What Is It?
2006 Ferrari F430 Spider

What's Special About It?
Prancing horses descend on the Geneva motor show in the shape of the new Ferrari F430 Spider. Based on the fixed roof F430 coupe, the new Italian convertible receives a Pininfarina style all its own.

Accented by smaller headlamps and large oval air ducts, the restyled front bumper gets a new lip spoiler for added downforce, and deeper side scoops help feed air to the midmounted engine. The rear is flanked by circular taillamps, and the aluminum body rides on new 10-spoke, 19-inch wheels with Pirelli PZero Rosso tires.

As with the 360 Spider it replaces, going from coupe to convertible is simple — the fabric roof powers down electrically in 20 seconds. When the top is up, the rear window is set between tapering buttresses.

Killer performance equal to the Spider's stunning beauty comes from the same powerful 4.3-liter V8 engine found in the F430, rated at 483 horsepower and 343 pound-feet of torque. Transmission options include a standard six-speed manual shifter or an automatic gearbox with F1-style steering wheel-mounted shifter paddles. Ferrari says the F430 Spider zips from zero to 62 in just 4.1 seconds, and has a top speed of 193 miles per hour.

What's Edmunds' Take?
With a price tag of $200,000, the F430 Spider is the kind of car that dreams are made of. And we say if you're going to dream, why not dream Italian? — Kelly Toepke