TRANSMISSION AND F1 STYLE GEARBOX

The F430 features a new cast-aluminium transmission casing that houses the gearbox in unit with the electronic differential and bevel type final drive, as well as the engine oil tank. The 6-speed gearbox incorporates multi-cone synchronizers, while both the 6th gear and the final drive have been lengthened to make the most of the greater power and torque of the new engine.

The F430 is available with either the classic Ferrari open-gate manual gearbox or with the F1 paddle shift that Ferrari has continuously developed and refined over recent years for its road-going berlinettas.

Thanks to that ongoing development, Ferrari's F1 gearbox for the F430 is state of the art, introducing a number of important modifications: thanks to inputs from the engineers on the Gestione Sportiva racing side, the F1 gearbox management incorporates a new control strategy which further perfects gearchange speed and smoothness under hard use. Changing gear takes just 150 milliseconds, as measured by the 'hole' in acceleration during the change (the overall time from declutching, changing gear to releasing the clutch)

As well as increasing the speed of changes during hard driving, the new software improves smoothness in the fully automatic mode (actuated by a button on the central tunnel), making the F430 a true all-rounder. At the opposite extreme, the F430's Launch Control (not available in North America) gives maximum performance away from a standing start with suitable road conditions (for example, on the track).

The shift paddles are fixed to the steering column in tried and tested Ferrari tradition (right-hand paddle to change up and the left to change down) but reverse is now selected by a button on the central tunnel for greater ease of use and the selection time is down by 50 % compared to the 360 Modena.