la Ferrari 2003 -- weight and hp numbers from Ferrari

Just got this Ferrari publication. It gives a run down of the cars to be produced in 2003, with a fairly consistent write-up and set of specs for each model.

On the Challenge Stradale, it notes that 2% of the HP is from ram effect at top speed. So, roughly 8 HP. That doesn't explain the delta from 409bhp (owners' manual) to 425bhp (marketing) though. Ram effect is not mentioned for any other model.

Check out these dry weights:

2976lb - 360 Spider
2844lb - 360 Modena
2767lb - Enzo
2645lb - 360 Challenge
2602lb - Challenge Stradale
2425lb - 360 GT

That's right... they list the CS as lighter than the 360C! Go figure.

Yet somehow, with less weight and more power, the CS is still listed as 0.1s slower to 62mph and 0.1s slower in the 1/4mi. Go figure.

 

Oh, good point.

Of course, we also know that the CS weighs more than that and the 360C weighs less than that.

 

Based on more in depth look at those numbers for the 360 and the CS, it seems Ferrari focuses a lot on bringing down the marketing weight, which is basically the weight of the car in the least restrictive market. Then country-specific stuff seems to weigh a lot. I wonder if they even bother engineering it to be light since it doesn't appear in the marketing number!

For example, the Stradale marketing weight is 2822lb. But the weight according to some Euro owners' manuals is 2844lb. Presumably the weight of the cats. But the weight in the US owners' manuals is 2998lb. Where's the extra 154lb? Looking at the part lists, its not clear. There's a whole thread on this: click here.

Of course, even then, the owners manuals' weights are still optimistic relative to reality. Its a shame most of the magazines don't even bother to weigh the cars... just use the marketing numbers. How hard is it to have a set of scales? And what stat could be more concrete and important?