Ferrari's F430 replacement is at it again � this disguised prototype of what we reckon may be called F400 in reference to its 4-litre twin turbo mill has been busy with suspension testing in northern Italy
A super-lightweight aluminium superstructure will radically enhance rigidity as it rubber stamps Ferrari�s weight cutting program to cut emissions and fuel consumption while improving dynamics, handling and performance across the board.
Boasting engineering concepts from Ferrari F1 and GT race machines, we can now reveal the newcomer boasts radiators ahead of the front wheels, while we understand its arsenal should include a double-clutch seven-speed transmission, understeer-cancelling software and upgraded traction control.
Although initially slated for a 9 September reveal with its engineering complete some time ago, our sources suggest that the car's Pininfarina styling had to be adjusted for aerodynamic reasons and will be delayed to make its debut as a tin-top only to allow the California a little grace market before the F400 Spider arrives 18 months after the coupe.
While F400 will likely bring a trick new turbo mill to production, talk is that Maranello will phase its F1-style Kinetic Energy Recovery System in to the newcomer later in its lifestyle.
Ferrari F400 Exposed Again
Maranello is clearly crawling with spies as these latest images of the all-new F400 prove.
Snapped in storage somewhere deep in top secret Ferrari country, the car's proportions fully endorse Cars in Action's exclusive sketch, but the snaps show far more detail than Ferrari would ever want in the public domain at this point.
Sadly, the engine in the prototype misses much of its induction plumbing and the extensive red-trimmed catalysers hide most of the exhaust manifolding, so we can't actually see if its turbocharged or not � although as can be seen in our ongoing reporting in the following pages, Ferrari has all but confirmed that the car will be a biturbo and more than likely a hybrid of sorts, too.
Also, the engine in the car may just be a prototyping mule for other reasons of development, but we reckon you'll probably see this mill in there at the end of the day.
Other secrets revealed by the images include the fact that the new car will boast
an aluminium spaceframe and that we have pretty much ased its looks in that drawing...
Ferrari has promised a hybrid prototype on show later in the year � how much do you want to bet that it will be calles something like Concept 400 KERS and will pretty much be the 430 replacement based on the mules in the pictures.
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