It’s been a while since we last heard about the Dallara Stradale, the racing car manufacturer’s first shot at a road car.
Of course, it’s not your usual car as it doesn’t even have doors, boot – or a windshield in base specification. It is street legal, however, but you’ll really need to put in your A-game when driving it because the Stradale is hardcore material. It tips the scales at just 855 kg (1,885 lbs), due to the monocoque chassis and body panels being made from carbon fiber composites.
Add to that the turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine that produces 400 PS (395 hp) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque thanks to some tuning from Bosch and you get an explosive mix.
As Top Gear’s Jack Rix found out when he took the Dallara Stradale to the racetrack, it’s a car that only expert drivers will be able to drive at ten tenths. In that respect, it stays true to the company’s heritage while being as much a road car as it is a race car.
After all, not many street-legal cars produce a downforce that’s almost equal to their own weight. The Stradale’s optional rear wing generates 820 kg (1,808 lb) of downforce at the top speed of 280 km/h (174 mph).
It’s a lot of fun to drive thanks to its unassisted steering and mad 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration of 3.25 seconds. Furthermore, the razor-sharp brakes give you the confidence to go faster with each lap. The sound of the engine isn’t the most exciting, however.
The reviewer also points out that the optional six-speed automated manual transmission shifts the gears rather slowly at low speeds. Thankfully, you can also get the Stradale with a six-speed manual. All you need to do is find the €155,000 (about $177,000) asking price, plus taxes, and you’re good to go.