www.QV500.com - Ferrari 360 Part 1: 360 Modena
 
By 1999, Ferrari considered their much-loved and hugely accomplished 355 ready for replacing, a bold move as many thought it the marques best junior supercar ever. Adopting new materials and construction methods, Ferrari started designing the 355's successor from scratch, Pininfarina doing their part by creating bodywork that was a complete departure from its illustrious predecessors. Available as a Berlinetta (Modena) or Spider, the 360 comes equipped with either a standard six-speed manual gearbox or Ferrari’s optional semi-automatic F1 transmission.
   

There's also a one-make Challenge version while a variety of factory-sanctioned GT competition cars have set the pace in endurance racing around the globe since 2001, the current GTC being the latest incarnation. By securing domestic and international titles, the 360 has earned itself a reputation for competitive excellence that earlier V8 Ferrari's could only dream about. The firm's desire to be back at the forefront of endurance racing has also filtered its way down to the street with the arrival of the Challenge Stradale, a stripped-out homologation special built to legalise fresh developments on the aforementioned GTC. The 360 Modena itself uses a spaceframe chassis of extruded aluminium and features innovative Sachs damping that provides options for Sport and Normal suspension settings, this system being derived from the active suspension technology used in Formula 1 during the early nineties. Making extensive use of exotic lightweight materials throughout, the 360's construction has resulted in the frame weighing 28% less than the outgoing 355, structural rigidity having been increased by an amazing 40%. With Ferrari wanting the interior to be more spacious, the wheelbase was stretched by 150mm, width rising by 15mm, the need to accomodate a set of golf clubs having been a pre-requisite. Ferrari paid particular attention to improving underbody aerodynamics and thus the 360 boasts a completely flat bottom with two prominent diffusers clearly visible from the rear.

 
Ferrari's Tipo F131B engine is a comprehensively re-designed 90° V8 with 3586cc thanks to a bore and stroke of 85 x 79mm. Weighing in at 184kg, the compression ratio of 11:1.1 and Bosch Motronic 7.3 digital engine management are configured to produce 400bhp at 8500rpm - equivalent to 112bhp per litre. Available with either Ferrari's traditional six-speed gearbox or their expensive electro-hydraulic F1 unit where upshifts take a startling 150 milliseconds, when the latter is specified, carbon fibre gear selection paddles are positioned behind the steering wheel.
   
Needless to say, performance of both versions is extremely impressive with 0-60 requiring just 4.4 seconds in the six-speeder, this getting cut to 4.2 seconds for F1-equipped cars. Both have an identical 186mph top speed. It came as no surprise when Turin styling house Pininfarina, who have a long-standing association with Ferrari, were chosen to create the bodywork and interior. Notable features from a what is a very modern design are the gaping air intakes for the front-mounted radiators and those 250 LM-esque engine-cooling ducts mounted atop the rear wings. Thanks to a great deal of time in the wind tunnel, Pininfarina produced an exceptionally clean profile without need for additional wings, flares or blisters. One of the other striking features on the 360 Modena is a large glass rear screen that proudly displays the engine in all its glory. Cross-drilled Speedline aluminium wheels set the whole thing off nicely. Pininfarina were also responsible for the interior and one of the most important additions was the return of a traditional three spoke steering wheel. Previous technology restrictions had dictated that only an uncharacteristic four spoke wheel could incorporate a full-size airbag on the 355, but this problem had at last been resolved by 1999. Naturally, an airbag is provided for the passenger. Pininfarina's cockpit was another complete departure from previous V8's and boasts considerably more space than any of its predecessors.
 
Upholstered in leather, when combined with Pininfarina's extensive use of alloy inserts, the 360 is lent a more avant garde ambience than earlier mid-size Ferrari's. Introduced at the Geneva Salon in March 1999, the Modena unsurprisingly swelled Ferrari's order books and a two year backlog was on the cards within weeks. Desirable options include sports seats, a Fiorano handling pack, a roll cage and Challenge grilles. Through the Scaglietti personalisation programme, clients can also request unique colour combinations with customised trimmings.