Ciao! The name is Ferrari 430 Scuderia

The wait is nearly over for Ferrari's next light-heavyweight champion. But don't call it Challenge Stradale. Or Pista. The official name will be 430 Scuderia, a moniker that evokes Ferrari's Formula One team. "We don't repeat the same chapter in the book," said Amedeo Felisa, Ferrari's vice-managing director. The concept behind Ferrari's hot-rod F430, which will be unveiled by Michael Schumacher at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September, is similar to the limited-edition, high-performance Modena variant sold in 2004.

Ferrari focused on three areas in its development of the Challenge Stradale, and the approach was the same for the Scuderia: Reduce weight, raise handling limits, and increase performance.

Weight reduction totals 220 pounds via carbon fiber and other composite materials replacing heavier pieces currently made of aluminum or other metals. Many of the luxury touches and power accessories in the interior have clearly given way as well, with carbon fiber replacing leather trim, the absence of a radio or carpeting, and racing-style bucket seats installed. Carbon ceramic brake rotors will be standard (they're optional on the F430), which shave weight by around seven pounds per corner. The front rotors on this development mule look huge, even larger than the 14.2-inchers on the F430. Total weight of the Scuderia? A relatively scrawny 2,756 pounds.

Gold, ten-spoke wheels are exclusive to the Scuderia and are likely made of forged magnesium. The ride height of this car looks to be slightly lower than that of the F430's, one aspect of a suspension package that should include stiffer springs and racier settings for the adaptive damping system and electronically managed (E-Diff) rear differential.

There are plenty of visual identifiers signaling the Scuderia's increased prowess. The most noticeable difference is out back, with the F430's standard dual-quad exhaust pipe being replaced by two large pipes exiting below the rear cooling screen, above the rear diffuser panel (both screen and diffuser are now carbon fiber). A pronounced lip and sharper-edged intake ducts adorn the front valance and twin racing stripes jet down the Scuderia's paint.

The F430 is rated at 483 SAE net horsepower, and the Scuderia will produce 510 at an ear-piercing 8,500 rpm. That, combined with its weight reduction, will substantially up its performance ante. Zero-to-60 times should drop into the 3.5-3.6-second range. Ferrari's F1 auto-clutch manual six-speed gearbox - now with carbon fiber shift paddles -- is the only transmission available in the Scuderia, and new "Superfast" software drops shift times down to 60 milliseconds; that's faster than an Enzo, 599 GTB Fiorano, or even a track-only FXX. A new traction control system is also included, bundling the E-diff electronic differential with the F1-Trac traction and stability control in a single unit.

Although production numbers have not yet been announced, the Scuderia should be a limited offering, with anywhere from 500 to 1000 units built for worldwide consumption. Perhaps half of those will be destined for the U.S. Pricing also is pending; our estimate is something in the $235,000-$245,000 range, by the time the Scuderia goes on sale here next spring. What sort of folks will buy them? Mostly F430 customers who want an even higher high from their Ferrari ownership experience. They'll be the ones waiting in line at your local Ferrari dealer.