I recently had the opportunity to test drive Ferrari's latest supercar, the 430 S, and I was blown away by its incredible performance. The car is based on the entry-level Ferrari model, but it has been heavily modified with a powerful engine that produces over 510 horsepower. This makes it one of the fastest cars in the world, with a top speed of well over 200 miles per hour.

I had the chance to test the 430 S at Ferrari's private test track at Fiorano, and I was impressed by its incredible acceleration and handling. I was able to complete a lap in just under 3 seconds, which is incredibly fast considering it's a car that's normally used for racing. The car's advanced traction control system, which includes a sophisticated electronic differential, helps to deliver exceptional grip and stability.

One of the things that impressed me most about the 430 S was its incredible responsiveness. The car feels extremely stable and confident, even when pushed hard on the track. The brakes are also incredibly effective, with the advanced diff helping to improve braking stability and control. I was able to brake hard without worrying about losing traction or control, which gave me confidence to push the car harder.

But what really sets the 430 S apart is its incredible sound and feeling. When you put your foot down, the car comes alive with a thrilling exhaust note that's both raw and refined. The acceleration is so quick and responsive that it feels almost surreal, like you're floating over the track rather than actually moving at high speed.

Of course, one of the things that I was really interested in testing out was the 430 S's performance compared to Ferrari's other extreme supercar, the Enzo. I had previously driven the Enzo at Fiorano and managed a lap time of just under 1 minute and 30 seconds. But when it came to driving the 430 S, I was able to match my own lap time, and even beat it in some parts.

In fact, my final lap time for the 430 S was just under 1 minute and 29.4 seconds, which is essentially identical to my Enzo lap time. This was a really impressive performance, especially considering that the 430 S is actually based on a car that's designed for everyday use rather than extreme racing.

What I think is most impressive about the 430 S, however, is its incredible value for money. With a price tag of just under $300,000, this car represents an incredible bargain compared to some of Ferrari's other high-end models. And with its advanced technology and performance capabilities, it's clear that the 430 S is a true supercar in every sense of the word.

One of the things that struck me most about the 430 S was how well it was put together as a car. The interior was beautifully appointed, with plenty of attention to detail and a really premium feel. The exterior design was also extremely impressive, with aggressive lines and a bold color scheme that's sure to turn heads on the road.

But what I think really sets the 430 S apart is its incredible history and heritage. This car was designed as a tribute to Ferrari's great Argentine hero Juan Manuel Fangio, who was one of the greatest drivers in the history of motorsport. The fact that the 430 S is named after him and incorporates elements of his racing car into its design makes it feel like a true tribute to a legendary driver.

