Ferrari F430 Coupé Manual

Group	0
Engine	90° V8
Displacement	4308cc
Fuel feed and ignition	Bosch ME7 ignition/injection system, fly-by-wire throttle control
Location	Mid longitudinal
Transmission	6 speed manual longitudinal, RWD with E-Diff, CST
Bore and stroke	92 x 81 mm (3.62 x 3.19 in)
Compression ratio	11.3:1
Cylinder block	Aluminium alloy, dry sump
Cylinder head	Aluminium alloy, four overhead cams, four valves per cylinder
Redline rpm	8500
Bhp @ rpm	483 @ 8500
lb ft @ rpm	343 @ 5250
Kerb weight/kg	1450
bhp/ton	333
bhp/litre	112
Chassis	Extruded aluminium space frame and aluminium monocoque
Tyres	225/35 ZR 19" front, 285/35 ZR 19" rear, Pirelli P Zero Rosso
Wheels	7.5J x 19" front, 10J x 19" rear, alloy
Brakes	Cross-drilled, vented carbon-ceramic discs 380 x 34 mm front and 350 x 34 mm rear with 6-piston front and 4-piston rear aluminium calipers, ABS, EBD
Steering	Rack and pinion hydraulic assisted
Front suspension	Double wishbones, coil springs, 'Skyhook' adaptive damping control, anti-roll bar
Rear suspension	Double wishbones, coil springs, 'Skyhook' adaptive damping control, anti-roll bar
Cabin	2 door; 2 seat
0-60/secs	3.9
0-100/secs	8.3
Max mph	196
Fuel tank	95 litres, light alloy
Year	2004-2009
Country	Italy
Price when new	£118,500 (no options)
Number produced	-

Ferrari's F430 coupé was first presented at the Paris Motor show in September 2004 and continues the line of V8 berlinettas by drawing on even more racing technology derived from Ferrari's Formula 1 single-seater cars. The newer car features the same aluminium chassis as the previous generation 360 Modena constructed at the Scaglietti factory in Modena, this time with some reinforcements in key areas such as the A and B pillars as well as a new aeronautical alloy for the floor pan. This increase in structural rigidity ensures it is the suspension that absorbs the shocks from the road surface and not the deformation of the chassis which would interfere with the handling. The doors roof, front windscreen and rear passenger compartment-to-engine glass are also retained from the 360 while the body was redesigned by Pininfarina and Ferrari's then Head of Design Frank Stephenson to be more curvaceous and aerodynamic and produce more downforce and improved cooling. The car again features a flat underbody like the F355 and 360 before it, this time with an even larger rear diffuser to increase downforce at speed.

The engine is an all new design signalling an end to previous Ferrari V8s that have used a descendant of the original 1950s Dino racers engine which culminated with the 360 Modena 50 years later. The new engine shares nothing with the outgoing 360, despite having a 20% larger capacity the engine weight has only increased by 4kg. The new 4308cc engine, which gives the car it's name, has 4-valves per cylinder, variable cam timing on both intake and exhaust valves as well as variable intake volume, it redlines at the same 8500rpm as the previous F355 and 360 this time making substantially more power from the new block at its peak of 483bhp. Ferrari has reduced the length of the engine by employing a chain driven system to replace the geared and toothed cambelt; crankshaft, conrods and pistons are also all new.

Attached to the transmission is a new computer controlled electronic differential which replaces a purely mechanical limited slip differential between the rear wheels, the operation of this as well as the electronic suspension, throttle response and traction control can be modified by the use of a switch on the steering wheel to tune the car for different driving environments and to maximise traction and torque under high cornering forces - both of these systems were initially developed by Ferrari for its Formula one cars. Suspension is as before with double wishbones all round and adaptive dampers while the new cast iron alloy discs on the F430 now feature molybdenum for better heat dissipation, carbon fibre –reinforced Silicon Carbide ceramic composite discs are also available providing a much higher resistance to heat and brake fade than metallic discs, another direct result of motorsport.  
 
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