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or F1 electrohydraulic manual
transmission. Two years after the
launch of the Modena, Ferrari
announced its 20
th
road-going
convertible – the 360 Spider.
Similar to the Modena, the Spider
featured the mid-mounted 400 bhp
V8 engine that was visible under
a glass cover, and the engineers at
Ferrari cleverly designed the roof to
automatically fold away into its own
compartment between the cabin
and the engine bay.
The final model, the Challenge
Stradale, was a special edition high-
performance road-legal version
of the 360 Modena that made
its debut at the Geneva Motor
Show in 2003. Experience in the
International Ferrari Trofeo Pirelli
Challenge and GT competitions
enabled engineers to modify the
Challenge Stradale into something
completely unique. Reducing
the weight by 242 lb (110 kg)
and major modifications to the
V8 engine boosted performance.
While aluminum remained the
main construction material for the
chassis and body, carbon fiber was
introduced for structural elements.
The aerodynamic styling was
honed and a lower racing setup
increased downforce by 50 per cent
in comparison to the Modena.
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