Frankfurt motor show 2007 - Ferrari

Ferrari brought seven-times Formula One champion Michael Schumacher along to unveil the F430 Scuderia at Frankfurt – appropriate, really, as this is a car aimed squarely at rich track-day enthusiasts.

With the 4.3-litre V8 pumped up from the standard F430's 483bhp to 503bhp and 100kg of weight stripped from the car – even the sound-deadening has gone from the floor – this is Ferrari's mid-engined berlinetta (that's Ferrari for coupe), hardcore-style.

To go with the improved power-to-weight ratio, there's a super-quick paddle-shift manual gearbox. New software called F1 Superfast swaps cogs in six hundredths of a second.

The traction and stability systems have also been modified, though they are still worked by the switch on the steering wheel, a bit like those Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa get to play with on their Formula 1 cars.

The electronic differential and traction/stability control system are interlinked for the first time. Track-day drivers can now switch off the traction and stability systems independently, too – another first.

The F430 Scuderia – the name is Italian for 'team' – will be in the UK at the end of this year or early next, no doubt with a five-figure premium over the £135,000 price of a regular F430 with paddle-shift gearbox.