Elite Auto Rental Blog

     Spy photographers have caught the new Ferrari F430 Challenge Stradale on the streets of Maranello. In Ferrari-speak, Challenge Stradale means less weight—about 220 lbs. less—and more power. Much of that weight is shed inside, where carbon fiber is used extensively—notice the shot of the carbon-fiber interior door panel. Magnesium wheels also shed a few pounds. An additional 30 horsepower or so puts the F430 CS around 520, bumping the power-to-weight ratio from 6.9 lbs/hp for a regular F430 to just 6. That places the Challenge Stradale ahead of the Porsche 911 Turbo and Chevrolet Corvette Z06 against which we tested a ”regular” F430 back in September, although the Ferrari won that comparo anyway. We expect to see this newest F430 going (quickly) to customers early in 2007.