Alongside the Ferrari F40 and Ferrari 288 GTO, the Ferrari Testarossa is one of the most legendary sports cars of the eighties. For the first time, KW Automotive has developed a road-legal KW V3 Classic suspension kit for the Ferrari Testarossa. The coilover suspension, which can be independently adjusted for compression and rebound, features stainless steel housings and an optional hydraulic lift system for the front axle. By pressing a button, ground clearance increases by 45 millimeters, allowing the car to navigate steep parking garage ramps and speed bumps easily. In addition to the well-known version with purple spring perches and yellow springs, KW now offers a "KW Classic Line" for a more refined look. This version comes with black spring perches, springs, extension rings, and polyamide threaded rings. The ride height adjustment range is continuously variable, from 10 to 30 millimeters. For more information, visit www.kwsuspensions.net.

The Ferrari Testarossa is the first modern vintage Ferrari for which KW Automotive offers a KW V3 Classic suspension in its product range. Previously, KW suspensions were only available as custom-made versions for older Ferrari models. "Some owners of a Ferrari 365 GT 2+2, or Ferrari F40, ordered custom-made kits for their timeless sports cars," says KW Classic expert Sascha Daucher. "With the introduction of the official KW V3 Classic kit for the Testarossa, you can order the kit anywhere, and we no longer need the car for custom installation at our headquarters."

Vintage car drivers highly seek after KW Classic applications, as they bring modern-day driving safety, comfort, and dynamics to older vehicles. In a test by the German car magazine Auto Motor und Sport, the KW V3 coilover suspension kit emerged as the test winner in categories such as balance, everyday usability, safety, fun factor, and performance. The magazine noted that the handling of the nearly 30-year-old BMW now feels up to date, thanks to the V3, and is hardly inferior to that of modern, sporty models. This also applies to legendary sports cars like the Ferrari Testarossa with its 390 hp V12. Installing the KW V3 Classic suspension kit—which consists of six adjustable dampers—on the Testarossa enhances handling, straight-line stability, and ride comfort without compromising the car's original character. "When the Ferrari was developed and launched 40 years ago, suspension technology wasn't as advanced as it is today," says Sascha Daucher. The KW V3 Classic suspension continually surprises classic car enthusiasts by providing a safer, more stable ride with much higher cornering speeds possible. Overall handling remains sporty and direct, but occupants will appreciate the improved ride comfort—even on secondary roads.

Compared to other shocks, the low-speed compression and low-speed rebound damping of the KW V3 Classic can be adjusted separately. "This separate adjustment of compression and rebound damping wasn't possible with the original chassis at the time," explains Sascha Daucher. The adjustable rebound damping primarily influences handling. It also affects how the Ferrari's tubular steel chassis connects to the road and how quickly the suspension springs return to their original state after compression. If the rebound setting is closed, the handling becomes more direct; if the rebound valves are opened, the steering becomes less precise.

Compression damping, on the other hand, impacts the compression of the spring, directly affecting body roll during steering and cornering. Additionally, compression damping plays a role in steering behavior. The preconfigured, non-adjustable high-speed valves ensure that all channels open instantly when driving over bumps, effectively absorbing road irregularities. "A Ferrari Testarossa with a V3 suspension drives noticeably more dynamically than one with a chassis that was state-of-the-art decades ago," says Daucher. "Since the Testarossa already has a shallow center of gravity from the factory, we developed a hydraulic lift system for the front axle, integrated with our front dampers." At the touch of a button, the nose of the Ferrari lifts by up to 45 millimeters via the hydraulic system, automatically lowering again at speeds over 65 km/h—ideal for speed bumps or parking garage ramps.

For those who prefer, the suspension can also be ordered in a "Classic Line" with black springs and components. The ride height adjustment range is continuously variable, from 10 to 30 millimeters. For more information, visit www.kwsuspensions.net.

About KW automotive:

The KW Group includes the suspension manufacturer KW automotive with its brands KW suspensions, ST suspensions, ap Sportfahrwerke and the SimRacing brands TrackTime and Ascher Racing. With its immense chassis portfolio, state-of-the-art production technology, development and test center, KW has been operating successfully in all markets for over 25 years. As a development partner for sophisticated controlled chassis systems, KW automotive has the entire product portfolio of hydraulics, electronics, sensors, control units and damper controls as well as the necessary know-how for the application and coordination of complex driving dynamics control systems from a single source. In addition to its core business, the development and production of manually and adaptively adjustable coilovers and other suspension components for the aftermarket, as well as the range of accessories offered by various automobile manufacturers, the business segment in customer racing in the automotive industry is developing extremely positively. The group of companies has branches in the most important markets such as Belgium, Great Britain, China, Japan, Switzerland, Spain, Taiwan and the USA. Other business divisions include software and hardware solutions as well as events for virtual motorsport under the umbrella of the RaceRoom brand. Also brands of the KW Group are the chassis manufacturers KW Damping Technology, S.A. (formerly AL-KO Damping Technology, S.A.), Belltech and Reiger Suspension. www.kwautomotive.de

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Christian Schmidt * E-Mail: [email protected] * Tel. +49.79.71.9630-547
KW automotive GmbH * Aspachweg 14 * 74427 Fichtenberg * Web: www.kwautomotive.de