First look: Ferrari flips Scuderia’s wig

THE new California convertible may have hogged Ferrari’s most recent limelight, but today’s reveal of the 430 Scuderia Spider 16M confirms an even quicker, faster and more exclusive open-top model to come from Maranello.

Yes, Ferrari has applied the same less-weight-more-power treatment that graces this year’s 430 Scuderia coupe to its soft-top sibling, the 430 Spider, and the result is the most rapid rag-top ever produced by the reigning Formula One title constructor.

Powered by the same highly-strung 375kW/470Nm version of the naturally-aspirated 4.3-litre V8 that motivates the 430 Scuderia, which is 15kW and 5Nm livelier than the standard 430 coupe and convertible, the 1440kg Scuderia Spider is similarly 80kg lighter than the ‘regular’ 430 Spider, but still 90kg more than the Scuderia coupe.

It’s enough to propel the soft-topped supercar to 100km/h in a Porsche 911 Turbo-matching 3.7 seconds – one-tenth slower than the Scuderia coupe but better than the “sub-four-second” California, which has 310km/h top speed while the Scuderia Spider and coupe are good for a claimed 315 and 320km/h respectively.

Combined with what is claimed to be the most advanced chassis it has ever produced, Ferrari says it is the fastest convertible to ever lap its Fiorano test track. At its launch, the prancing horse brand said the Scuderia coupe was two seconds faster than the standard 430 at Fiorano, matching its flagship Enzo coupe.

Another vital statistic for prospective buyers is that while 2000 Scuderia coupes will be produced for the global market in 2008, just 499 examples of the 16M will be built in total – so-called to celebrate Ferrari’s 16th manufacturer’s championship win.

The first of just 10 Scuderia Spiders allocated for the Australian and New Zealand markets via Neville Crichton’s European Automotive Imports will arrive here in mid-2009 – 12 months after the Scuderia coupe that attracted 63 orders following its local debut at the 2007 Sydney motor show.

Thanks also to its unique bold yellow “16M Scuderia Spider” dashboard and rear grille badging, the Spider Scuderia will not only be the most exclusive iteration of Ferrari’s entry-level 430, but most likely the last of this generation. The 430 replaced the 360 in 2004, before going on sale here in August 2005.

It should also be the most expensive version of the 430. At $573,700, the Scuderia variant carries a $139,550 premium over the standard 430 coupe. Given a similar premium over the 430 Spider, depending on exchange rates, the topless Scuderia should command in excess of $600,000 - or within about $50,000 o fthe 612 Scaglietti and 599 GTB.

The newest Scuderia will come as standard with black exterior paint and grey trim, while a “signature” tri-colour livery will be available as part of the Carrozzeria Scaglietti Personalisation Programme.

Other exclusive components include carbonfibre-clad rollover hoops, but while a sound system is optional in the Scuderia coupe, the Spider features a specific new-generation audio unit that can be combined with a removable customised 16GB Ferrari iPod Touch with central dashboard dock.

As per the Scuderia coupe, the Spider is cosmetically differentiated from the 430 via a restyled front fascia with carbon-fibre grille, modified side-skirts, twin exhaust tips, a revised rear diffuser design, exclusive 19-inch split-rim alloy wheels, carbon-fibre wing mirrors, two central racing stripes and Scuderia badging. The Scuderia’s bonnet is also said to have a 5mm higher profile to create 30kg of extra downforce at speeds of more than 200km/h, with no increase in drag.

Weight-saving Scuderia features include the removal of interior lining and carpets, the ashtray, cigarette lighter and glovebox, and the addition of a perspex rear engine cover, carbon-fibre seats and carbon-fibre door inners.

Australian-delivery Scuderias will be fitted with ADR-compliant three-point seatbelts rather than the four-point racing harness fitted elsewhere, while air-conditioning, power windows/mirrors and remote central locking remain standard.

In terms of hardware, its modified V8 features higher-compression pistons, blueprinted induction and improved exhaust flow, a carbon-fibre inlet tract, improved coil packs and a dedicated ignition computer.

Despite the extra performance, the Scuderia’s strict diet means it is actually more efficient than the 430 Spider, with the combined ECE fuel consumption figure dropping from 18.3 to 15.7L/100km and CO2 emissions falling from 420 to 360g/km.

The Scuderia’s peakier engine is mated as standard to Ferrari’s “F1-SuperFast2” automated manual gearbox with dual dry clutches, which can shift gears in a claimed 60 milliseconds via an electronically-locking E-diff differential.

Bringing the electronic throttle, automated manual gearbox, locking differential, traction control and stability control and adjustable suspension damping systems together under five driver-selectable settings is the steering wheel-mounted manettino rotary dial, which in Scuderia guise features independently variable damping, as allegedly requested by development driver Michael Schumacher.

Carbon-ceramic cross-drilled and vented front brake discs, borrowed from the 599, are 18mm larger in diameter (398x36mm) and clamped by six-piston callipers, while the (350x34mm) rear rotors are also vented carbon-ceramic items as used in the F430 Challenge race car, and gripped by six-piston callipers.

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