2007 Ferrari F430 Spider

Sexy Super-Model

One of the ultimate cars for open-air motoring, the Ferrari F430 Spider lets you and a companion find true happiness on the open road at nearly 200 mph.

The Ferrari F430 Spider takes several design cues carried from earlier models. The taillights are taken from the Enzo; the side mirrors are inspired by those on the Testarossa; the front air intakes from classic Ferrari race cars, and so on. The F430 Coupe is reviewed separately, but the cars are virtually identical except for the top.

Like many ultra-exotic sports cars, the Ferrari F430 Spider is as much a rolling work of automotive art as it is a high-performance car. As with so many other Ferraris over the years, the car’s seductively aerodynamic design comes courtesy of the noted Italian design house Pininfarina S.p.A. A compact, power-operated fabric roof lowers or raises at the push of a button.

Ferrari F430 Spider Vehicle Summary

Fortunately for well-heeled driving enthusiasts, the Ferrari F430 Spider doesn’t skimp on substance for the sake of style. A lightweight, mid-mounted, 4.3-liter V8 engine was freshly engineered for the Ferrari F430 Coupe and Spider. It is the first powerplant in this particular series of cars not to have been derived from the “Dino” racing engine that dates back to the 1950s. It generates close to 500 hp and enables the Ferrari F430 Spider to reach 60 mph in just under four seconds, with a top speed that’s just shy of 200 mph. This makes it the quickest Ferrari this side of the unobtainable Enzo, which sold out after its U.S. debut in 2003. Like some older models, the engine sits beneath a transparent cover that’s located just behind the passenger compartment for the world to admire.

The Ferrari F430 Spider offers a six-speed manual transmission as standard equipment. A Formula One racing-derived, six-speed automatic gearbox with manual shift capability is optional. Operated via large, steering-wheel-mounted paddles, Ferrari claims this transmission cuts gear-shifting times down to just 150 milliseconds to maximize the car’s blazing acceleration.

As expected for a $200,000-plus sports car, the Ferrari F430 Spider delivers race-car-like driving dynamics. It rides on a lightweight aluminum space frame and the electronically controlled “Skyhook” suspension that’s also offered in the Maserati GranSport, a corporate cousin. The F430 Spider’s handling is further enhanced by Ferrari’s so-called E-Diff system. E-Diff is an electronically controlled limited-slip differential originally developed for racing. It optimizes traction based on a variety of factors, including the Ferrari F430 Spider’s steering angle and lateral acceleration.

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The Ferrari F430 Spider is also the first model from Ferrari’s hometown of Maranello to come fitted with a “manettino” control system, which is derived from the automaker’s F1 cars. Here, a steering-wheel-mounted switch is used to tailor the Ferrari F430 Spider’s various integrated systems — from the intervention of the stability control and E-Diff systems to throttle response and transmission performance — according to five settings. It’s similar in execution to the M Drive system that’s included with the BMW M5 and M6.

A high-performance braking system, developed in conjunction with brake supplier Brembo, is able to bring the Ferrari F430 Spider to a halt with authority. Beefy cast-iron alloy discs include molybdenum, which is claimed to have better heat dissipation qualities. What’s more, carbon-ceramic discs are optional for both improved stopping abilities and greater longevity under the most punishing use.

As is usually the case with low-to-the-ground, two-seat sports cars, the Ferrari F430 Spider can be a tight fit, with ingress and egress that’s best suited to the more flexible among us, especially with the top up. There’s little that’s overtly flashy about the Ferrari F430’s leather-clad interior, and you’ll find little in the way of gimmicky convenience features, but it remains handsome and stylish in its own regard, like a fine pair of Italian shoes.