Archive for category Ferrari
Interior of Ferrari 308
Ferrari 308 is a series of two seats, exotic sports cars for road use. Since its start in 1975 with Ferrari 308 GTB these cars have defined the image of Ferrari in the minds of general public as well as enthusiasts.
Although Ferrari 308 is primarily sports oriented and a luxury car as such, it does not mean that the luxury and comfort aspects of the car are neglected. The interior of Ferrari 308 makes it completely clear.
Ferrari 308 established new standards by the design of its interior. Before 308, no two seated performance oriented car had as comfortable and roomy interior as this one. Very few of them had adjustable seats.
There have been several changes in the interior design of Ferrari 308 series cars over the years but all of these follow the finest traditions of Italian design and provide a sense of luxury and comfort. In its original version 308 had adjustable, leather covered thin shell seats that were very comfortable and supportive. The height of central console was parallel to the seat and it did not extend up to the front bulkhead. The binnacle in front of the steering wheel was dominated by speed and tachometer and also supported gauges for fuel, oil pressure, engine oil temperature etc. Additional gauges were on the lower right of the main binnacle. The console also contains a chromed gear stick and various other controls.
With time 308′s interior changed along with other things like engine, suspension etc. These changes included a flat black binnacle facia, instead of the brushed aluminum. Oil and temperature gauges are moved to the central console that contained the gear shifter stick. The stitching pattern of the leather seats were changed as well.
There were additional changes in the interior of later models such as 308QV. These included an improved tighter stitching of seat cover, a tidier central console and a modernized mono steering wheel with thicker and reshaped spoke and rim. The map pockets in each door were made a little larger as well. Read the rest of this entry »
Ferrari 458 Italia Challenge
The 458 Italia Challenge is a mid-rear V8 berlinetta derived from the 458 Italia and represents the fifth model used by Ferrari in its single-series racing program. The model will be the protagonist in the 2011 Ferrari Challenge, where the new 458 Challenge will share the track with its predecessor, the F430 Challenge. In 2011, each race will see two class winners, one 458 and one F430. Once engines start, Ferrari 458 Challenge drivers will test the very limits of their mettle thanks to advanced technologies Ferrari’s racing arm has refined at circuits throughout the world.
With the new 458 Challenge, Ferrari combines extreme performance, superb fun behind the wheel with unique driving emotions for its sporting, professional and gentleman-driver clients.
To reduce weight from the already light 458 Italia, engineers used thinner body panels and carbon fiber as well as Lexan wherever possible in this track-only model. Equipped with lightweight body panels and specially tuned suspension, the 458 Italia Challenge is the first Challenge racer to use the F1-Trac traction control system and it is Ferrari’s first racing application of the dual-clutch seven-speed transmission. The F1-Trac system allows to constantly monitoring levels of grip for maximum high-performance road-holding and it is fully integrated with the E-Diff to guarantee maximum acceleration and stability into and out of corners. The ABS/EBD, F1-Trac and E-Diff calibration settings are selected thru the manettino placed in the steering wheel. It is the first time this solution has been adopted on a Ferrari Challenge series model. The driver can choose from three configurations: OFF (traction control deactivated), position 1 and position 2, which have progressively higher levels of control system intervention.
For the first time in a Ferrari’s track-only model, the 458 Challenge is also equipped with the E-Diff electronic differential, which is already employed on the road-car version.
Direct-injected 4,497 cc V8 remains the same (558 hp at 9,000 rpm), but the seven-speed gearbox dual-clutch uses different ratios and a new calibration in order to optimize track performance. The interior is reduced to the essentials in the 458 Italia Challenge. Ferrari engineered the 458 Challenge to expose drivers to even higher performance limits and the proof is in the car performance. The 458 Challenge lapped the Fiorano race track in 1:16.5 during testing, which just two-tenths of a second behind the FXX and two seconds faster than its predecessor and track-mate, the F430 Challenge. Read the rest of this entry »