There are only two ways that Ferrari can make its sensational 430 Scuderia, one of the superstar supercars of the 2008 Lightning Lap, any better: 1) make it as affordable as a Kia Rio, or 2) make more more flavors of it. Certainly, the first option will never, ever happen, but it appears that the second one will. Say buongiorno to the new Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M, or as we like to say, Ferrari’s spider spettaculare.

Basically, the Scuderia Spider is little more than a convertible version of the F430-based Scuderia coupe, powered by the same enhanced 503-hp V-8 mounted rear-midship and mated to the same upgraded F1 automated manual transmission. It also includes the same carbon-ceramic brakes, the same carbon-fiber dash and door trim, the same race-derived seats, all that. The only difference is that, when the weather allows you to lower the top, there is no barrier to block the engine’s aria from your ear canals. We salivate at the mere thought.

Weighing a claimed 3175 pounds, 285 pounds lighter than the last F430 Spider we weighed and 94 pounds more than the 3081-pound Scuderia coupe that we used in this year’s Lightning Lap, the Scuderia Spider boasts a sparkling power-to-weight ratio of just 6.31 pounds per horsepower. Ferrari claims that the Scud Spider can hit 62 mph in 3.7 seconds on its way to a very breezy top speed of 196 mph, which is just 2 mph less than the closed car. Ferrari also boasts that the Scud Spider is the fastest droptop ever to lap its Fiorano test track. No surprise there.

Only 499 Scuderia Spiders will be built, each with black wheels, black headlamp surrounds, and black interiors. All will also feature roll bars with carbon-fiber shells, and a removable iPod touch that docks in front of the dashboard and syncs up with a bespoke “new-generation” audio system.

As far as we’re concerned, however, the only audio system we’re interested in sits right behind the passengers. Which we hope, someday, will include us.

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