Ferrari 599 GTB, Alfa Romeo 8C at Sydney Motor Show

Both are coming straight from the Paris Motor Show, both are odds-on to be painted red and both are seriously quick machines.

Ferrari's latest masterpiece - the 599 GTB Fiorano, above, and the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione - will both be among the show stars.

And even if you would like to (and have the considerable means to do so) own one, the Maranello machine's order bank will mean a 2008 delivery date.

The $270,000 Alfa's right-hand drive future looks bleak but it will be available to the U.S. market, marking a return for the breed after a 15-year absence.

All the 599 GTBs allocated to Australia for 2006 and 2007 have already been sold and European Automotive Imports general manager Kevin Wall says even by Ferrari's standards that's a big deal.

"The 599 GTB has been described as the best car in world, the greatest super car of all time, the ultimate useable supercar," he says.

Ferrari boasts the $600,000, 1580kg 456kW/680Nm six-litre V12 599 GTB is faster than the F40 and just a little slower than the Enzo.

"It is no wonder, therefore, that the demand for the 599 GTB Fiorano has been unprecedented," he says.

The Alfa has made an appearance in Sydney before, only as a concept car, but Alfa Romeo general manager David Stone says it was only a dream then.

"The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione we will unveil at this year's Sydney Motor Show is the production car, a real super car, available for a lucky few to buy," he says. "One thing that hasn't changed though is that the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione is the epitome of everything Alfa Romeo. It is born from a genuine sporting heritage, designed with a passion for style and engineered with an obsession for performance."

About 336kW and 470Nm is produced by the new 90-degree 4.7-litre all-aluminium V8, which sends drive to the self-locking rear differential via a six-speed manual gearbox. The fun is halted by a set of massive ventilated disc brakes hiding not so quietly beneath 20in wheels.