F430 Challenge Stradale on the Nürburgring Nordschleife

http://www.auto-motor-sport.de/news/auto_und_produkte/erwischt_ferrari_f430_challenge_stradale.133403.htm

The german car magazine "Auto Motor und Sport" has an article and pictures of the F430 CS. They say that it has higher exhausttips, a horsepower increase to 520 HP (german PS, so this might be different for the US), shorter shifttimes on the F1 and a stiffer suspension, as well as some kind of weight reduction. They also state that it will come in 2008

 

Thanks. That's interesting, as arriving in '08 would suggest that the 430 may be around until '09 or '10.

 

Ahhhhh........like banging my head against a concrete wall.

The 430 in the US is RIP in August 2008 and the European press doesn't seem to know about it! My money say that the car shown is a mule for the 430 replacement which must be ready to ship into the US in 2008.

http://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/p85/398976.pdf

 

Maybe the US won`t have an eight cylinder Ferrari for two years? Ferrari can do without the US for 2 years I would think.

 

Wrong the US is 40% of their market 80%of which is the V8 model.
Try running a business with that much disappearing.

 

The Ferrari filing backed up by confidential documents provided to the DOT claim the the 430 will generate approximately $53,000,000 net profit for Ferrari in 2007. They WILL have a replacement ready for the US market in 2008 to ensure cash flow and profitability.

 

They would free up production capacity for the 599 that could be used to meet demands. With the waiting lists like they are right now, I don`t think it would be a big thing for ferrari. Customers that are desperate to buy a Ferrari would just buy a 599 or the Dino that should be out by then. When there is no F430 the demand in other ferrari models will rise and Ferrari will still have waiting lists.

The demand in ferraris is so big right now that it really does not matter which model they sell, they will be sold out for years regardless.

 

From reading that NHTSA document I'm not sure it implies the whole vehicle will be getting a redesign by 2008. I think it's just temporary relief from FMVSS 208. On August 31/08 that exemption ends so Ferrari has to comply, whether it be with a new car or by modifying the existing one.

Perhaps the 430 replacement will be far enough along its design cycle that its air bag system (which must be compliant) will be designed, and it can be fit into the existing 430 for the duration of its production run.

 

Hey Mr. Montezemolo wannabe,

Glad you seem to have the inside track My guess is there's a a derivative of the 430 that allows them to continue to sell until a new generation car comes out in '10. Either another extension, complying with a more juiced up car or filling the pipeline with cars that fall within the agreed build period and that will carry them through. They may in fact try to have the CS comply as an '08/'09 model and also continuing with a Spider. All a guess but not suggested to be fact as "Monte" implies.

 

Certainly could be, but Ferrari invested years of engineering and failed to achieve compliance with the 360/430 platform followed by a year (mid-2005 to mid-2006) of written pleas (including confidential financial and product road map disclosures) and ultimately told DOT that the end-of-life for the 430 was 2008. I just don't see them continuing to invest in 10 year-old technology when the money would be better spent bringing the V8 (possibly V10) line up to the 599 technology standards.

And yes, I would certainly like to be in Luca's shoes. I have great respect for the fellow and what he has done for Ferrari.

Cheers!

 

Federal Register notes only until 9-08...Exemption from Air Bag requirements due to small company "hardship".
Best

 

So Ferrari had already planned to let the F430 run just until 2008, even BEFORE the advanced airbag requirement came along?

 

Hard to tell. They were careful to paint a picture for the DOT that was conducive to obtaining the exemption.

Here is a link to the complete plea for exemption:

http://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/pdf95/381662_web.pdf

Note that Ferrari confidential information has been redacted.

Ferrari could well "tuck-in" a special edition car before 8/31/2008, but they would be wise to call it a 430 and have little or no chassis and cockpit changes.

The US bureaucratic wheels turn slowly. Certification take time (one reason the US gets new cars last) and exemptions take time (this one took over a year) and if you try anything sneaky they will seize your cars and make you ship them back to point of origin.

 

As I stated in another thread 430CS is launched mid 08, 430 is replaced 2010.
This is stated by the Swedish head importer.

Ofc not will the 430 run only from 05-08, that is crystal clear. Way to short period for a model, what the US market does or not is hardly the only parameter here.

I will refer to this post again 08 when the CS is out as well as 2010 when the 430 is replaced. =)

 

Yeah, your right. The "Swedish head importer" is a far more authoritative source of information than letters from the Ferrari factory filed with the US government. I see your point..........how could I be so foolish to presume otherwise?

It will be great to see Sweden and the EU will be eating 430 left-overs for 2 years while the US is enjoying the new V8 or V10 replacement.

 

Hey guys take it easy, RSK excellent points. Scott, remember during the mid 70's to mid 80's there were no 12 Cylinder Cars officially brought in by the factory. Could it be a case that Ferrari skips one year of the "8" Cylinder cars for the US?

 

A replacement model to the Ferrari F430 by 2008, in my opinion, would be unlikely. Simply because the time the car would have been out, doesnt seem long enough for a model. The car has only been out for roughly 2 years in the UK (first plates in the UK where 05).

No one really knows what is going to happen (only Ferrari, who are probably planning things). Only time will tell.
So I cant see why some people get so up tight about it either, its a car at the end of the day (a very nice one, which we have been happy with), the whole world is likely to all have the same models available to them. The only place that seems to have problems with cars is the USA, and i believe it is to do with Airbags (for example, Pagani Zonda, and i remember reading something about the Veyron as well).

Cheers for the link and pictures, cant wait to see a F430 CS when they do start to appear.

 

The head importer of Swaziland doesn't necessarily agree with the Swedish head importer. And, so, like many others I think I'm going to become an empiricist and just wait and see.

 

I makes very little sense why the life expectancy of F430 is 2008.


2010 is more reasonable.

 

There are, in the Ferrari exemption filing above, a couple of suggestions that the F430 will, in fact, be replaced in 2008.

One is early in the document, where it is stated that a Ferrari design is generally sold for 4-5 years, then has a revamp (which may include a new engine etc) and is then sold for a further 3-4 years. That timeframe would see the F430 being replaced in 2008.

In addition, the document states that Ferrari will cease selling F430's when the exemption expires, and will then introduce a replacement.

One idea is that perhaps the prototypes being scooped are actually mules for the 430 replacement rather than the CS prototype? It could explain why the exhaust pipes exit in what seems a strange location?

 

This is what I'm basing my opinion on. I see some type of "work around" until '10 for the US. They're already up to something by switching '07 US Spiders to '06's. Not sure if they're still trying to do that.

 

+1 I think we have a winner here.

 

Yup! Have a good turkey day (those on the left side of the pond.)

 

You as well. thank you.

 

Yeah I'm with you three.

But this regulation is really gonna stuff things around. I reckon not that many
people would be happy with buying a new Ferrari only for a replacement to
arrive by at least 2 years earlier than expected.

Plus these airbags are just adding more unsprung weight, will they be putting
them in the A pillars? So much for pure, focused drivers' cars.