• HOME
• 
• AUTO LISTINGS
• 
• FINANCE
• 
• NEWS
• 
• DIRECTORY
• 
• REVIEWS
• 
• FORUM
• 
• BLOG
• 

2005 Ferrari F430 F1 Track Test

Simply Sublime

I realized I was spoiled rotten when, at the Mont-Tremblant track in St. Jovite, Quebec, Im frustrated because the Ferrari F430 test Im about to undertake is to be limited to three laps. Three laps! Thats hardly enough time to get to know a car as painstakingly engineered as this.

Nevertheless, three laps were all that I had and I was going to make the best of the situation. While waiting I wasnt exactly twiddling my thumbs, mind you, as Ferrari had kindly offered up a lovely 612 Scaglietti plus an equally impressive Maserati Quattroporte to bide my time, both of which offered a great deal more performance than the majority of cars in their respective segments. But Ill leave full reports on each to another day, and now focus on the brilliant red sports car that caused me to fly

This brilliant red sports car is what caused me to fly halfway across the country. (Photo: Ray Watson, American Auto Press)

halfway across the country in the first place.

Milling around the car prior to the testing process, I couldnt help but stare. Its one thing to catch sight of Ferraris "entry-level" model in a photo, or even at an auto show, or for that matter in a dealers showroom, but to experience the F430 in its element, in the metal,warming up in the pit lane ready to go out and do fast laps around one of Canadas premier race tracks, is a sight to behold.

Ferrari has done

According to Ferrari, the F430 only carries over about thirty percent of the outgoing F360. (Photo: Ray Watson, American Auto Press)

a marvelous job updating the car from its F360 roots, but to judge it as anything but all-new, in the automotive industry sense ofthe term, would be a mistake. After all, according to Ferrari, the F430 only carries over about thirty percent from the outgoing F360, and to the average enthusiasts eye, of which Im one, only the greenhouse, the front edge of the hood and upper bumper appear remotely similar to the old car. From the front end, the headlamp clusters are more vertical in shape, while the ducts integrated into the front fascia, a design element

The F430 takes much of its design language from the outrageous Enzo supercar. (Photo: Ray Watson, American Auto Press)

thatwas so controversial in the previous car, are more elegantly shaped in the F430. Its side profile is similar, but new, much more pronounced upper and lower engine/brake cooling ducts change the overall shape dramatically. And the rear end design is entirely unique, at least when compared to the F360. It takes much of its design language with the outrageous Enzo supercar; and to me pulls off the integration of the protruding taillights in a much cleaner fashion than its rarified sibling. The cars slate-gray diffuser looks absolutely stunning, and the glass engine cover shows off the glorious crinkle painted "testa rossa" engine - no homogenized

The V8 engine sounds sensational whether hearing it from inside the cockpit or from behind the car as it speeds past on the open straight. (Photo: Ray Watson, American Auto Press)

plastic engine shroud here.

That engine might be the first Ferrari V8 ever produced that could win over V12 purists, as it not only rivals the classic Scuderia configuration forout-and-out power, but also sounds sensational whether hearing it from inside the cockpit or from behind the car as it speeds past on the open straight.

And in case youve never heard a Ferrari in full song, its a sound you cant mistake for anything else. Compared to Porsches throaty boxer six or Lamborghinis guttural V12, the Ferrari delivers a higher pitched aria, more Mariah Carey than Tom Waits. Of course, the engines pitch has been lowered slightly with each upgrade due to greater overalldisplacement,

The steering wheel isnt completely round, squared off slightly at the top, in similitude of the F1s "grab handles". (Photo: Ray Watson, American Auto Press)

but the F430 still sounds more mechanically refined than the majority of its competitors.

Page:  1  2  3

AUTOMOBILE REVIEWS BY MAKE

Acura  Audi   Bentley   BMW   Buick   Cadillac   Chevrolet   Chrysler   Daewoo   Dodge   Eagle   Ferrari   Ford   Geo   GMC   Honda   Hummer   Hyundai   Infiniti   Isuzu   Jaguar   Jeep   Kia   Lamborghini   Lexus   Lincoln   Lotus   Maserati   Mazda   Mercedes-Benz   Mercury   MINI   Mitsubishi   Nissan   Oldsmobile   Plymouth   Pontiac   Porsche   Saab   Saturn   Scion   Subaru   Suzuki   Toyota   Volkswagen   Volvo