The Ferrari 348 is a mid-engine V8-powered vehicle manufactured and marketed by Ferrari, an Italian car manufacturer, from 1989 to 1995. Ferrari introduced this model to replace the Ferrari 328. After Enzo Ferrari's death, it was approved for production as the final V8 model built under his supervision.
History of Ferrari 348
As a successor to Ferrari's extremely popular 308/328 heritage, the Ferrari 348 went on sale in 1989 and remained in production until 1994. The 348 is sometimes compared to the modern Ferrari Testarossa because of its deep side strakes and square taillights. 348 is a mid-mounted V-8 that produces 296 hp and 238 lb-ft of torque from a 3.4L quad-cam 32-valve, dry-sump V-8. The 348's 0-60 mph time of 5.6 seconds put it in the same league as other entry-level super-sports cars of the day.
Ferrari 348 Serie Speciale
Customers could order the 348 in coupe TB (Transversale Berlinetta) or targa TS form at debut (Transversale Spider). 100 examples of the 348 Serie Speciale were available in 1992 and 1993, including improved exhaust and engine management systems that increased power to 312 hp. Upgrades combined an increase in horsepower with a faster 0-60 mph time, improved traction, and wider rear tracks to yield an even more outstanding time of just 5.3 seconds. The carmaker added an F40-inspired front splitter, body-color bumpers, and rocker panels to Serie Speciale. Additionally, Ferrari Serie Speciale-specific features include door panels and F40-style leather seats and inside plaques designating the vehicle as a Serie Speciale.
Ferrari 348 Modifications
- Ferrari 348 TB - Coupe Trasversale Berlinetta (1989-1993; 2,894 units)
- Ferrari 348 TS - Targa Trasversale Spider (1989-1993; 4,228 units)
- Ferrari 348 Challenge - Debuted in 1993
- Ferrari 348 GTB, GTS, Spider - Debuted in late 1993
- Ferrari 348 GT Competizione - Debuted by Ferrari as a homologation version
Ferrari Zagato Elaborazione
Between 1991 and 1992, Italian coachbuilder Zagato released the Ferrari 348 TB Zagato Elaborazione package. Changes in appearance were minimal, and the source car's engine and other mechanical components barely changed.
Ferrari 348 Barchetta Competizione
Ferrari transformed Guy Audebert's wrecked Ferrari 348 into the one-of-a-kind Barchetta Competizione for Ferrari collector Guy Audebert. Coachbuilder information, body components, and technical specs for this particular conversion are all a mystery because of the car's secrecy, but we do learn that it weighs 1,100 kg (2,425 lb).
Price
In 1989, Ferrari retailed the Ferrari 348 at $95,000, which is $220,265 in 2022 exchange rate.
Features
Interior Features of Ferrari 348
Ferrari reworked the 348's interior from the ground up, even though the shift from the 308 to the 328 was quite seamless. Ferrari used Connolly hides on the lower dashboard, door panels, seats, center console, transmission tunnel, and the top rear bulkhead panel. They used black vinyl to cover the cloth-covered headliner, top dash, and carpet covered the rest of the interior. The primary instrument binnacle features a 200mph speedometer and a 10,000rpm rev counter. Ferrari put oil pressure and water temperature gauges on top of the other in between the bigger ones. They also included additional indicators for oil temperature and fuel in the center console. With black accents, all of the instruments were orange. 348's designer put the handbrake beside the driver's seat and covered the three-spoke steering wheel with black leather trim. The seats were manually flexible, and the gearshift was a standard open gate. Standard interior features include power windows, air conditioning, and mirrors.
Exterior Features of Ferrari 348
Ferrari Testarossa influenced Leonardo Fioravanti's design decisions at Pininfarina, notably the side panels' horizontal strakes. Furthermore, the nose is evocative of the F40, one of the most iconic Ferraris ever made. The media argue that Fioravanti produced a failure in the 348 beyond comprehension. With its delicate lines and excellent proportions, the 348 resembled a baby Testarossa. Very much like its predecessors, the 348 had a stunning exterior design. Ferrari kept Vinyl-coated molded plastic roof panels behind the seats in the 348 TS. However, to keep the 348 in line with its other models, Pininfarina built the vehicle's front end with a fake grille fed by large air intakes along either flank of the radiator. The whole body was constructed from steel panels, including the aluminum hood and engine cover and the fiberglass bumpers and sills. Both the engine cover and the taillights include slats. Underneath a matt black grille, the designers concealed rectangular light components. On both ends, the prancing horse symbol had been painted an uninteresting shade of black. Doors had flush-mounted release latches to help with ventilation. The retractable headlights now have rectangular lenses, thanks to the designers. Pininfarina provided the 348 a minimalist look by painting the side skirts and aprons matte black.
Specs
Ferrari 348 delivers 320 hp (235 kW) at 7,200 rpm and 239 lb-ft (324 Nm) of torque at 5,000 rpm. This model accelerates from 0-60 mph (97 kph) in 5.1 seconds with a top speed of 174 mph (280 kph) and a curb weight of 3,020 lbs (1,370 kg). Ferrari manufactured the 348 as a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) model with a 5-speed manual transmission powered by a 3.4L Tipo F119 V8 engine.
Release Date
Ferrari released the Ferrari 348 with different modifications and variants names from 1989 to 1995.