The Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale is one of the most beautiful cars in modern Ferrari history. Born in 2003 during a heyday for supercars, Ferrari decided to build the 360 Modena almost exclusively for track use.From the 360 Modena, Ferrari removed the radio, carpeting and soundproofing. In short, they stripped it down and then tweaked the engine, with a higher compression ratio for an extra 30 hp from the 3.6-liter V-8 to get 425 hp. The Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale was only produced with the F1 transmission with paddle shifts for lever shifts behind the wheel and you didn't even have a fully automatic mode. So the car was not aimed at bored rich people but lucky passionate drivers.
The 360 Modena wasn't designed with aerodynamics in mind like the newer Ferraris but with sex appeal, sound, and driving satisfaction through speed. The Challenge Stradale belongs in our dream garage. Here are ten reasons why:
1. Ferrari calculated that the car would be perfect in terms of usage and designed it for 80% road use and 20% track use. In simple ...maths this means it is a car that can cope with 100% of road use potential for the time you are not on track.
2. It's faster than Ferrari reckoned it would be: Their goal was to improve the 360's time by around 2.5 seconds per lap on the Fiorano circuit, but in the end the Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale was 3.5 seconds faster.
3. Ferrari put the Ferrari 360 on a strict diet, saving about 115 kilograms, meaning very few luxuries were left.
4. That means: no leather, no radio, lighter bumpers, and a host of other changes. Words like "Alcantara and "ceramic brakes" were added to the owner's manual.
5. Could have any color, as long as requested:Giallo Ginevra, Bianco Avus, Blu Bugatti, Rosso Scuderia, Pino Verde
6. The V8 engine revs at 8,700 rpm and produces 425 hp at 8,500 rpm, hits a top speed of 300 km/h, and goes from 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds , so Ferrari added powerful Brembo ceramic brakes that never tire and never lose their performance.
7. The fact is that the Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale is rarer than the legendary F40! (1,288 vs. 1,315).
8. Its price is only going to go up. Believe it or not, the prices for the Ferrari 360 Challenge remain stable making it a bargain. As a limited production model it is considered certain to go up in value.
9. It has 5 valves per cylinder and with its 3,586cc V8 it sounds exactly like a Ferrari should sound.
