The Ferrari 348 series marked a radical departure in the way Maranello constructed its cars. Replacing a chassis of traditional steel tubes was a much stiffer monocoque structure with a tubular rear subframe. Ferrari Image Gallery The 1990 Ferrari 348ts sported a lift-off targa roof panel. See more Ferrari images. Suspension remained independent front and rear with wishbones, springs, telescopic shocks, and antiroll bars, but with revised geometry. The ventilated disc brakes were much larger than those on the Ferrari 348, and used antilock technology. A midships-mounted V-8 returned, but it was larger and more powerful. Displacing 3405cc, it mounted longitudinally and mated to a transverse gearbox. The displacement accounted for the new car’s Ferrari 348 designation. The transverse gearbox gave it its suffixes — tb for the closed berlinetta body style, ts for the spyder (which actually had a lift-off targa roof panel). A higher compression ratio and updated fuel injection helped generate 300 horsepower, 30-40 more than the Ferrari 328, while a dry-sump oiling system gave the new Ferrari a lower center of gravity. The Ferrari 348 was the last design done under the supervision of chief stylist Leonardo Fioravanti. Taking cues from the Testarossa, its forms were softer than those of the 308/328 but still curvaceous, the side strakes being the most obvious Testarossa inspiration. Wheelbase was longer than the 328’s and the track wider, giving the interior more space.The 1990 Ferrari 348ts was criticized for its harsh ride and stiff gearbox. The Ferrari 348, in tb… [Read full story]
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