F1 Technology

Being in Formula One does give Ferrari the opportunity to invent new technologies and then develop them into more road going cars. F1 transmissions are one such development. Incidently the side mounted radiators (F1 cars ala 1970s) made it into the Testarossa, 348s and F355s and was then dropped to SLOW the cars' yaw acceleration and make the cars easier for novices/less-experienced to drive.

I, personally, don't think that F1 transmissions have much to do with "road cars" however, I will admit that anytime a car is on a track, an F1 transmission is a considerable advantage. But when it comes to communing with the car, not so much. I often play a game of a quick start in 1st gear to 40-ish MPH then a quick shift into 6th gear as I'm already at the speed limit--I will look over at the passenger and say something like "See, it only really needs 2 gears!" With a manual, it is childsplay, with a F1 or sequential its 5 taps.

Also, for road going cars (that is cars driven on public throughfares with speed limits), the difference between a 0.5 second shift and a 0.0 second shift is almost meaningless.

However, the die is cast and Ferrari will be preducing fewer and fewer manuals in the future.

 

At the risk of sounding like a yokel, can you elaborate on this statement? I hadn't heard this before and it does pique my interest.

 

I think the answer is yes and no.

Is it a marketing gimmick? To some degree yes. Racing sells cars so the racing is a form of marketing. Instead of GM spending hundreds of millions promoting their cars on TV and billboards, Ferrari (and Fiat) spend plenty on racing (lucky for them their sponsors and the Concorde agreement pick up a lot of that).

Does their technology and engineering make it into their road cars? To some degree yes. If you base the reason for buying your car as being like a race car, to some degree it has to deliver. Also, there are benefits in aerodynamics and engineering that translate down to the street level.

Do others share in technology? To some degree, yes. But to say they are all the same because they use the same technology is too much of a generalization. In the end it's the complete package that matters, not the sum of it's parts.

 

Moving the radiators back to the front (360) increased the YAW moment of inertia by moving a rather heavy item (water filled radiator) from the center of the car's mass to the front of the car. This means that the car turns in slower and also that it does not snap-spin as easily. In a F355, for example, you have to keep your head in front of the car at all times, not so much in a 360. Part of the added stability of the 360 also comes from the longer wheelbase and partially from the better <underbody> aerodynamics.

 

Did the E-Diff not come directly from F1 to the 430 where it was first used?

John.

 

It does

 

Ferrari is one of the very few car companies that built race cars first and sold road cars that were a direct result of their race car endeavor soley to support their race car effort.

I know that is a mouthful, but think about it. Virtually everything about a road car Ferrari from any era, is based on Formula One technology that was developed for racing in Formula One.

On the 458, you have dozens and dozens of parts and or systems that were developed in F1 first. Transmission, e-Diff, f-1 Trac, Traction Control, Launch Control, Carbon Ceramic Brakes and discs, aer0o parts, carbon fiber, valves, valve trains, suspension parts, steering wheel, fuel management, ECU, 9200 RPM engine within a 4.5L 572HP techno marvel, and on and on and don't forget Pit Speed Control, otherwise known as Cruise Control

Seriously, almost all other car manufacturers race in support of their road cars, not the other way around like Ferrari.

Reminds me of back in 2005 when we held the FCA annual meet at Indianapolis. One of the track Vice Presidents was driving his first Ferrari at speed on the Indy road course. He was in a Stradale and after firing down the front straight-away at about 175 he looked at me and said, "Is this street legal? Cause it drives like a frickin race car not a road legal exotic."

He had never driven a Ferrari at speed and thought they were all foo-foo exotics, it never dawned on him until then that they were actually street legal race cars, some hotter than others

So to answer the OPs question, if you like street legal race cars, then yes it is an advantage. If you don't then no it probably doesn't matter

I will go out on a limb here and say the next step for the 458 or its derivative will be a 100 plus HP jump due to Hybrid or KERS and then we will see the Holy Grail of engines, which Ferrari has already filed a patent on. The next gen motor will have adjustable valves that can give 100 MPG or 1000 horse power all from the same motor and all selectable by the driver. Wonder where those technologies came from

 

I think it gives Ferrari an edge in the marketing wars. That my be why Lamborghini has to be always over the top and outrageous to survive.

Does it make much difference in production? Well, Audi does a lot of racing so I think it's not a disadvantage as it might have been in the 80's.

 

Not sure how much of an advantage F1 has over a tractor manufacturer......unless you are in to tractor pulling, which by the way they are having at the State Fair next week

My point actaully was if auto racing technology is what blows your skirt up in a road car then yes, Ferrari enjoys a huge advantage over just about every other road car and tractor manufacturer. But if you are in to a plush strictly luxo ride like Rolls or at the other end of the utilitarian spectrum like John Deere, then no I do not see an advantage, because there is no soul really in either of them. It's that racing thing, the thing that Arnie was talking about in the other recent thread where he tried to describe what the 458 did for his psyche.

 

Be sure to get the warranty on this.

 

this one as well...

http://www.complex.com/rides/2011/07/test-drive-mclaren-mp4-12c

This one certainly is as much a marketing part as anything else... so answer is yes... for most... something to brag about. With that said, it doesn't do it for me... excerpt below...

Well, okay&#8212;here are some reasons why it is so awesome: It&#8217;s built by a company that usually only makes multi-million-dollar Formula 1 race cars. It has a one-piece carbon-fiber tub as the basis for its chassis&#8212;a hugely expensive and complicated feat of engineering. It&#8217;s not only faster than some of the competition, but also more fuel efficient. Its three suspension settings let you dial in for comfort, sporty driving, or an all-out track attack. It&#8217;s easier to see out of and therefore not as intimidating to drive as other mid-engine super cars. The way it connects the driver to the road is spectacular. Oh, and the doors open up like an eagle spreading its wings.

Weaknesses: There is something a bit cold and austere about the McLaren MP4-12C. It&#8217;s a gorgeous car, but somehow it doesn&#8217;t quite get the blood pumping like a Ferrari 458 Italia. Driving it is exhilarating, yet it feels a bit more tame than other super cars. Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. McLaren&#8217;s engineering mantra is &#8220;everything for a reason.&#8221; So every last curve and scoop of the body does something beyond just look good, whether it be improving aerodynamics or engine cooling or visibility. Likewise, the mechanics are completely paired down to the bare essentials, which is key to keeping the car light and increasing fuel economy. Essentially, the MP4-12C&#8217;s weaknesses are academic and purely subject to one&#8217;s tastes.

Everything for a reason? I heard that when they designed the PRIUS.... thanks but no thank you. I opt out no matter how much F1 marketing the car has, I don't spend irrational money on a rational car... I'd take the hot blooded Italians.

 

The concept to have paddles might come from F1, but I don't believe there is any F1 technology in the 458's gearbox. The 458 uses twin clutches, and I think F1 only has 1.

 

I think while there's some carryover... it's more marketing...

This video shows McLaren is as commercial as everyone else in leveraging on F1's tech. Camera pans in on all the F1 cars and I must say the factory is very different and futuristic. Clean like a hospital and it means serious business.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/111071935045/jay-leno-picks-up-his-new-mclaren-mp4-12c-video

Quite an interesting Video. Compared to Ferrari, McLaren is definitely a serious competitor the one and only that belongs and has the F1 heritage but it really doesn't take it for me. People definitely know SF more than Mc to most laymen so that one does it and it looks so much better.