- Free-revving 3.4-litre V8 engine
- Improved handling from late 1993 (Mk.II 348)
- Outclassed by the Honda NSX
- High maintenance costs
- Handling for pre-1993 Ferrari 348 short of expectations
Review: Ferrari Mk.I 348 (1990-93)
Overview
Released in November 1990, the Ferrari Mk.I 348 was a two-seat, mid-engined sports car. Manufactured in Maranello, Italy, the rear-wheel drive 348 was powered by a 3.4-litre V8 engine that was mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The 348 range initially consisted of the TS (targa) variant, with the TB (coupe) variants following in 1991.
The 3.4-litre V8 engine had quad camshafts (two per cylinder bank), four valves per cylinder and dry-sump lubrication to prevent oil starvation at high speeds and during hard cornering. The 348 could accelerate from rest to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds and had a top speed of 275 km/h.
Compared to its 328 predecessor, the 348 was 51 mm shorter (at 4234 mm), 160 mm wider (1890 mm), 42 mm taller (1170 mm) and had a 100 mm longer wheelbase (2450 mm) – the significant increase in width was due to the oil and coolant radiators being repositioned at the sides of the vehicle. The 348 had independent suspension front and rear with unequal length wishbones, coil springs over gas-filled shock absorbers and anti-roll bars.
| Body | Years | Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 348 TS | Targa | 1990-93 | 3.4-litre petrol V8 | 5sp man. | 221 kW at 7200 rpm | 324 Nm at 4200 rpm |
| 348 TB | Coupe | 1991-93 |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment consisted of ABS.
Features
Standard features included 17-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, leather upholstery, front fog lights, central locking and power windows.
Review: Ferrari Mk.II 348 (1993-94)
Overview
Released in November 1993, the Mk.II 348 introduced an expanded range with the introduction of Spider (convertible) variants, while the TS and TB were replaced by the GTS and GTB respectively. Visually, the Mk.II 348 could be identified by its revised front grille, rear chrome Cavallino Rampante (i.e. prancing horse badge) and body-coloured lower body panels (previously black).
The Mk.II 348 was fitted with a more powerful engine which had an increased compression ratio (10.8:1, previously 10.4:1), a higher plenum chamber on the inlet manifold, a new exhaust system (single muffler), different camshaft timing and Bosch Motronic 2.7 engine management (previously Motronic 2.5). The Mk.II 348 also had a 25 mm wider rear track, revised suspension geometry and a smaller fuel tank (88 litres) for reduced weight and further chassis reinforcements.
| Body | Years | Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 348 GTS | Targa | 1993-94 | 3.4-litre petrol V8 | 5sp man. | 235 kW at 7200 rpm | 324 Nm at 5000 rpm |
| 348 Spider | Convertible | 1993-94 | ||||
| 348 GTB | Coupe | 1993-94 |
Safety equipment and features
Compared to its Mk.I predecessor, standard safety equipment and features for the Mk.II 348 were largely unchanged.
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