Overall, I was thoroughly impressed by the Ferrari 430 S, and I think it's an incredible addition to the company's lineup of high-end supercars. With its powerful engine, advanced technology, and incredible performance capabilities, it's clear that this car is designed for drivers who demand the very best from their vehicle. And with its price tag, it's an absolute bargain compared to some of Ferrari's other models.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhmm hello and welcome to this very special fifth gear compilation a rundown of my 10 favorite supercar tests hold tight we rank the 10 cars in their top speed order starting with the slowest which comes from a manufacturer famous for providing cars to a certain well-known british agent the aston martin dbs does 191 miles an hour and it took my breath away astons are always beautiful but this this is stunning and every inch is designed to make the car faster except it isn't the vanquish s which this replaces as aston's new flagship is more powerful and will top 200 miles an hour the dbs will only do 191 but it's just the big numbers where it loses out where it really matters it's half a second faster the six liter v12 gets it to 60 in 4.3 seconds you see this dbs is nearly 200 kilos lighter than the vanquish on top of that the vanquish by modern terms have become somewhat creepy almost agricultural whereas this tbs feels instantly more taught in fact this is one of those rare occasions but i've just driven the car for about 300 yards and i said to myself this is right one of the major delights is the ride quality trick new adaptive suspension is standard and sensors constantly monitor everything from subtle position to the amount of steering to work out the best damper setting it's the kind of car that will cope equally well with every surface between here and monte carlo inside is where it gets really special okay it takes a while to work out what each of these little buttons does we have to treat it all like a complete piece of sculpture it's an amazing thing to behold from the feel of this chunky looking gear lever to the special leather chosen for its extra leathery smell then the wave of the exposed carbon fiber is all perfectly lined up and even the carpet has got special weight saving fibers then comes the time to start it up the key i was asked and like to call it the emotional control unit is made out of sapphire so it won't scratch okay it's easy to dismiss as a gimmick but i actually rather like it especially as it's a key which becomes a start button all in one now if the sheer sound of that v12 warming up wasn't enough to get you excited about a bit of high-speed motoring then the mere thought of using the full 510 horsepower gets the adrenaline pumping and this v12 has got a special little valve inside the induction system that creates more airflow at about five and a half thousand rpm and gives an extra kick of performance not that i feel gonna need it oh there goes the back now oh i brought the power into this little skin i'll tell you what this is a big gt car it's not a nimble little sports racer i'm getting around this very tight handling circuit i'm not getting myself into any big bother left and right i'll kick the power out oh joy of joys here we go now of course i did slightly criticize the ferrari 599 for not having the soul that i want and they're trying to be too clever all that f1 spec really quick gear change i want my manual gear change and my manual traction control i wasn't expecting much of a big car i've already got more on the track that i'd hoped for for the first time fitted carbon ceramic brakes as standard and they're more impressive than ferraris were so that's saying something and although this car can't beat a ferrari for out and out pace it just hasn't got the power perhaps hasn't quite got the ultimate grip i tell you what for the first time in my life i'm gonna save i had the choice i'd take the aston next comes a car from lamborghini but not as you might expect their v12 months to the murchilago because i prefer something a bit lighter a bit leaner at number nine in our countdown is a lambo that does 196 miles an hour the lamborghini gallardo superleggera allow me to translate the lamborghini gallardo super light this latest gallardo is a result of my two favorite modifications less weight and more power there are carbon fiber trinkets dotted around from the wing mirrors to the diffusers even the door panels are carbon with handles swapped for straps the seats are each made from one piece of you've guessed it while the prettiest view in the world is now through plastic beneath it lies a five liter v10 producing 530 horsepower surely too much for a road car well no because it's not often you're going to use all of it in any case and when you do there's both four-wheel drive and esp to stop you getting into trouble you can have either a manual or an e-gear box that this one's got to be honest when you're just cruising along it's simpler just to leave it in auto and let the changes be done for you which they do if you use just a call for a throttle at about 4 000 rpm when they change gear without you hardly noticing it it's all very smooth and civilized the champion is when you're cruising along your eyes tend to drop from the wonderful alcantara and sporty carbon fiber down to discover the rather incongruous audi center console which of course reminds you who owns lamborghini nowadays you suddenly realize that you're holding an rs4 steering wheel kind of spoils the