Can a car be too fast? Inquiring minds want to know. Local highway patrol types would tell you they certainly can, but those who know the thrill of putting a foot to the metal of an exotic sports car aren't so sure. The Ferrari F430, which was introduced to the US market in 2005, is the third fastest Ferrari roadster ever, after the Enzo Ferrari supercar and the 599. It tests at zero-to-60 in 3.9 seconds thanks to a feature borrowed from Ferrari's Formula-1 racing technology ("Launch Control," which was designed for standing starts at high RPM) but was not available in the US because of liability issues. Car And Driver tested the US version with 483 horsepower with an eye-popping 3.5 seconds. Which should answer the aforementioned question: very possibly, yes.
The F430 comes with one of Ferrari's most aerodynamic and stylish designs. Its predecessor was the Ferrari 360, and it offers trademarked Ferrari styling features, such as the Enzo's taillights and interior vents, and the large front-end vents from Ferrari's racing designs of the 1950s. The engine dawns a new day for V-8 Ferraris, rendering the 50-year legacy of the Dino racing engine obsolete in favor of a new 4.3 litre architecture based on a combined Ferrari-Maserati design. The braking system is also new, with heat-resistant ceramics and alloys that make them safer and more cost-effective to maintain. The international auto press has labeled the the F430 as an "absolutely brilliant" car to handle, which if you've ever driven a Ferrari roadster should come as no surprise.
