ferrari f430

efore Lamborghini's Gallardo arrived, Ferrari had plans to refresh its popular 360 Modena, perhaps adding a few extra ponies under the bonnet and a mild change to the front and rear ends.

But how things change when a little competition - and lost market share - spoils an otherwise blissful party that Ferrari had been enjoying in the wonderful world of automotive exotica.

As we reported a few months back, the F430, which we then referred to as the 430 Modena, was being tested in disguised fashion, and now Ferrari has come clean with the 360 Modena's successor.

Gone is the Modena namesake, replaced by the more technical name of F430.

The F430 is the 360 Modena's replacement, but on a combative level it's designed to take on the universally acclaimed Lamborghini Gallardo, grind it into the ground and then turn up its nose as it races off into the distance in a puff of tyre smoke.

It is a low-to-the-ground, two-seater rear wheel drive sportscar built for high 'G' cornering, has a mid-mounted V8 engine, is constructed from high-grade aluminium, has the latest generation 6-speed F1-derived gearbox and of course Ferrari's trademark exotic styling that makes grown men swoon.

The F430s exterior design is close to what spy shots hinted at previously, as the front end has Enzo-inspired headlight clusters, albeit with slightly more rounded edges.

Twin oval air dams in the front fascia give it a more organic look than the 360 Modena, while vertical cutouts in front of the front wheels draws the eye to the front end and the smoothly sculpted bonnet.

From the rear, the look is even more reminiscent of the V12-powered flagship Ferrari, with almost-identical circular brake lights and what appears to be a speed-sensitive pop-up rear wing.