feeling to get rid of the distractions there's only one course more rev so it should be achieved with the press of the sport button which now does sporty automatic changes the only trouble is it changes gear when you don't expect it to and sometimes it changes gear very violently not what you really want to hear when you're spending 151 000 pounds which means this car costs 26 grand more than the standard gallardo and don't think there's a huge performance gain either it's just 100 kilograms lighter and the power increase is only 10 horsepower so top speed remains at 196 miles an hour the north to 60 time improves by just two tenths to 3.8 seconds so unless you're buying a super legera for bragging rights down the pub we perhaps need to find a different arena for this car to really show its improvements when we put the standard gallardo up against a ducati 999 it was one of our most exciting challenges ever with the bike just coming out on top now it's time for a rematch between the new improved lambo and an all-new ducati the 1098 is the most powerful production v-twin on sale with 160 horsepower it has a top speed of 180 miles an hour it'll be ridden by leon haslam he has a reputation for being a bit of a daredevil on a bike and will need every ounce of skill to beat the car over three performance challenges nalin i thought we'd start with a nice little tight slalom test because you see i've got 530 horsepower i could launch to 62 in just 3.8 seconds i thought that would probably sort you out well you're a lot wider than me so and i'm pretty confident your clipper cone so i think i'll get this one thank you he watched his launch deal this is how it works but it took off all right so a blistering 14.01 seconds for me can the bike beat it well you just beat me just beat me i can't believe it by nearly three seconds but i told you how about stopping now you can't stop only two wheels we've one two three four five six yards or so leon you've just gone into the back of the bus and i've stopped right away right back there look so you gotta win something today that's one each on then to the final test a head-to-head race over two laps with a rolling start just a nice steady outlet leon nothing to worry about it's the race starts when we come back to the start finish line or if you cheat a little bit the race starts now kept me in front but on the long straight it was another story but he's going away almost laughing in my face won again we're well used to the italians producing awe-inspiring supercars but it's not something the americans are renowned for so our next car came as a complete shock at number eight is a 198 mile an hour yank tank this is the chevrolet corvette z06 it has a hand built seven liter v8 with 505 horsepower it has a magnesium roof a floor made of balsa wood and the paint on the carbon fiber wings weighs more than the wings themselves but to the naked eye the only thing that tells you this car is special is the four missile silos at the back and the smoke it doesn't take long to begin to enjoy this car okay there's little to excite you about the interior which is way behind european standards but the sounds the sensations the feel i already know that i'm going to enjoy this drive the excellent corvette heads up display not only now keeps the speed always in your eyesight it's also got a new gimmick of a g meter which should keep the kids happy it tells you how much force you're generating in the bends and it's great fun trying to get the numbers as high as possible so the corner plant 500 horsepower the bat goes out and then it's held amazing the ride quality is very good until you get a pothole or two and then it jars up through your spine but in general it's firm yet quite survivable this car will do nearly 200 miles an hour and costs just 60 000 pounds they reckon you can drive it straight from the showroom to the track we'll find out shall we fourth gear dab of i tell you what you can enter this car into one of those drifting competitions and you put your hands down oh dear sorry tyres this vet really is beginning to defy all those things that were bad about american cars first those brakes they are still not giving up after quite a few laps and then there's the handling no great body roll or wallow here a torque firm chassis right under my control and listen to the sound of it i've been aston martin and jaguar eat your hearts out the americans are showing us how to do it i mean i've laughed and choked in american cars for so long taken the mickey said they're wallowing old useless birds he's only good for going in straight lines and here i am balancing it 100 miles an hour flipping it into a big power slide of all heavenly power slides and it's all right under my control chevrolet claimed the 06 lapped the nurburgring quicker than a pagani zonda f and given the vet costs a fifth of the pagani i reckon it has to be the best value supercar on sale today at number seven comes the first of two entries from ferrari and like the vet it also does 198 miles an hour it's the meanest baddest lightest hardest version of my favorite ferrari it's the 430 scooter ear and it's all yours for 172 500 pounds some of the changes from the standard f430 are obvious there's no carpet no radio and carbon fiber bucket seats all designed to save weight and make the car more responsive some of the changes are less obvious the brake discs are two centimeters bigger and have pure carbon centers to withstand extreme heat the front tires are one centimeter wider to offer more grip