Ferrari Scuderia review

What is it?
The Scuderia is a stripped-out hardcore version of the normal F430, which was developed with the help of some German called ‘Michael’, who used to do a bit of motor-racing. With carbon fibre this and magnesium that, it weighs in at 100kg less than the standard car.

[Watch our Ferrari Scuderia video road test here]

What's it like on the outside?
While the 430 is a good looking car, and the Scuderia has some pretty hardcore enhancements. Our car came equipped with carbon fibre door sills, a carbon fibre front splitter and a carbon fibre fuel cap - which boosted the price by £10,000. It also featured one of Ferrari's signature '50s paint jobs, but we feel the blue hue just isn't worth the extra £5,000 - it'd be far better in red.

What's it like on the inside?
Stripped out, like a big Lotus Elise - there's carbon fibre everywhere. Switches from Fiat's parts bin are dotted around the cabin but it feels the part, though - like you're in a race car, but it's comfy at the same time. You don't even mind the fact that there's no sound proofing because the 430 Scuderia makes the best noise in the history of noises. The V8 seems to produce as many different sounds as an orchestra. Down the bottom end it’s like a bassoon, and then an exhaust valve opens at 3,500rpm transforming it into a trombone. At the red line - well imagine a screeching trumpet and you’re almost there. Even though the exhaust on our test car was road legal, the test track where we filmed it chucked us off for flouting their noise regulations. Apparently the Scud hit 98dB which, appropriately, is the same level as a large orchestra.

What's it like to drive?
It’s the best V8 Ferrari ever (apart from the F40). And so it’s worth reminding ourselves just how good it is, as the forthcoming 458 Italia should be even better.

The power-to-weight ratio is further enhanced by the fact the car’s 4.3-litre V8 engine has been tweaked to give an extra 30hp, taking the total up to 510hp. In supercar terms, this may seem like a drop in a depleted oil field. But it’s not. The Scud’s engine pulls much harder from lower in the rev range, while the special paddle-shift gearbox can change ratios in just 60 milliseconds.

There’s more clever electronic trickery too, in the form of the steering wheel-mounted Manettino dial. It allows you to change the sensitivity of the traction and stability control systems and also the firmness of the suspension between different presets. Unlike other electronic driver aids, which tend to panic at the slightest sign of wheel slip and cut the throttle completely, the Scuderia decides just how much you can get away with, without crashing into a tree. And then lets you have it. With the help of the driver aids, the Scud is very easy to drive fast. It’s hugely rewarding, too. And even if you do remove the electronic safety net, the car still feels very balanced and predictable

Verdict
Overall the Scuderia is totally brilliant. It’s a shame it’s being canned. But the 458 Italia will be even better. And just in case it’s not, Ferrari will do a Scuderia version anyway.