The Ferrari F430 is at present making its official Dutch debut at the Autorai 2005, and the  positively stunning example being shown, is helping to keep the large crowd's attention firmly focused on Ferrari's stand.

Although the Ferrari stand is to an extent dominated by the 'European Premiere of the Superamerica, with its innovative electronically-controlled folding roof, the new 'mid-size' F430 is undoubtedly one of the show's big stars, and the colour chosen for its Dutch unveiling, Grigio Titanio metallizato, really does Ferrari's new V8-engined sportscar proud.

The F430 and Superamerica are joined on the spacious stand by a 575 M, 612 Scaglietti, and an example of Michael Schumacher's F1 World Championship winning Ferrari F2004 chassis.

Only last week Ferrari revealed the first 'official' photos of the F430 Spider which will premiere at the 75th Geneva Salon in just a few weeks time. Initial impressions are that of a car that will adapt its graceful and powerful lines to becoming a very stylish and attractive convertible, in true Prancing Horse tradition.

The F430 signaled the arrival of a brand new generation of Ferrari 8-cylinder models. This new car takes Ferrari's extraordinary achievements with aluminium technology, begun with the 360 Modena, to a whole new level, and offers a series of extremely significant innovations directly derived from the Ferrari Formula 1 single-seaters.
 

Two of these innovations are world firsts for production cars: the electronic differential (E-Diff) and the steering wheel-mounted switch (better known to the Formula 1 Scuderia's drivers as "manettino"), which manages the integrated systems governing vehicle dynamics.

The other main characteristics of the new F430 are its light, compact 4,300cc 90° V8 engine, which punches out 490 hp to achieve a specific output of 114 hp/litre, also providing the new Ferrari berlinetta with a weight-to-power ratio of 2.8 kg/hp (dry weight); a braking system with carbon-ceramic discs for optimal efficiency under extreme use (optional).

A Formula 1-derived gearbox that cuts gear shifting times down to 150 milliseconds allowing the driver to make the very most of this truly high performance car (0-62 mph acceleration in 4 seconds flat, a top speed in excess of 196 mph) and an aerodynamic design that embodies the very latest competition technologies, specifically the flat underbody and large rear diffuser to increase downforce.

by Edd Ellison, Paddy Granger in Amsterdam