Ferrari's 6-year replacement cycle hints the Italian supercar brand is preparing to launch the successor to the successful F430 which first launched in 2004. The new car may be shown officially for the first time in October this year.

Rumour has it the sports car will be powered by a larger 4.5-litre V8 engine resulting in the new model adopting the F450 label. Like the F430 before it, the F450 would eventually come in a number of variants, including a Scuderia, a Spider and a Challenge. The picture from our files is an artist's rendition of what a possible pre-production concept of the model may look. Sources claim European sales of the F450 would begin in January 2010.

 

Is it that time again already? Seems like just yesterday the F430 came out. Can't wait to see what it looks like when the first actual spy shots surface...

 

From that artist's rendering, it looks like it has some strong styling cues from a Louts Exige.

 

Wow January 10 seems rather close for sales when first spy pics havent been leaked yet... I look forward to seeing the changes!

 

Reminds me of the Saleen S5 Raptor.

 

that looks like too much of a supercar to be the semi "entry level" Ferrari

 

That rendering looks great. I wonder what it will look like.

 

Its going to look uglier, hence California treatment.

 

Well it'a a bit early to say really. Usually you'll start to see spy pictures of modified 430's running around Fiorano before anything substantial starts showing up in print.

One guess I will make though, is that the base model 450 (or whatever it's going to be called) will be quicker than the Scud. If you look at Lamborghini, the Gallardo came out, then the Superleggera, and now the LP-560 is out which is faster than both the Superleggera AND the Scud. Ferrari will at least want to match the performance of the LP-560.

I'm excited for the LP-560 Superleggera and 450 Scud

 

The actual car will look nothing like that rendering.

Hopefully they focused on developing the F450 into a very light and compact car. Kinda like a grown up Lotus Exige. Plus it would be great to get a radical new design. The 360 to F430 evolution was nice but now it's time to show the world something new.