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Overview

The Ferrari 348 was a mid engine rear wheel drive sports car manufactured by the Italian car maker Ferrari Spa, from 1989 to 1995. The Ferrari 348 replaced the Ferrari 328 and its self was replaced by the Ferrari F355. The 348 name comes from the cars engines displacement of 3.4 liter and number of cylinders 8.

The Ferrari 348 had two series: first series was built from 1989 to 1993 and had two body styles, berlinetta named TB and targa top named TS (the "T" stands for the transversally mounted gearbox); second series was built from 1993 to 1995 and as first series had three body styles, the berlinetta now named GTB and targa top now named GTS (the "GT" stands for Grand Turismo) and the Spyder.

Variants

First series featured a naturally aspired 3.4 liter V8 mounted longitudinally at rear. The engine produced 296 horsepower @ 7200 rpm and a maximum torque of 238 lb/ft @ 4200 rpm; engines output was the same for both the European and US model. The engine was matted to a five speed gearbox that delivered the power to the rear wheels. Performances were very good sprinting from zero to sixty miles per hour in a fast 5.4 seconds and could travel the quarter mile with a standstill start in 14.5 seconds. As for the fuel consumption, the Ferrari 348 returned an average of 15.3 mpg (15.4 liter per 100 kilometers).

Second series featured the same engine, but upgraded. The power output was increased to 315 horse power @ 7200 rpm and 239 pound / feet of torque @ 5000 rpm; the US model had a bit less power with 310 hp @ 7200 rpm and 229 lb/ft @ 5000 rpm. The engine was mated to the same five speed gearbox, with power delivered the rear wheels. The power increase was seen in its performances, now reaching 60 mph from a standstill in 5.2 seconds and doing a zero to mile in 13.5 seconds. Even tough the upgrade increased the performances, the fuel consumption was lowered, now returning a average of 15.3 miles per gallon (15.4 liter per 100 kilometers)

The TB and TS model featured dual-computer engine management with twin Bosch 2.5 Motronic ECU's, double-redundant Anti-Lock Braking systems, on-board self-diagnosing Air Conditioning and heating systems and functioning on-board OBDI engine management systems. The car also featured straked side air intakes resemble those of the Testarossa, as do the rectangular tail lights.

The second series GTB, GTS and Spyder were launched in 1993 when the 348 was updated. The updated model featured subtle styling changes (front grille, rear chrome Cavallino and removable seat cushions), as stated before more power due to improved engine management system - Bosch Motronic 2.7, increased compression ratio from 10.4:1 to 10.8:1, higher plenum chamber on inlet manifold, new exhaust system (single muffler) and different camshaft timing.

The Ferrari 348 TB and TS measured 166.5 inch (4,230 mm) in length, 74.6 inch (1,894 mm) in width and 46.1 inch (1,170 mm) in height; the weight for both the coupe and the targa top was 3,071 lbs (1,393 kg). With the update, the GTB, GTS and Spyder have "shrunk" in width to 74.4 inch (1,890 mm) and lost some weight to 3,020 lbs (1,370 kg); the rest of the dimensions remained the same.

The main frame was formed from pressed and box section galvanized steel welded to upright galvanized steel panels such as those of the door posts and bulkheads. Eschewing the tried and true tube steel frame, Ferrari ventured into unfamiliar territory by creating a steel monocoque. The result was a rigid and very strong chassis.

As for the suspensions the Ferrari 348 featured gas-filled Bilstein shock absorbers within coil springs, located by unequal length dual wishbones of pressed steel, sited between the front wishbones and above the rear wishbones; and front and rear anti roll bars ensured flat cornering.

The North American models came with 17" flat-spoked, unidirectional design in matte silver modeled on the familiar five-spoked star shaped cast alloys of earlier Ferraris wheels. Stock front tires were size 215/50ZR17 and the rears 255/50ZR17.

Additional Information

The Ferrari 348 was built in 8,844 units of which 2,895 were TB, 4,230 were TS, 332 were GTB, 297 were GTS and 1090 were Spyder.

Only in 1994, Ferrari in collaboration with the Michelotto performance house, created a number of 348's race models (in Europe available for the street too) that had a power output raging from 360 hp to 500 hp, they were named 348 GTC (Grand Turismo Competizione). The cars featured kevlar front and rear bumpers, kevlar seats, kevlar door panels, whilst the Le Mans race models used F40 half-shafts.