The prancing stallion crest of Ferrari is celebrated as being the icon of Italian engineering. Evidenced in its 15 Formula 1 World Championship titles, six of them coming in the eight years of competition since the turn of the century (with its most recent win added just this year), the Maranello-hubbed camp has always been a pedigree on its own. Never one to remain idle, Ferrari has held itself to an even greater standard, enlisting the techies of its race development program for commercial production cars -- namely, the Ferrari Scuderia.
The original F430 was a borderline supercar in its own right, and has only improved under the Scuderia branding. We’ve evaluated this ’08 offering for both luxury and practicality, and will award up to 50 points in each category. But, just because it carries the Ferrari name, will it come away with a perfect score?
The luxury ride
Scuderia is the moniker for the Gestione Sportiva, loosely translated to "sport management," and is the division responsible for Ferrari’s continued success in motorsports. Headed by the Corse Cliente and inspired by Michael Schumacher, this division has re-dedicated itself to merging the genres of the traditional track vehicle and the ultimate street performer. A new breed of Formula 1 technology and Italian craftsmanship has resulted in the car of tomorrow, today.On paper, the Ferrari Scuderia very much resembles the principal infrastructure of the F430, from which it derives its aesthetic. The primary distinction is made under the convexed hood. Kinetics are provided by a naturally aspirated, DOHC, 4.3-liter, 32-valve, V8 engine. Displacement is set at 4,308 cc as the aluminum block spills 510 horsepower at 8,500 rpm, with 80% of its pinnacle torque available at 3,000 rpm. An extremely low weight-to-power ratio of just 2.45 kg per horsepower makes it more nimble than rival supercars from Lamborghini. An open throttle climaxes at a maximum speed of 198 mph, setting the tarmac ablaze from 0-60 mph in just 3.6 seconds and to 100 in less than 11 seconds. Uber-modern software, dubbed F1 Superfast, was also introduced in the coupe. The Ferrari Scuderia minimizes the six-speed paddle shift gear-change times to 60 milliseconds; your average Formula 1 driver achieves the same feat in 40.
Once the rear wheels are set in motion, even in excess of 4,000 rpm, this two-seater maintains its legs and sticks to the road. The innovation of an electronic differential and F1-Trac traction and stability control aid in corner carving and are available for the first time in a single integrated system. A forged, aluminum, coil-over suspension picks up the minimal slack -- if any -- the CPU handling setup left behind. Ferrari sought longtime partner Pirelli to dress the 19-inch gold alloys in P-Zero rubber, as carbon-ceramic, cross-drilled, Swiss-cheese discs with four-piston calipers bring the engine output to a standstill at the dip of your left foot.
With this many improvements incorporated as standard equipment on what was already a fence-straddling supercar, the focal selling point is quite evident in its ability to be an arrive-and-drive race car. Even so, the Ferrari Scuderia is well behaved, with a five-function "mannetino" and can be captained at commuter speeds with ease. The F430 connoisseur is portrayed as a passionate individual who demands the same echelon of excellence in the parking lot as he does on the track. That being said, the buyer’s favor comes in the form of historical esteem, and Ferrari addresses all of this in the ’08 Scuderia.
In keeping with the signature aft-positioned powerplant resting behind both passenger and driver, the Ferrari Scuderia design team had to look elsewhere for cabin upgrades. The interior hosts narrow, double-layered Alcantra and carbon-fiber competizione bucket seats that place a snug clamp on the operator and passenger. The dashboard, complete with push-start ignition, is sewn in black fabric with carbon inserts for the center console and side air vents. There is an integrated command pod for governing the vehicle configuration mounted on the steering wheel, as well as analog instrumentation on a glowing multi-display HUD panel.
Improving wind splitting and becoming more streamlined proved to be a challenge, but was managed by a lighter deck spoiler, carbon body panels and rear grille, which skims 220 lbs off the F430. Engine bay strut supports and vents are visible, while leaving the low profile intact. The rear air diffuser and dual afterburners are high mounted and center set with polished tips. Slightly larger venturis that run from the front wheel houses to the rear bumpers were applied in an effort to increase downforce without compromising the popular overall appearance of the F430.
The entertainment digs have been virtually untouched versus its base model. It is elementary, at best, with an in-dash, six-disc CD changer and hi-fi stereo that gets drowned out by the beefy exhaust notes anyway.
The verdict
The Ferrari Scuderia F430 is more than groundbreaking. It’s the most technologically evolved machine shy of a space shuttle -- and it has a Ferrari badge.Luxury Score: 48/50
The practical ride
In referencing the price guides and their relevance to the worth of a supercar, the term “cost effective” is beyond nonexistent. Monetarily speaking, at $550,000, the Scuderia finds itself stirring in the same bracket as the SLR McLaren and Lamborghini’s Murcielago and Gallardo. On road merit, it bests the new Porsche GT2 and Lamborghini Superleggera with a fraction of the effort.Acknowledging the deliberate makings of a championship-bred vehicle from not only a world class manufacturer but also a world leader in Formula 1 competition titles, this should go unopposed as a superb buy. Although not the first to capitalize on proven motorsport success, its ability to both stop and out-drive traffic alone make this special edition a serious contender.
Before charging the Ferrari Scuderia F430 to your Black Card, a few minor faults in the vehicle should be known. The first of these is sub-par fuel mileage. The EPA has not yet been rated for this transformed weekend deviant, but if the comparably basic F430 is an accurate representation, you can expect to know your local gas attendant's work schedule by heart. Presumably less than its predecessor’s 11 mpg through streets and 16 mpg on the state routes, there are no savings to be had in this arena. The ride is compliant to a daily commute, but due to the engine layout, rear visibility is greatly restricted and won’t help you dodge that speeding ticket when the sheriff pulls up behind you. There is no passenger-side glove compartment, yet there is more cargo area compared to other vehicles in its class.
The verdict
Under the spotlight, it would seem that off the race circuit, the Ferrari Scuderia F430 still needs some fine-tuning to be a flexible supercar. But, it's still a Ferrari.Practicality Score: 41/50
and the total is…
Ferrari has amassed its sports-driven clientele following through unbridled performance, strategic marketing and crucial production timing. With the endorsement of Michael Schumacher behind it, the Scuderia F430 gains even more credibility -- as if it really needed it.89/100
Resources:http://www.ferrariworld.com/
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