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| www.QV500.com - Ferrari Mondial Part 2: Mondial Quattrovalvole |
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Following some stinging criticism of the underpowered Mondial 8, Ferrari introduced a more potent version during the the summer of 1982. Known as the Mondial Quattrovalvole, the QV engines were fitted with four-valve cylinder heads that not only increased horsepower but also made it easier to comply with US emissions legislation. Dropped into a fundamentally unaltered rolling chassis, the new Tipo F105 A motors ran a compression ratio of 9.1:1 and were instantly producing a much healthier 240bhp at 7000rpm, 26bhp up on the outgoing version. |
| US-spec Mondial's were now realising 230bhp at 6800rpm, this with a slightly lower 8.6:1 compression and plenty of emissions equipment. The only other blanket development was a new dash treatment and production began in coupe form during August 1982. By September of 1983, a Cabriolet version with a manually operated hood had joined the model line up, this some ten years after the last full convertible was available from Ferrari, the gorgeous 365 GTS/4 Daytona. Cabriolet's featured strengthening gussets on the door hinges and shut posts and deeper sill sections, all of which were intended to increase structural rigidity and eliminate the chassis flex so often apparent on convertibles. Cabriolet's also received Tipo F105 AS engines (as opposed to the Tipo F105 A motors used in the Coupe) although in reality, the differences were minimal. Having been launched in closed form back at the Geneva Salon during March 1982, the Coupe was joined by the Cabriolet in September '83 at a preview in Modena. By 1985 when both were replaced by the prettier 3.2, 1145 Coupe's and 629 Cabriolet's had been built. |
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