2005 Ferrari F430 Preview

Track Dominant Ferrari Setting Out to Reclaim the Road

The Ferrari F360 Modena is dead - long live the F430! Expect a great deal of excitement around the Ferrari stand at this year's Paris Auto Salon starting September 25th, when the

The new Ferrari F430 combines elements of the Enzo supercar and outgoing F360 Modena, in a new breed of high-performance V8-powered supercar. (Photo: Ferrari North America)

new model officially debuts. The release of a new Ferrari is always highly celebrated by Tifosi around the world, but should be even more so now that Lamborghini's new Gallardo and a handful of recent Porsche's have superceded the F360's performance advantage. The 360 has been one of Ferrari's most successful production cars, despite early criticism for its radical design departure, but it is expected the new replacement will hardly disappoint.

As with all recent entry-level Ferraris, the new F430 will be clothed in an aluminum body formed over a lightweight aluminum frame. Once again it has been shaped to take the form of a wedgy two-seat, mid-engine vehicle, just as with the F360, 355, 348, 328, 308 and 246 of the past. Yet unlike the 360, the 430 takes an evolutionary approach in styling, borrowing from the new 612 Scaglietti, and heavily influenced by Ferrari's Enzo supercar. A quick looks shows that thinner, vertically stacked headlamps with powerful xenon beam headlamps replace the current ovoid lenses. A center "inverted" intake on the front fascia's leading edge has been slotted between the two main intakes, the shape and placement a combination of 360 and Enzo. It's mostly Enzo for the tall rear end design,

The F430 is 70 percent new with plenty of cutting edge technology, such as a faster shifting F1 gearbox and electronic differential. (Photo: Ferrari North America)

particularly in the execution of its protruding taillamps, which break up the rear fender's curving surfaces.

The reworking of the body doesn't just stop at styling, as there are many aerodynamic tricks incorporated into the slender F430 to improve airflow and reduce drag. The two widened front intakes, now accented by carbon fiber trim, provide additional air flow necessary for keeping the brakes cool. Additional lacerations around the front air dam as well as on the side skirts provide extra airflow without compromising the car's aerodynamics. The wind-cheating design also produces F1-like negative lift at high speeds, ensuring that the wheels stay on the ground. The larger engine breathes through accentuated scoops on the rear fenders, reminiscent of the LeMans winning 250 LM of 1965.