Ferrari adds to its exciting model line up at the Geneva show with the official public unveiling of the new F430 Spider. To whet our appetites initial details and some stunning pictures have been released ahead of the show.

Whilst many recent spy shots have hinted at its appearance, these are the first official shots from Ferrari and you must agree that the new car looks stunning. Styled by Pininfarina, several design influences are quoted, such as the nose of the 1961 Ferrari 156 racecar driven by Phil Hill, as well as the demands of the aerodynamics team and cooling needs, both of which have been optimised using CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) packages normally reserved for the all-conquering Formula One team.

The F1 influence continues elsewhere in the car with the wheel mounted switch that allows chassis and engine parameters to be modified on the move, and the F1 derived 'E-diff' to optimise roadholding and traction for any given situation. Making the E-diff work for its money is the same 4.3-litre V8 found in the F430 coupe. Pushing out 483bhp (that's 114bhp per litre) and 465Nm of torque, this Modenese masterpiece catapults the Spider to 60mph in just 4.1 seconds. This figure is slightly behind the coupe's scorching 3.9 seconds thanks to an increased kerb weight of 1,520kg, due to the extra stiffening needed when removing the roof. The quoted top speed is still "over" 193mph, which should be ample to remove your hair by the roots... The new hood design stows neatly between the more pronounced rear air intakes and, as with the 360 Modena, the V8 engine can be seen beneath a glass panelled rear deck. The car is due to go on sale later this year, expected to cost in the region of £130,000.

Dave Jenkins - 16 Feb 2005