Michael Schumacher is still helping Ferrari stay on top, even in F1 retirement. The Italians' awesome new supercar, the F430 Scuderia, is the direct result of the German's obsessive attention to detail. The ‘Scud’ is the hardcore F430 that makes everyone drool.
The Scuderia is a race car for the road, so it's noisy, a bit mad, has a viciously fast F1-'box and probably not a car made for touring. But in terms of the performance available, you can get away with a lot.
The Scuderia employs the usual 4.3-litre V8 from the stock F430 and has a useful extra dollop of power, bringing the total to 510bhp. The 0-62mph time is down to a useful 3.6 seconds and the top end is a couple of mph under the magic 200. The F1 sequential manual is also top of the tree - it's fast, visceral and addictive - but a bugger in traffic. Bare carbon everywhere means that the Scuderia feels a tad tinny - but that's the racer vibe letting it all hang out. There are small touches of ‘Italian' character, but nothing that takes away from the experience.
This is what mid-engined is all about. The Scuderia defines balance - you get right on the edge and dangle with the drama. The steering is divine, the experience one of total immersion. There is power oversteer on tap, but better to try and make everything as neat and tidy as possible and hear that engine sing you out of the apex. It is a life-affirming experience. The front ‘boot' actually holds a fair bit of kit. There's nothing in the back because its full of engine. (http://www.topgear.com)
