Ferrari f430 Scuderia News

An F430 Scuderia is the ideal vehicle to appreciate the Maranello mystique.

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. Source: carsguide.news.com.au