Spy Shots: Ferrari F450 mule spotted frolicking in the snow
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/frankfurt-auto-show/" rel="tag">Frankfurt Auto Show</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/spyphotos/" rel="tag">Spy Photos</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupes</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/supercars/" rel="tag">Supercars</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ferrari/" rel="tag">Ferrari</a></p><a href="http://www.nextautos.com/spy-shots-ferrari-f450-spied?gid=13459&nid=35788 #gallery-13459"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/03/nextautos-f450-mule-crop.jpg" /></a>Now that Ferrari has a new projected volume leader in its <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/31/first-drive-ferrari-california-in-sicily/">California folding hardtop</a>, Maranello's magicians can now concentrate on developing a F430 successor, which is likely to carry the F450 designation. And while the Prancing Horse's latest-and-greatest is expected to make the scene in Frankfurt this September, test mules are still running around without production bodywork. <br /><br />That voyeuristic disappointment aside, NextAutos' shooters have captured a new snow-bound prototype which clearly shows that development is moving forward. Caught cold-weather testing in Sweden, this F430-based mule reveals that the coupe's promised 4.5-liter V8 engine will likely require better breathing (check out those huge air intakes), along with a bigger contact patch to get the power down (note the fatter rear tires). The F450 is also widely expected to inherit the California's stonking dual-clutch unit, a system that we consider to be a finalist in the candidate for the world's best gearbox. The system's lightening-fast changes are expected to marshal additional horsepower from the V8 engine - perhaps even more than the 510 ponies currently on offer in the F430 Scuderia.<br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.nextautos.com/spy-shots-ferrari-f450-spied?gid=13459&nid=35788 #gallery-13459">NextAutos</a>]<br /><br /><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/17/spy-shots-ferrari-f450-mule-spotted-frolicking-in-the-snow/">Spy Shots: Ferrari F450 mule spotted frolicking in the snow</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:26:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/17/spy-shots-ferrari-f450-mule-spotted-frolicking-in-the-snow/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1490000/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/17/spy-shots-ferrari-f450-mule-spotted-frolicking-in-the-snow/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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