//:: Ferrari boss tests the new Lacia Stratos

After Pininfarina presented the New Lancia Stratos to the car's owner Michael Stoschek, the Italian design house invited Ferrari head-honcho Luca di Montezemelo to take it for a spin around the Fiorano circuit in Maranello.

According to the project's official website, Mr. di Montezemolo was very impressed with the New Stratos, openly praising it with exclamations such as "bellissima" and "congratulazioni". And that's not all, as the Ferrari CEO called his technical director, Roberto Fedeli, and suggested he should also take a look at the car.

Chief test driver Dario Benuzzi was next behind the wheel, pushing the new Stratos to its limits. With more than 40 years of experience in calibrating sport and racecars, Benuzzi concluded that the rear axle becomes a bit "agitated" during high speed cornering, but it can be "cured" by a bit more toe-in on the rear wheels.

Then again, given that the New Stratos is based on the F430 Scuderia's underpinnings, we weren't expecting anything but words of praise from the Ferrari brass. The next meeting with the New Stratos will take place at the official press unveiling at the Paul Ricard Circuit, in France in about a week's time.

click here for my previous blog about the new Lancia Stratos

The new Lancia Stratos, Dario Benuzzi, Fiorano, Ferrari, Pinifarina //TAGS

//:: Ferrari F430 Spider

The Ferrari F430 Spider is the 21st road going convertible that Ferrari has ever created. It is pretty much similar in terms of the mechanical side of the hardtop F430 coupe' -- the car which this spider is based on.

According to some researchers and auto reviewers who had the chance to talk to Ferrari engineers... although this is abit heavier than the hardtop coupe' because some added strengthening adds to it ... the difference in performance is so small that you can't really spot them. -- When top gear tested it around their track it was only about .3 of a second slower than the hard top coupe'.

Ferrari F430 Spider, convertible, sports car, supercar //TAGS

//:: Ferrari F430

The Ferrari F430

Perhaps were the mid-engine supers now a-days has been based on or sort of copied onto. Ever since the F430 went out there were lots of mid-engined supercars that followed .... "hmmmm ... makes me wonder"

The Ferrari F430 is the replacement for the Ferrari 360. Ferrari built this supercar from 2004 upto 2009. It debuted at the 2004 Paris Motor Show and on the 29th of July 2009 it was then replaced by the Ferrari 458 Italia.

Let's take a look at this cars great asthetics and aspects that makes it one of the best cars in the world ... well it isn't now ofcourse because of the 458 Italia.

Design

The body has been redesigned to be more curvaceous and aerodynamic than the 360. 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 Ferrari 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.

Engine

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 the F430 line: the engines of all previous V8 Ferraris 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. The F430 has a top speed of 196 mph (315 km/h).

Brakes

The brakes on the F430 were designed in close collaboration with Brembo. 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.

Features

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

Other notable features include the first application of Ferrari's manettino steering wheel-mounted control knob. 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.

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.

Here are video reviews of the F430. This video will explain how good the diff is, how to use and what the manettino is for, etc. etc.

Ferrari F430 based cars:

• Ferrari F430 Spider
• Ferrari F430 Challenge
• Ferrari F430 Scuderia
• Ferrari F430 Scuderia Spider 16M
  

Ferrari, Manetino, supercar, Italy, Motorsport, Dream car, speed, 200MPH , V8, acceleration //TAGS horsepower, Engine, best car //TAGS