It was five years ago that the current Ferrari F430 debuted at the 2004 Paris Motor Show and the storied Italian sports and racing car manufacturer is currently hard at work creating a successor designed to both increase power while decreasing emissions and fuel consumption at the same time. Dubbed the F450 by virtue of its enlarged 4.5L V-8 reportedly based on the present 4.3L unit, speculation has power surpassing that of the 430 Scuderia at 500 horses or more.
While the mule our spy shooters caught undergoing winter testing is still wearing modified F430 bodywork, the larger fenders, air scoops, and exhaust system all hint at the need for a wider stance and increased breathing -- no doubt, for a car that will be creating more power. The F450 will also reportedly receive Ferrari's new dual-clutch gearbox that debuted in the California. The new gearbox features quicker, smoother shift action than the automated manual presently used in the F430.
So how will Ferrari meet its goals for increased fuel efficiency and lower emissions with an engine that is both larger and more powerful? Though nothing has been confirmed, we hear that forced induction off the table for the F450, while direct-injection will likely find its way over to the new 4.5L engine. In addition to the new dual-clutch gearbox, other weight reduction procedures being researched at Ferrari's Mille Chili center will also reportedly help to improve the new car's efficiency.
Should all go according to plan, we can expect to see the Ferrari F450 make its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September, with U.S. sales to follow by the summer of 2010.
