GT3 are fun fast cars, but with 20+ days on track in my CS, I've never seen one shred my CS! I've never had one pass my CS either So, they are both good cars, but "Shred" might be a bit of an over statement!
A very astute observation! This is clearly not a production-ready car - at the very least, the rear fascia needs to be redesigned. Let's look at some timing issues. The F430 is out of the US as of 8/31/08. Unless Ferrari leaves the US market high and dry for awhile, the 430 successor needs to be on the market in the US shortly thereafter. That means that the car will most likely be introduced at Geneva '08 and announced sometime before (as the 599 was announced at Detroit). So, we're looking at an announcement roughly 14 months from now. Clearly, it's not too early for test mules of the 430 successor to be on the road, especially since it will be a completely new chassis. If the 430 successor is announced in January '08, where is there time for a 430CS? Here is one possible scenario. Recall that the 430 was introduced in Europe about 9 months earlier than the US. The same can't happen with the successor since that would mean European introduction around the time of the announcement in January '08, which is much too soon. So perhaps the successor will be introduced in the US first and a 430CS will be made available to the rest of the world as an interim model until production of the successor ramps up. This avoids the issue of trying to squeeze a 430CS into the US under the NHTSA exemption.
hehehe, this will go no where. Is GT3 3x the car of an EVO? Is Stradale 3x the car of a C6 Z06? I love my GT3 and it is whole different fun than the CS. The sound of the CS alone goes a long ways. At the end, the CS puts a bigger grin on my face. So I suppose the different size grin cost my an extra $100k. I just don't think we can compare like that. I don't know that the cost of racing GT3 cup car is worth 10x of racing SpecMiata. I got to race in the first Mazdaspeed Cup at Laguna Seca where we had 68 cars on the grid (a few DNS cars missed out) and average entry out here has been around 40 cars. We all pay enormous amount of $ for the F car, and if you start to compare, there is just no real end in sight justifying it. I accept what I paid and what I got...and whatever price I can get should I ever have to part with it. If a F430 CS becomes real and I fall in love with it...then... Terry
With the 360CS reputation for a great sounding exhaust, how much is lost when the 430CS doesn't sound nearly as good. Even Vicki seems disappointed the Challenge car's similar exhaust setup. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDaMHHOOj1I
The F430 wide open (and at idle) sounds better than the 360cs; If there was a 430cs I am sure it would sound even better than the standard F430.
I think that the Ferrari engineering department is messing with the spy photogs. This car is the mule for the F430 replacement car due in late 2008. Don't you all remember the shortened 612 running around Maranello that turned out to be the 599. This is exactly the same thing, except it is the F499 or whatever they will name the new V8 car. I know everyone here wants a 430 CS, but it's not gonna happen. It's already way too late. 430 production will cease at the end of July 2008, and when the Factory reopens in September 2008 it will have the new car on the assembly line. At this point in the 360 life cycle, with a scant 20 months of life left, the whole world knew that a CS was being produced, mainly because Ferrari announced it. Ferrari are also really busy developing the "small" V8 Dino car. They just don't have the resources to do a 430CS. They are also busy as well with an Enzo successor, which is also due around the end of 2008/early 2009.
What makes the CS so fun to drive is its light weight. If the 430CS is lighter, has race seats, and Launch Control (all of which exist on the 360CS), then we'll talk. Somehow I don't think thats gonna happen in the US.
I'm glad that you said it so well, because I have been trying to put that exact same thing into words. There is simply no time for a CS, no matter how much we all want one. Peter Hatch
how do you explain the pictures in the begining of the thread then? they odviously have time to work on something. If it was a replacement f430 i think it would be even more different looking considering it will have a new chassis and engine. if that isnt going to be a challenge stradale then what is it? It looks street legal. Seems like they would be wasting there precious time working on that car if it is not what it looks like.
I think the point being made is that it is quite possibly the F430 replacement mule. That makes sense to me given timing. They usually have a mule out and about 2 years before production..
for the replacement there will be a new chassis and everything though right? its going to be an entirely new car, wouldnt it be different looking? maybe size-wise or shape. I dont think they would have put the challenge parts and CF door parts in to it if it were a test mule for the replacement f430. It would just raise questions like it is already. IMO
guys- from my understanding there is going to be a cs ( a couple of weeks ago i was informed otherwise) and it will be presented next year at the frankfurt auto show. i was told by the cats miow!
i was told that the car will be introduced next year at a major automotive show. i myself had reservations as i had posted a couple of weeks ago after speaking with a mechanic who has inside knowledge in the goings on. However i was at Monza this Saturday morning for the world challenge series and i was told in no uncertain terms by people in the loop that the car will be made. when and all other technical details i know nothing about. i also had a chance to seem some fxx's this saturday and WOW!!!!i will post pictures later
Is it just me or does it not seem like there are an equal number of people who have it "on good authority" that there will and will not be a 430CS. I don't put any faith in those claims.
tony I just noticed the top vents are blocked off. The top grill serves no purpose. Maybe license plate would go there. Who knows.
Im almost positive there was a silver US spec 430 Challenge at the Roebling Road event in Savannah this past weekend. The car looked and sounded amazing....very raw. Check out the Roebling pics under the Ga. regional section. This car was mean!