1996 Ferrari F355 Challenge

For the F355, Ferrari developed a new 3.5 liter 90° V8 engine developing 375bhp at 8250 rpm with a redline of 8500 rpm. Maximum torque was 268 lbs-ft at 6000 rpm. The specific output of this remarkable 5-valve unit was 109bhp per liter.
The engine's aluminum block had Nikasil-coated wet steel liners. Peculiarly light forged aluminum alloy pistons drove the crankshaft through titanium alloy con rods previously seen only in Formula 1 engines. The engine's greatest innovation is its five-valves per cylinder, three intake and two exhaust, that combined high revs with high intake

permeability maximizing gross efficiency. The aluminum head was ultra-high strength with variable rigidity dual valve springs. The radial intake valves made conical cam profiles necessary and the high rotation speed necessitated a high lift for both reliability and long-term performance. The control lobe for the central intake valve was slightly offset, reducing pulse stress and the emission of un-burned hydrocarbons. The valves were actuated by hydraulic tappets with automatic play take-up, a first for engines that rev over 8000rpm. In accordance with racing design, Ferrari engineers created an extremely compact high-swirl combustion chamber of 11:1 compression ratio. The engine was controlled by a Bosch Motronic M2.7 twin hot wire electronic injection-static ignition system, and lubricated by a dry sump engine oil circuit.

The exhaust system was insulated stainless steel and featured twin-branch delivery to the catalysts: one main branch to a ceramic matrix catalyst and one by-pass branch to steel matrix catalysts. The by-pass branch only comes into play at high speeds in response to the opening of a throttle valve controlled by the Motronic system. This optimizes engine performance by reducing exhaust back-pressure.

Ferrari's 6-speed F1 electro-hydraulic transmission, debuted on the F355, signaled a new era in drivetrain design and performance. The driver shifts a sequential system controlled with paddles behind the steering wheel, exactly as on a Formula 1 car. There is no clutch pedal. The system has four driver-selectable modes of operation: sport, normal, auto, and low grip. The Ferrari 'Fl-type power train management' is the best solution for racing and road use. The system guarantees almost instantaneous gear changes, allowing the driver's desired gear to be engaged without either taking the hands off the wheel or operating the clutch, even during hard cornering. For safety, it is impossible to avoid engaging intermediate gears during rapid downshifts. The system can be used in a fully automatic mode without impacting fuel consumption, and the software that controls the system is integrated with other systems in the car to increase control in varied conditions.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2006

The design of the Ferrari 348 was modified by the famous Italian design studio, Pininfarina resulting in the Ferrari F355. The Ferrari F355 was produced from 1995 through the close of the century with nearly 2700 examples created; making it one of the most popular Ferraris's of all time. When introduced it was available in fixed-head Berlinetta and was later followed by a Targa and Spyder variant.

The F355 was a 348 with design modifications and engine enhancements that included five valves per cylinder. With an improved DOHC engine the F355 produced 80 more horsepower than its predecessor. The 380 horsepower engine drove the nearly 3000 pound vehicle from zero-to-sixty in just 4.6 seconds. Top speed was accomplished at just over 180 mph. In 1988, the vehicle became similar to F1 styled vehicles with the introduction of paddle shifters located on the steering wheel that allowed the driver to easily shift from gear to gear. Performance was further upgraded from its 348 counterpart with an improved suspension and chassis. The suspension was adjustable by the driver to accommodate all types of driving conditions. Ventilated Brembo disc brakes provided excellent stopping power. The body was created from steel and aluminum which added rigidity while remaining light-weight.

The 'Challege' series was introduced in 1995 and produced until 1999, designed to be raced in a one manufaturer series. 109 examples were produced with races transpiring in both Europe and the North America. Little was needed to prepare the F355 for the Challenge series, just the addition of safety equipment including a roll cage and a wing.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2006