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www.QV500.com - Ferrari 348 Part 2: 348 Serie & Maranello Speciale |
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Like any other manufacturer, Ferrari are susceptible to the harsh economic realities of a recession. Unfortunately for them then, the 348 was launched just a few months before a massive world-wide slump took hold in the early nineties. With stuttering sales and a host of very capable opponents, Ferrari deemed it necessary to liven up the 348 range with a US-market special edition. Launched in December 1992 at the Los Angeles Motor Show, just 100 Serie Speciale's were to be built, Ferrari offering the car in both tb and targa-topped ts configurations. |
| Upgrades over the stock 348 included a sports exhaust systemn that liberated an additional ten horses and took output to 310bhp. Rear track was also widened to improve cornering stability. The other changes were mostly visual, new body colour-coded sills being fitted along with a marginally deeper front spoiler featuring an F40-esque lip. By removing the standard cars distinctive full-width rear grille, Pininfarina left the uninspiring light clusters exposed, inside, curiously styled leather-covered Kevlar sports seats completing the specification of this 1993-only variant. Taking a similar approach, famed UK Ferrari importers Maranello Concessionaires decided to offer their own factory authorised special edition. Sometimes referred to as the Serie Spaziale or the Maranello Speciale, only four were ever made. Alterations over the standard 348 tb's upon which they were based included body colour-coded sills and a Series Speciale deep front spoiler, lightweight drilled aluminium pedals, a Challenge steering wheel and a sports exhaust system. With the latter, it's safe to assume that these Maranello Speciale's had a similar output to the US cars with at least 310bhp on tap. |