KEY POINTS:
Efficiency equals fuel economy. But it also equals extreme performance, says Ferrari.
The Prancing Horse marque claims that its fastest-ever production car, the new 430 Scuderia, also boasts the lowest fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.
The 430 Scuderia - a harder-edged racing-style version of the F430 coupe - crushes the benchmark 0-100km/h acceleration test in 3.6 seconds, blasts to 200km/h in 11.6 seconds and can top 320km/h.
The Scuderia is as fast around Ferrari's Fiorano test track as the legendary limited-production Enzo V12, yet average fuel consumption is 15.7 litres per 100km - compared with 18.3l/100km for the standard F430.
The gains are made in both powertrain technology and weight, says Ferrari.
Its engine designer have developed a new 'breathing' system that releases more power and torque, by making it more efficient.
As with many other Ferrari models, the 430 Scuderia employs a robotised-manual gearbox - a two-pedal arrangement that operates the clutch automatically.
The Scuderia has the fastest-ever version of the transmission, called F1-SuperFast2, which eliminates fuel use almost completely during cog-changes.
All of Ferrari's road cars are based around aluminium construction. But the 430 also uses carbon fibre and a new material called RTM, which is almost as light and strong as carbon fibre, but is considerably lower in cost.
Aerodynamic experts have lifted the new car's downforce by up to 30kg with no increase in drag.
