Ferrari F355

The Ferrari F355 is a sports car built by Ferrari from May 1994 to 1999. It is an evolution of the Ferrari 348 and was replaced by the Ferrari 360. It is a mid-engined, rear wheel drive V8-powered 2-seat coupe. One major difference between the V8 in the 348 and that in the F355, apart from the displacement increase from 3.4 to 3.5 L, is that the F355 features a 5-valve per-cylinder head that is considerably more powerful, producing 380 PS (279 kW; 375 hp). The longitudinal 90° V8 engine was bored 2mm over the 348 to achieve the modest increase in displacement, with an 85mm bore, 77mm stroke and a total displacement of 3495.50 cc, utilizing an 11:1 compression ratio. Ferrari employed the Bosch Motronic M2.7 in the 1995 model year, and switched to the M5.2 in 1996 through end of production, using electronic fuel injection, ignition control system with a single spark plug per cylinder and a dry-sump oil lubrication system.
The frame is a steel monocoque with tubular steel rear sub-frame with front and rear suspensions using independent, unequal-length wishbones, coil springs over gas-filled telescopic shock absorbers with electronic control servos and anti-roll bars. Ferrari fitted all road-going F355 models with Pirelli tires, size 225/40ZR 18 in front and 265/40 ZR 18 in the rear.
At launch, two models were available: the coupe Berlinetta, and the targa topped GTS. The Spider (convertible) version was introduced in 1995. In 1997 the Formula One style paddle gear shift electrohydraulic manual transmission was introduced with the Ferrari 355 F1^[1] (note the dropping of the F before the 355) adding £6,000 to the dealer asking price.
The nomenclature does not follow the formula from the previous decades, ie. engine capacity + cylinder number (eg. 246 = 2.4 litres + 6 cyl, 308 = 3.0 litres + 8 cyl, and same for the 328, 348, 512 etc). This time, Ferrari used engine capacity plus number of valves per cylinder, as they were proud to boast about this technological advancement, ie 355 = 3.5 litres engine capacity and 5 valves per cylinder. The F355 is more common than other Ferrari models with 11,273 total units produced.

The Berlinetta was introduced in May, 1994 as the first in a successful series of F355 models. Initially, the 6-speed manual was the only transmission available. However, in 1997, the Berlinetta was the first ever road car to be equipped with the innovative F1-style gearbox management system. Derived directly from Formula 1, where it made its debut in 1989 winning the Brazilian Grand Prix, the electro-hydraulic system was operated by paddles behind the steering wheel using the F355’s conventional 6-speed manual gearbox. The new transmission guaranteed lightning-quick gear changes, with the additional advantage that both the driver’s hands could stay on the wheel at all times.
Ferrari produced 4,871 road-going Berlinetta models during the entire production run, of which 3,829 were 6-speed and 1,042 were F1 transmissions.The F355 Spider debuted in 1995, its Pininfarina-penned lines honed by 1,800 hours^[2] in the wind tunnel, resulting in a blend of elegant style and aerodynamic performance. For the first time on a Ferrari, the semi-automatic soft-top was powered electronically. Initially, the Spider was offered with the 6-speed transmission. In 1997, the Spider was offered with the F1 transmission option. The Spider proved to be the second-most popular F355 model, with a total production of 3,717 units, of which 2,664 were produced with the 6-speed transmission and another 1,053 produced with the F1 transmission.

F355 GTS

In 1995, Ferrari introduced the GTS model to the F355 family. The GTS model is based on the Berlinetta but offers a removable "targa-style" hard top roof, which can be stored behind the seats. Other specifications were identical to the Berlinetta. A total of 2,577 GTS models were produced, with 2,048 delivered with the 6-speed transmission and another 529 with the F1 transmission.

F355 Challenge

In 1995 Ferrari introduced a race ready F355 Challenge model for use specifically in the Ferrari Challenge.^[3] The Ferrari F355 Challenge model is created by starting with a standard Ferrari F355 Berlinetta model and modifying it with a $30,000 factory-to-dealer supplied kit. The kit requires 110 hours to install, and includes the following components/modifications^[4]:

• Competition clutch


• Competition steering wheel


• Lightweight exhaust


• Rollcage


• Racing seats


• Safety harnesses


• Fire extinguisher


• Engine cutoff switch


• Carbon fiber rear wing


• Upgraded 14" Brembo brakes


• 18" Speedline wheels


• Pirelli racing slicks


• Solid suspension bushings and competition springs


• Rear brake cooling ducts


• Challenge black rear grille

The F355 Challenge shares the same engine performance and physical dimension specifications as the original. 108 were produced, all with the 6-speed transmission. Each F355 Challenge has an emblem on the rear that specifically denotes 'F355 Challenge'.

Serie Fiorano

For 1999, Ferrari introduced a limited production of F355 Spider models designated, "Serie Fiorano." Launched in March, 1999, this limited production run of 100 planned units (104 actually produced) included a number of performance enhancements:

• Competizione-derived Fiorano suspension pack, featuring wide track, stiffer springs, a thicker anti-roll bar


• Drilled and ventilated brake discs and competition brake pads


• Competizione-sourced steering rack


• Alterations to the computer mapping provided a little more power and torque


• Challenge rear grilles and enamelled Scuderia Ferrari shields


• Carbon-fibre inserts (normally only available as expensive special order options): centre console, door sills and paddle shifters


• Suede-covered steering wheel

There were 100 Serie Fiorano units delivered to the U.S. market, 74 with the F1 transmission and 26 with the 6-speed manual. An additional 4 units were produced beyond the planned production with 3 European models and one South African delivery. Each unit was delivered with a numbered plaque affixed to the dashboard.

Performance

• Max power @ rpm: 380 hp (283 kW) @ 8250*^[2]


• HP/liter: 109 hp/l


• Torque @ rpm: 363 N·m (268 lb·ft) @ 6000^[2]


• 0-60 mp/h: 4.6 s ^[5]


• 0–100 km/h: 4.7 s ^[2]


• 0–160 km/h: 10.8 s^[6]


• Quarter Mile: 12.9 s ^[2]


• 0–1000 m: 23.7 s ^[2]


• Top speed: 295 km/h (183 mph)