When Ferrari launched its
California, some said that it would steal sales from the F430 model, as the newer car offers broadly similar performance and dynamics, but with an added dollop of usability and practicality. Little did we know what Ferrari had up its sleeve to replace the F430: say hello to the new Ferrari 458 Italia.
As with all modern-day Ferraris, the Italia has obviously been shaped as much by the wind tunnel as by Pininfarina's pens, though it's instantly an appealing shape full of aggression. There are design elements reminiscent of the F430 and the Enzo and even of the 360 Modena, but the 458 is significantly newer looking and at the same time technical in appearance.
The plan view reveals how air is channelled to the integrated rear spoiler, which sits above a prominent diffuser and, unusually, three centrally-mounted exhausts. That diffuser runs into a completely flat under body to the smooth nose. Although the front is remarkably simple looking, it incorporates 'aeroelastic winglets', which generate downforce and also deform at speed to reduce drag. A massive 140kg of downforce is generated in total at 124mph.
Ferrari's new baby is only getting started at that speed, as it'll top out at more than 202mph, eclipsing the 0-62mph benchmark in less than 3.4 seconds. The slippery shape will certainly assist in producing those figures, but the new V8 engine plays a large part. The 4.5-litre unit features a flat-plane crankshaft as before though is now fitted with direct injection. This enables a higher compression ratio (12.5:1), which in effect leads to higher torque output and greater efficiency.
Ferrari claims that the 458's 320g/km of CO
2 and 20.6mpg are 'the best in the entire segment', though buyers are more likely to want to know about the 562bhp produced at a spine-tingling 9,000rpm. Despite the high-rev bias, the Italia's engine also develops 398lb.ft of torque at 6,000rpm - with 80 percent of that available at just 3,250rpm.
A seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission will be fitted as standard, as will Ferrari's E-Diff (electronically controlled rear differential) and F1-Trac (traction and stability control system), with promises from the Italians that the integration of all systems leads to better road holding than ever before.
You may have noticed that we don't have any images of the interior as yet. We suspect Ferrari will keep them to itself until the car's debut at the
Frankfurt Motor Show, as the Italia features a whole new style of steering wheel and instrumentation. We do know that the vast majority of controls will be sited on the steering wheel itself, which apparently has been influenced by Formula One and developed by a certain Mr. Schumacher...
Watch this space for further information.
Shane O' Donoghue - 28 Jul 2009