,440 kg (3,175 lb) curb weight. It accelerates from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.7 seconds, with top speed of 315 km/h (196 mph).^[17]

499 vehicles are to be released beginning early 2009.^[18]

A version of the F430 Spider that runs on ethanol, called the F430 Spider Bio Fuel, was on display at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show.^[19] It contains a 4.3 litre V8 engine that boasts 500 hp (373 kW), with a 4% increase in torque, and produces 5% less carbon dioxide emissions than the standard F430 Spider.^[19]

The F430 based Ferrari SP1 (Special Project Number 1), was the first one-off special produced by the Ferrari Portfolio Program. The body was designed by former Pinifarina employee Leonardo Fioravanti, at the behest of Japanese businessman and collector Junichiro Hiramatsu, who admired Fioravanti's 1998 F100 prototype.^[20]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ferrari F430.

• Ferrari website
• Ferrari F430 on Edmunds.com
• Ferrari F430 GT serial number on Endurance-Series