MANETTINO AND VEHICLE SET-UP
Just like
in Formula 1, the F430 driver can change the set-up of his car using the
innovative selector set on the steering wheel. The manettino is a
rotary switch that has been adopted directly from racing, where the
driver's total commitment to driving requires maximum efficiency and
speed in controlling the car's various functions.
This switch quickly
and simply controls the electronics governing suspension settings, the CST stability and traction control, E-Diff and the change speed of the
F1 transmission, as well as the integration between each of these
individual functions. The position of the manettino is an example
of the rationalisation studies that went into the layout of all the
controls inside the car.
The manettino enables car settings to be changed to suit the
personal preferences of the driver, road surface conditions and
available grip. The settings available to the driver have been
concentrated in five different strategies. These, in ascending order
according the level of performance (grip), are:
ICE: performance is significantly restricted (maximum
intervention by the stability and traction control) for maximum
stability - indispensable for driving in very slippery conditions (snow
or ice). The car reacts smoothly to driving inputs. The automatic
gear-changing mode is selected which prevents gear changes at high revs
and reduces the possibility of the rear wheels locking up on downchanges,
even on ice.
LOW GRIP: this position ensures stability both on dry and wet
surfaces. It is therefore recommended for surfaces with poor grip
(rain), gritty roads or particularly broken or undulating tarmac. In
this configuration, unlike ICE, the driver can still use the F1 paddle
shift. The adaptive suspension setting is optimised to provide a very
comfortable ride without impeding the handling balance, and the
stability and traction control remains in the ICE configuration.
SPORT: this is the standard setting that strikes the best balance
between stability and performance. Ideal for the open road, this
position provides an optimum compromise for maximum performance and
safety. Compared to the previous settings, SPORT adopts a more sporting
configuration for the adaptive suspension to maximise performance,
handling and stability at high speeds. The CST also goes up a level,
giving the driver greater freedom, without excessively reigning in the
engine.
RACE: this setting must be used only on the race track. Gear
changing is even faster to minimise gear-shifting times. CST
intervention is reduced to a minimum (the engine management only cuts
the engine when absolutely necessary). The damping also goes up one
level.
CST: activates or deactivates the stability and traction control.
With the manettino set to off, the driver has full control over
the car's reactions. The only driver aids that remain active are those
that cannot be overridden such as ABS and EBD (electronic brake
distribution). With the CST de-activated, the electronic differential
has a specific calibration, which permits the car's incredible levels of
handling and roadholding when free of stability controls. Gearshift
speeds and damper settings are the same as in RACE. Over and above the
significant technological breakthrough that the manettino
represents, the approach to the new F430 underlines the importance given
to exploiting the potential of the vehicle while maintaining ease of use
under all conditions without jeopardising safety and stability.
This has led to a new way of conceiving the car, which is not only based
on the use of new technical features (e.g. electronic differential,
stability and traction control, and adaptive damping) but also on the
improvement of Ferrari's tried and tested technologies (F1 gearbox,
advanced engine control) and the optimisation of their integration. The
adoption of stability and traction control (CST) together with the
electronic differential has made the car even more stable, easier and
safer to drive without affecting its handling and the excellent feedback
the chassis gives the driver. The system ensures maximum safety in all
driving conditions (from extreme track use to town driving) and on all
road surfaces (rain or dry, or even ice).
The F430 features Ferrari's forged aluminium, double unequal-length
wishbone suspension set-up front and rear with anti-dive and anti-squat
geometries. The F430 also introduces new-generation adaptive suspension
for the first time on a V8-engined Ferrari. Two sensors are mounted on
the lower front wishbones to read suspension travel, two on the upper
shock absorber mounting points to measure body movement, one on a rear
shock absorber mounting point to measure roll and yaw, and a last sensor
on the steering column to measure steering angle.
The control logic
adjusts the shock absorbers' damping characteristics within a certain
range based on the settings selected by the driver using the
manettino on the steering wheel. The wheels are fitted with 19''
rims with 225/35 tyres at the front and 285/35 at the rear. There is
also the option of run-flat tyres combined with electronic pressure
control. When flat, these tyres can be driven for 70 miles at a maximum
speed of 50mph.
The power steering has a servo that adjusts the degree of assistance on
the basis of engine speed. The ratio is very direct at 60 mm/rev and the
turning circle is around 11 metres. The braking system of the F430
consists of powerful, all-round vented and cross-drilled cast-iron discs
(330mm x 32mm) with four-pot callipers and is integrated with all the
car's electronic control systems (ABS, CST, EBD). Working in close
collaboration with Brembo, Ferrari's engineers have developed a new
cast-iron alloy for the discs, which includes molybdenum for better
energy/heat dissipation. This new alloy provides significantly improved
braking performance without increasing the size (and therefore the
weight) of the discs.
The overall heat-energy index for the F430 under braking from 186mph is
one of the lowest among high performance cars with cast-iron systems. An
outstanding alternative is the option of specifying the latest
generation system based on carbon-ceramic technology that Ferrari
developed for its F1 single-seaters. This technology has already been
successfully employed on its road cars, starting with the Enzo Ferrari.
Different diameter carbon-ceramic discs are mounted front and rear:
380mm x 34 mm with six-pot callipers at the front, and 350mm x 34 mm
with four-pot callipers at the rear.
The diameters of the hydraulic
pistons are differentiated to distribute the pressure exerted on the
discs and optimise performance. Pedal travel is constant even under
repeated braking, and fade has been eliminated even under hard track
use. The adoption of carbon-ceramic discs brings with it a significant
increase in longevity: the new brakes can in fact easily cover 350 laps
at racing speeds on the Fiorano track.
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