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Ferrari FXX and F430 Challenge shown in Detroit

FXX F430 Challenge

The Ferrari FXX and the Ferrari F430 Challenge made their North American debuts last week at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, alongside the F430, F430 Spider and the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti in 'two-tone' and Handling GTC versions. Last year Ferrari had to increase production to meet demand, and exceeded 5,000 units in a single year for the first time ever - primarily to reduce the waiting time for its cars and to satisfy the demands from new markets that had had 'interesting' results.

Making its debut at the Show is the FXX (see previous article), a prototype aimed exclusively at 29 of its most dedicated and passionate clients, around which an innovative technical client-constructor collaboration programme has been developed. Also on display at Detroit is the F430 Challenge that will debut in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli one-make championship in the 2006 season.

In addition to the FXX and F430 Challenge, the Ferrari stand in Detroit also features an F430 Spider and two 612 Scaglietti models - one of which is a special two-tone version in Nero Daytona and Rubino Micalizzato. The other 612 on display is equipped with the optional "Handling GTC" pack, which, among other things, includes the braking system with carbon-ceramic discs (CCM), ball-polished split-rim wheels and highly-advanced F1 gear change software and is targeted at customers who desire a more dynamic handling. Both the open and closed versions of the F430 have garnered a significant number of awards from magazines in the sector: Road & Track and Auto Week (USA), Quattroruote (Italy), Auto Motor und Sport and Auto Zeitung (Germany), Top Gear (United Kingdom) and Sport Auto (France), among others.

Australia will have to wait for the newer models to appear Down Under. The upcoming Melbourne show will only have the strictly limited edition Ferrari Superamerica (six earmarked for Australia) on display alongside the F430 and F430 Spider and the V12-powered Ferrari F612.

STOP PRESS

The Fxx wins the Eyeson Design Award

The Ferrari FXX has won the Eyeson Design Award as the best example of functional design at the Detroit show. Seventeen international designers, including Chris Bangle from BMW, William Davindson, head of styling at Harley-Davidson and Shiro Nakamura, from Nissan, sat on the panel. The judges awarded the prize to the FXX as the car that best "expresses the functionality of design as an instrument to reach the objectives for which the vehicle was developed". The model is the most advanced granturismo produced at Maranello and is exclusively for track use. It will form a crucial part of the ongoing research and development programme set up with a group of 'client-test drivers'. The car is not homologated for use on the road and is not expected to compete in races.

© italiancar.com.au 16/01/06