Ferrari F430 Coupe & F430 Spider

The Ferrari F430 can probably still be considered the 20th century in action, live in color. From its aluminum chassis to the improbably smooth operation of its racy flat-plane crank; from the head-craning bodywork of aluminum and carbon fiber and power of its 4.3 liter multi-cam V8 to its brilliantly effective Formula One electro-hydraulic manual gearbox. Though it is one of the latest in a long line of mid-engine, eight-cylindered Ferraris, dating back to the 308s of the 1970s and 80s, it conjures up little compared with its immediate predecessor, the worthy and hardly antique F360 of 1999 from which it directly derives, and the Formula One cars from which it has borrowed much bespoke Silicon Age technology.

The F430 represented the arrival of a complete new generation of Ferrari V8. The vehicle in fact first introduced important technological innovations in the segment of high performances vehicles, such as the electronic differential and the steering wheel mounted manettino. The manettino switch allows the driver to adjust shift speed of the F1 transmission, suspension settings, traction control and other important variables for hard charging. Formula One Racing Division influenced the development of this Ferrari model too: evidences are seen in the optional carbon ceramic discs and the F1 paddle shifter. Standard wheels in the Ferrari F430 are 19 alloy with 5 twin-spoke layout.

The F430 F1 was the first production car to be equipped with the E-Diff or electronic differential, a sophisticated system designed for high performance road holding. At the race track the electronic differential delivers maximum grip out of turns and eliminates wheel spin whether on the road it significantly improves holding. E-diff on the F430 is available either on the F1 transmission than in the manual gearbox model.

The sounds of the F430s exhaust allows to amplify what it is already one of the most mellifluous tone in the business, simply by planting the throttle closer to the carpet. The F430 is another crowd-wowing result from the powerhouse Italian design Pininfarina, which underlines the aggression and performance of this Ferrari model and, at the same time, delivers functionality and driving pleasure. The Ferrari F430 has similarities with the Ferrari Enzo: the rear styling and lights arrangements of the F430, for example, have been inspired by the supercar as well as the shape of the engine air vent with the chrome Pracing Horse logo in the center. In the Ferrari F430 the starter button and the manettino have been installed on the steering wheel whether the rev counter can be either yellow or red.