The F430 Replacement - An Honest Question

My dealer told me that there would be an extension through 09 and that 2010 would bring the F430 replacement.
FWIW
Jim

 

Jim, my dealer told me the same thing a few months ago and now they are backing off this position. In light of Ferrari representing to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that (A) 430 Production is finished in 2008; and (B) The successor model will be introduced in "late 2008", I think 430 production will terminate in a year.

SEE PAGE 8 OF: http://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/pdf95/381662_web.pdf

 

You mean I got less than the truth from a car dealer? Say it ain't so Joe.
As I said, FWIW.
Jim

 

F430 replacement is stated for end of 2008.........it will be a V8 model....

The F430 vehicles for which Ferrari is seeking an exemption were originally designed in
the mid-1990s. They were originally designated as the 360 model. The Modena (coupe) version
of the 360 was launched in 1999, followed by the Spider (convertible) version in 2000, and the
Challenge Stradale in 2003. Production of these models continued until the end of 2004. Shortly
thereafter, Ferrari began production of the facelift version, known as the F430.




Ferrari plans to
produce F430 models until late 2008; at that point, the F430 will be replaced by a newlydesigned
8-cylinder model.






As a general rule, Ferrari vehicles are designed to satisfy all applicable regulatory
requirements without the need to seek any exemptions. Indeed, the 360 and F430 vehicles were
designed to meet, and do meet, all applicable FMVSSs in effect at the time the 360 was
originally designed (in the mid-1 990s). Moreover, they have been modified from time to time to
assure compliance with all but one of the many regulatory amendments adopted by NHTSA
since that time. For example, the model was modified to comply with FMVSS Nos. 201U and
401, both of which were adopted after the model was initially designed. And the other Ferrari
vehicles intended for the United States market in 2006 and beyond (the Nuova Maranello, the
61 2 Scaglietti, and the 8-cylinder replacement for the F430) will meet all of the FMVSSs and
will not need any exemptions. Moreover, Ferrari has taken steps to comply with standards
earlier than required ( such as the new rear impact requirements of FMVSS No. 301), and the
company conducts tests in additional crash modes (such as a 40 mph offset frontal crash test) to
assure excellent safety performance in a wider range of crashes.
Unfortunately, the advanced air bag provisions added to FMVSS No. 208 in May 2000
(65 Fed. Reg. 30680 (May 12, 2000)) imposed several extraordinary and unanticipated
requirements that are not compatible with the 360IF430 models, despite Ferrari's substantial
efforts to comply. Those vehicles were designed long before the advanced air bag requirements
were even contemplated by NHTSA3 As explained in more detail below, Ferrari has devoted an
enormous amount of time and resources in an effort to bring the F430 into compliance with the
advanced air bag requirements. These efforts have enabled Ferrari to incorporate design
improvements to bring the F430 into compliance with all of the high-speed belted and unbelted
crash test requirements of the advanced air bag rule at both the driver and passenger position,
with both 50th percentile male and 5t'1 percentile female dummies, and into compliance with most
of the out-of-position requirements for the 5" percentile female dummy. However, despite
Ferrari's efforts to involve numerous potential suppliers, it has not identified any that are willing
to work with the company to develop a functioning occupant classification system. Moreover, it
is simply not possible to reconfigure the F430 to accommodate the sort of occupant classification
system and new air bag designs that would be needed to comply with S 19-S25 of the Standard.
Therefore, Ferrari is seeking this temporary exemption.
' The other Ferrari models that will be \old in the IJnited Ctates dter September 1, 2006 were designed from the
outset with an awarene5s of the ndvanced air bag requirements because the requirements were adopted before those
models were designed
to comply with those requirements in advmce of the applicable deadline
I hus,

 

My dealer, who hasn't been wrong yet, says 2008 is the last year for the 430 and the replacement is scheduled for Sept/Oct of 2008 as an 09 model.

 

I believe the F430 will remain in production until 2009/2010 excluding exportation to the US unless Ferrari succeeds in being granted a one year extension.

 

Our local dealer says the same....

 

S. (intouch1), I see you are becoming an expert in Ferrari matters. I am impressed....well presented thoughts.


What happened in the paragraph below....your eyes got blurry ....usually your spelling is impeccable or is it still the effect of last night .

 

This is what will happen. If anything F may be trying to down play this news so that it doesn't look like they have it in the bag WRT the NHTSA.

 

It wouldn't be the first time that Ferrari had a hiatus between models. The likely scenario is that 430's will be produced through July 31 2008, when the factory closes for summer break and changes over to the new model. The June and July build cars, almost all of which will be Scuderias, will trickle in to the US over the next couple of months as legal 2008 models and the new model, as a 09, will start coming in from February 09 onwards.

There is a lot of fuss made over Ferrari deliveries, but the fact is that per dealer, very few new Ferraris are delivered. Ferrari makes around 5,500 new car per year currently. Approx 3,000 are 430 derivatives and less than 1,000 of those come to the US. Divide that number by the total amount of dealerships in the US and you will see that there are really very few 430's delivered annually. In some dealerships, less than 10 new cars per year is not uncommon. The 599 will still be available as a current model, as will the 612, and the new small car will definitely be coming into showrooms during late 2008. There will be more than enough new cars to make up for the lack of 430's in US dealerships.

I also don't believe that the 430 will continue to sold in other markets or that the successor model to the 430 will come to the US first. Ferrari always releases their models in Europe first, where their warranties are shorter and less costly and where problems can be fixed easier and cheaper

 

Has anyone seen what the replacement may look like. I've just seen the Photo Shopped number with the Saleen gills. MY 2009 is not that far off.
Jim

 

IF the 430 replacement really comes as early as late 2008 (and I was also told by my dealer, although he's not that sure about it anymore...), then we should see the first heavily camouflaged test mules right after the factory holiday. IF there will be no test mule pics late this year, the 430 replacement won't come in 2008 IMO.

 

No, nothing. Other then puter renderings I doubt there is anything life size yet.

 

The only point on all of the above post that I find incorrect dealing with next year is the introduction of a smaller/cheaper entry level F-car (Dino). LDM, in an interview in the latest issue of Automobile, said without question that positively there will not be a Dino or any other entry level Ferrari. All so called mules recently seen are either Maserati or Alfa cars. And this completely makes sense. Why should Ferrari build a less espensive car when they cannot build enough of the expensive ones!

 

?? There's going to be another entry level car. LDM is just playing with semantics.