2009 Ferrari 430 Scuderia Spider 16M

Earplugs not included.

BY K.C. COLWELL
July 2009

Sixteen may be how many ounces are in a pint, or the number on Joe Montana’s jersey. But to a Ferrari Formula 1 fan, it’s the number of world constructors’ championships that have been won by the legendary Italian team.

Now, Ferrari has built a limited-edition 16M Scuderia Spider—499 total—to honor this achievement. It’s an F430 Spider with all the go-fast parts of the 430 Scuderia. Those bits include a higher-compression version of the F430’s 4.3-liter V-8 that makes 503 horsepower (20 more than in the F430) and 347 pound-feet of torque. It has a retuned suspension, serving-platter-size carbon-ceramic brakes, Ferrari’s F1 SuperFast2 automated manual transmission (60 milliseconds for shifts), and quite possibly the loudest exhaust note of any road car we have ever driven (our LeMons Fiero included).

The 16M weighs about 3300 pounds, or roughly 200 more than its coupe counterpart; in both cars, the interior is stripped of all comfort features. Carbon fiber and aluminum trim line the cabin. There is no carpeting or leather. The only nod to sybarites is on the dash, where a horizontally docked iPod Touch functions as the stereo, sans radio tuner.
Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE: mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door roadster

BASE PRICE: $313,350

ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection

Displacement: 263 cu in, 4308cc
Power (SAE net): 503 bhp @ 8500 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 347 lb-ft @ 5250 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automated manual

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 102.4 in Length: 177.6 in Width: 75.7 in Height: 47.9 in Curb weight: 3300 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 3.4 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 11.5 sec
Top speed (redline limited): 196 mph

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway: 11/16 mpg

According to Ferrari, the 16M posts the fastest time ever around its Fiorano circuit for one of its open-top road cars.
We drove the Spider in the hills surrounding Ferrari’s Maranello factory, where the 16M devoured switchbacks. Even in extreme transitional states, the chassis never feels unsettled or spooky. Driving a $313,350 exotic—particularly one you don’t own—near the limit on a country road is a riot, but it can be a bit on the stressful side. Fortunately, this car inspires as much confidence as respect and awe. That’s why the F430, in any form, is undefeated in C/D comparison tests.

Expect the 16M to reach 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. The all-wheel-drive Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder will likely win a drag race (0 to 60 for the Gallardo coupe is 3.2 seconds; we haven’t yet tested the Spyder) and perhaps even a beauty contest. But the 16M dominates the Lambo when it comes to chassis performance. We’re betting the Ferrari will remain undefeated when it goes toe-to-toe in a comparo.

Now, a word of caution: Don’t hang around thinking you’ll be first in line for a 17M. Through the sixth race of the Grand Prix season, Ferrari’s hope of a repeat is as good as Manny’s chances of winning MVP—the big F is 69 points behind rookie underdog Brawn-Mercedes.