The F430's nostrils are a reference. Those two front intakes, feeding the radiators, are drawn from the shark-nose Ferrari 156 F1 that Phil Hill drove to the 1961 world championship. Pininfarina styled the car with Ferrari's own design office, working from the 360 Modena's proportions.

The shape is built around moving air. Slashes ahead of the front wheels pull hot air out of the radiators, intakes above the rear arches feed the mid-mounted engine, and the diffuser is integrated into the lower bumper between four exhaust exits. The tail — round lights, a mesh deck with the Prancing Horse — comes from the Enzo. It all adds up to 50 percent more downforce than the 360: an extra 45 kg at 200 km/h and 280 kg at 300 km/h.

The engine was new, sharing no parts with the 360's. Displacement rose 20 percent to 4.3 liters for only 4 kg more weight, torque rose 25 percent to 465 Nm at 5,250 rpm with 80 percent of it available from 3,500 rpm, and peak power is 490 horsepower at 8,500 rpm. This car has the F1 automated manual: 0 to 100 km/h in 4.0 seconds, 315 km/h flat out.

The cockpit is arranged the way Ferrari arranged them then — yellow tachometer at the center, digital gear indicator beside it, and both the starter button and the Manettino dial on the steering wheel face, so drive modes change without moving a hand.

The car is at the Target Car Center showroom.