Frankfurt 2009: Ferrari 458 Italia

Here in the velvet-roped-off Autoblog section of the Frankfurt Motor Show press room, opinions are split over the styling of the new Ferrari 458 Italia. While some of us are enamored of the supercar's svelte shape, others....well let's just say they're more fond of Ferraris of yore. But whatever your take on the design, there's no doubting that this is a seminal debut for the Maranello marque, for whom the new 458 is the first completely new production mid-engine car in a decade.

We caught a pair of Italias – in red and yellow – strutting still on the Ferrari show stand ahead of the press conference scheduled for later today, which we present for your consideration and viewing enjoyment in the high-res image gallery below. Check it out and leave your thoughts in the comments below.