and the exhausts now exit up high so to not disturb the aerodynamics down below it's a car for ferrari clients focused on playing at a track which makes it even more surprising that around this city center it's as docile as a fear panda no splattering no jerking just cruises along in automatic easy peasy giving me even more time to take in the sights of the moderner venture above three and a half thousand rpm a little valve opens up allowing you to play music for the locals the manatino switch controls the car's personality it sets the sportiness of the gearbox differential engine and traction control systems but interestingly in the scooter rear the suspension is now controlled completely separately it was suggested by a certain michael schumacher who had a fair bit to do with the development of this car this enables you to keep the engine and transmission in full fire breathing maximum attack mode while softening the suspension should you come across any dodgy roads which ultimately of course is quicker than bouncing off manhole covers the scuderia is 100 kilograms lighter and with an extra 20 horsepower the 4.3 to v8 now produces 510 horsepower while not to 62 takes less than 3.6 seconds all impressive statistics but one is more telling than all of those the rumor is that the scuderia is as quick if not quicker than the enzo hyper car around ferrari's private test track at fiorano could the 420 000 dream machine really have been beaten caught up by a car based on the entry-level ferrari now when i came here with the enzo i did a lap time of one minute 29 seconds which wasn't exactly record-breaking but wasn't bad considering i was unfamiliar with the circuit didn't know the car was chatting away to ulot and only had five laps so the question is can i match that or maybe even beat it with a scooter you'll notice the cars change color by the way and that's because this car has got all the telemetry in order to do the laptops with limited laps to play with i didn't have long to attempt to beat my enzo time and i thought i'd better start in race mode to experience the very latest in ferrari's f1 developed traction control system within just a few bends the car makes you feel instantly at home this car is so stable and so confidence inspiring it just sort of hasn't really had any alarming tweaks or move i cannot believe really how level a platform we're working with there's no sudden lurches or body rolls you don't feel any drama involved at all now i felt confident in turning all the safety aids off to try for the ultimate lap time just me and a throttle pedal aiming for 129. we're now unprotected we're now going to fully feel the 430 scooter come alive they're all under-breaking straight away you feel the difference without the protection of the diff of the actual car and a braking less stable the back wants to tweak ground on me then but the car feels a lot less stable it's quite a dramatic change because the edif doesn't just work for traction it actually works under braking it helps the braking stability i can come to fiorano every day of the week so what was my lap time excuse me do you have the uh the lap time for mr nedell had i matched the enzo's one minutes 29 and the answer is one minute 29.4 the same as the 660 horsepower ferrari enzo ferrari this 430 scooter here is quite some car now of course names like ferrari and lamborghini are well established in the supercar world but back in 2002 i went to test a 200 mile an hour car from a manufacturer we'd never heard of and number six in my top 10 is the pagani zonda s a car with aggressive outlandish looks a car with exquisite design detailing a car with something better than a commodore garden v8 a v12 in this case a seven liter 550 horsepower mercedes v12 tuned by amg and a ridiculous price tag like 298 000 pounds the zonder is the brainchild of former lamborghini employee horatio pagani built as a tribute to his late great friend and fellow argentinian juan manuel fangio the original c12 was first seen in 1999 and this is the s version the only difference being the addition of even more power and with that huge amount of horsepower backed up by a wall of torque the performance is electrifying 60 comes up in just three and a half seconds with a top speed of well over 200 miles an hour with only rear wheel drive it's wise to keep the traction control on until you're ready to give the zonda your fullest concentration just like the mclaren f1 supercar the zonda's monocoque chassis is constructed entirely in-house the carbon fiber material is cut to fill the molds and placed inside the huge ovens before being bonded together to produce the final product and to prove their quality they've been driven all over europe without so much as a murmur one making the 960 mile trip from moderner to goodwood last year averaging a very reasonable 21 miles per gallon just verbally along you can enjoy the panoramic view held by these frog eyed rear view mirrors the steering is light but responsive the ride firm but rewarding the chassis isn't unsettled by the odd camber or bump i can't believe what a sophisticated car this is oh yeah what a machine a machine that exceeded my expectations tenfold few will ever drive one even fewer own one but i'll never forget my day of dreaming you know it's the extra little touches that make things so special and each zonder customer gets their own pair of tailor-made driving shoes handcrafted by the pope's personal cobbler it's the final flourish for a car that truly defines the word supercar\n"