Launching itself as the ‘Ultimate street race car’, Ferrari 430 Scuderia is also the model implemented with the most measure of F1 technology. Evolved from F430, the model has elevated itself to be a model of its own.
Text: BEBOP | Translation: dilettante | Photo: Kimio Ng
FERRARI 430 SCUDERIA
F1 racing driver Michael Schumacher is very much involved in the development of 430 Scuderia. He took a step back from the racing front line since 2006, and became the advisor for the development division of Ferrari Scuderia. He consults on the development of the new model and is also involved in road tests. The aim of 430 Scuderia is to implement F1 technology into a street race car, in another word, to transfer as much Ferrari Scuderia F1 techonology as possible to F430. Schumacher spent a considerate amount of time on road test during the development, injecting the perspective and experience of a seven F1 championships into the essence of 430 Scuderia.
In the world of automobile, ‘speed’ and ‘stability’ are the forever contradicting components. The two stands on the opposite ends, and it took countless effort for the engineers to resolve this issue, although mostly in vain. It
is due to the physical nature of these elements, that there is not much room for significant improvement.
Steadiness is the current holy grail of any high speed automobile. Maximum speed hitting 320 kilometer, the acceleration ability of 430 Scuderia surpasses Enzo with a V12 engine. It takes merely 3.6 seconds to reach 100 kilometer. In the famous Ferrari Fiorano race track, the record of Enzo is 1 minute 25 seconds. It is a record that 430 Scuderia can easily win over.
Some may believe that the weight-horsepower ratio is the most vital matter in an automobile. Alloy titanium spring, light weigh suspending parts, composite material body, aluminum alloy floor, carbon fiber doors and steering wheel enable 430 Scuderia to be 1250 kg, a good 100kg lighter than F430. The V8 engine is re-developed by the Ferrari engineers, embodying maximum horse power of 510hp/8500rpm, much more than the 490hp of F430. After much hard work, the weight-horsepower ratio of 430 Scuderia is 2.45kg/hp, even better than the 2.95kg/hp of F430.
Apart from that, the gearbox is also another highlight. 430 Scuderia, with F1 Superfast 2 gearbox, can change gear in as little as 0.06 seconds. This is only 0.02 seconds longer than the record 0.04 seconds, and almost perfect. Compare to the 0.15 seconds of F430 Enzo, 430 Schuderia has broken new ground.
Manettino, a tiny knob in the bottom right of the wheel, is taken from the F1 technology. It allows the driver the least gesture to change into one of the five modes, ‘slippery mode’, ‘sport mode’, ‘racing mode’, the new ‘CT mode’ (with dynamic control off and stability control on) and ‘CST mode’ (all digital control off).
To maximise its power, 430 Scuderia is complete with a digital rare wheel differential, to optimise accordingly. With the addition of the advance CST system and stability control system, the car speed is 40% faster than F430. 430 Scuderia is easily the most powerful automobile amongst all the street race cars today.
19 inches light alloy wheel rims, specially made Pzero Corsa wheels (front wheel 235/35, rare wheel 285/35) is the reason behind its ability to accelerate in the same rate as Enzo. On the Fiorano race track, the fine-tuned chasis of 430 Scuderia is accurate in its moves, turns and acceleration, overcoming its issue of weight-horsepower ratio to challenge Enzo.
Whenever 430 Scuderia is discussed, its production, technology, balance and precision make it easy to forget the fact that the model is in fact a street race car. It is only because its overall performance is so overwhelming that it overshadows its rivals in a rather surreal scale.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Engine: 4,308c.c.V8
Maximum Power: 510ps/8,500rpm
Maximum Torque: 47.9kgm/5,250rpm
0-100 km/h: <3.6s
Drive: Rear Wheel Drive
Gearbox: F1 ‘Superfast 2’ 6 Speed Semi-Automatic
Brake: Carbon-Ceramic Disc
Dimensions: 4512 mm/1923 mm/1199 mm
Weight: 1250 kg
Price: HKD$3,888,000
(Including First Registration Tax)
