Massa tested the car at a fog-bound Fiorano on Monday

"Last year we were competitive but not reliable enough," said team boss Jean Todt, "so we absolutely have to get back to the levels of 2000-2004."

"We are aware it will be a tough battle as we have strong, ambitious rivals."

Schumacher's replacement Kimi Raikkonen and his team-mate Felipe Massa both described the car as "beautiful".

Interview: Fernando Alonso & Lewis Hamilton

The car, dubbed the F2007, was launched in low-key style on Sunday, with no official launch and the only photographs those supplied by the team.

Massa gave it its first test at the team's Fiorano track in foggy conditions on Monday. Raikkonen is not expected to have his first taste of a Ferrari F1 car until Sunday, and even that might be in last year's model.

We do not expect an advantage with the tyres Jean Todt Ferrari team boss

The Finn said: "I can't wait for the new season to start.

"But I'm expecting it to be really tough, even though we will be among those in contention for the title."

Ferrari has pledged to allow the drivers equal treatment in their fight for superiority on the track, a shift away from their previous stance, when the now-retired Michael Schumacher was the focus of the team.

The biggest rule change for the 2007 season is the abolition of the tyre war, with Bridgestone now supplying all the teams.

This is expected to play into the hands of Ferrari, the only top team to use Bridgestones last year.

But Todt said he did not expect Ferrari to have an advantage because Bridgestone would supply an entirely new and slower tyre.

"There is a big difference concerning the tyres, which will be new and different for everyone," he said.

"We do not expect an advantage. We've already seen that there are around two to three seconds difference compared to 2006."

Unusually in a sport in which saving weight is something of a holy grail, the new car is 10kg heavier than last year's.

Ferrari explain this by the new need to incorporate mandatory new cockpit protection, although the car's increased length will also have raised its weight.

The aerodynamics have been "remodelled", according to chief designer Aldo Costa, and the lengthened wheelbase is part of a quest to maximise the downforce created.