"Autos:
Meet the Challenge."
By Robert Farago
When Luca Di Montezemolo took the reins at Ferrari
in 1992, he declared an end to the marque’s tradition of
building the world’s fastest hair shirts. Luca’s Ferraris
would go like hell and provide practicality: effective climate
control, power-assisted steering, robust mechanicals, dependable
electronics, and room for two golf bags!
The 360 Modena was the first model to embody
this new ethos. It may not possess the ergonomics or build quality
of a German machine, but it’s close enough for rock and
roll. Or is it? While Modena owners appreciate their cars’
civilized road manners, more than a few Ferraristi have voiced
their desire for something a little less Genesis, a little more
Sex Pistols. Ferrari responded with the 2004 Challenge Stradale,
a stripped-down, race-ready machine. The 360 Modena’s base
price is $150,060, and the Challenge Stradale is expected to sell
for even more, but the new Ferrari has track-day enthusiasts reaching
for their wallets. As of early summer, 250 Stradales had been
sold in the United States; owners should expect delivery this
winter.
The Challenge Stradale is based on the race-modified
360 Modenas driven in the Ferrari Challenge international championships
and the FIA GT races. The Stradale is not a street-legal version
of the Challenge car, nor is it a gussied-up, slightly tweaked
version of the Modena. It is a 360 red in tooth and claw, designed
for drivers happy to sacrifice creature comforts for unadulterated
thrills.
Like the racing Modenas, the Stradale derives
its character from what you don’t get: a radio, carpets,
leather, trim. While the 2,822-pound car—242 pounds lighter
than the Modena—comes with air-conditioning and power windows,
anything not strictly related to going fast has been sucked out
in a flattering version of automotive liposuction.
The weight-loss program continues with carbon
fiber racing seats and a new chin spoiler, enabling the Stradale
to improve upon the 360’s already impressive power-to-weight
ratio. The 425-hp Stradale, which sports Formula One–style
paddle shifters, scoots from zero to 62 in 4.1 seconds, peaking
at 186 mph.
Anthony Cheshire, coordinator of Club Fiorano,
a private British organization that holds track days for Ferrari
owners, has driven the factory-prepared 360 Challenge. “The
360 has better braking than any other road car. Even so, the difference
between a standard 360 and a Challenge car is night and day,”
Cheshire says. “If the Stradale’s handling is anywhere
near the racecar’s, it will be nothing short of fantastic.”
Fantastic, yes. Comfortable, no. The bare-bones
Stradale is not an ideal long-distance commuter. “For day-to-day
driving, the 360 Modena is the logical choice,” says Simone
Piatelli, Ferrari spokesman. “But for younger drivers, or
owners who find their pleasures on the track, the new car is better.
The Stradale complements the 360. It doesn’t replace anything.”
For some 360 owners, clearly it will.
Ferrari, www.ferrari.com
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