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FERRARI 458 ITALIA
FERRARI 458 ITALIA
"World’s best, the new reference point to beat."
FERRARI 458 ITALIA SUMMARY
The Ferrari 458 Italia continues to go from strength to strength and has garnered over 30 international awards in its short career. International Engine of the Year Award, Best Performance Engine and Best Engine Above 4 Litres, Car of the Year and many more. The Ferrari F430 was a great car, but when the 458 Italia was officially unveiled in 2009 we all said, "Holy crap, Ferrari did it again. Another cracking car"
THE BASICS
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RATING10/10
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Maker:
Price: Engine: Power: |
We Love:
We Hate: Overall: |
Looks wild, accelerates ferociously, sounds like an F1 racecar,
Interior design is weird The perfect supercar |
ABOUT THE FERRARI 458 ITALIA
Awesome performance – not just speed, but flexibility, too. That's where the Ferrari 458 Italia has taken the game to the next level. With a chassis that makes anyone feel like they can drive and amazing good looks, it is the perfect supercar. Sure there are cars that are more exotic and more expensive, but this car is the one we would buy.
First and foremost, the 458 Italia is about stunning looks to match its supercar performance. Here, the 458 Italia succeeds almost effortlessly. A low stance; clean, graceful curves; and undeniably Ferrari mid-engine proportions combine to give the 458 Italia a modern interpretation of Ferrari's sporting essence.
It's just behind that interior that the heart of the 458 lives, in the form of the 4.5-liter V-8 engine. Rated at a stout 562 horsepower at the 9,000 rpm redline, and 400 pound-feet of torque, 80 percent of which is available from 3,250 rpm, the 458 Italia's V-8 is, in a word, magnificent. It's not the most powerful in the supercar world, but it's one of the most sonorous, and located right behind the passengers with only a thin divider between, it transforms from mellow and quiet to raucous and race-inspired with just a short sweep of the throttle pedal.
As the sound awakens, so does the speed, vaulting the 458 Italia forth in frenetic style, hitting 60 mph in under 3.4 seconds and carrying on to a top speed of 202 mph (or 198 mph for the Spider). Both the Spider and the standard 458 Italia use the same Getrag seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, inspired by Ferrari's F1 race cars. Gas mileage barely tips the 12 mpg city and 18 mpg highway mark.
First and foremost, the 458 Italia is about stunning looks to match its supercar performance. Here, the 458 Italia succeeds almost effortlessly. A low stance; clean, graceful curves; and undeniably Ferrari mid-engine proportions combine to give the 458 Italia a modern interpretation of Ferrari's sporting essence.
It's just behind that interior that the heart of the 458 lives, in the form of the 4.5-liter V-8 engine. Rated at a stout 562 horsepower at the 9,000 rpm redline, and 400 pound-feet of torque, 80 percent of which is available from 3,250 rpm, the 458 Italia's V-8 is, in a word, magnificent. It's not the most powerful in the supercar world, but it's one of the most sonorous, and located right behind the passengers with only a thin divider between, it transforms from mellow and quiet to raucous and race-inspired with just a short sweep of the throttle pedal.
As the sound awakens, so does the speed, vaulting the 458 Italia forth in frenetic style, hitting 60 mph in under 3.4 seconds and carrying on to a top speed of 202 mph (or 198 mph for the Spider). Both the Spider and the standard 458 Italia use the same Getrag seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, inspired by Ferrari's F1 race cars. Gas mileage barely tips the 12 mpg city and 18 mpg highway mark.
WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY
'Car of the Year' because it’s our winner because the scope of its abilities is absolutely breathtaking. … the 458 Italia isn’t just a worthy winner, it’s off the scale.
Top Gear, 2 December 2009 "The Ferrari 458 Italia is described as a real technological icon with innovations from F1 and an unbeatable performance" El Pais, 28 November 2009 "Ferrari put its soul in this car, a synthesis of the highest form of technology" SportAuto (France), December 2009 edition "The 458 Italia is an awesome example of car-making art at its highest level and is probably the finest sports car you can buy." The Daily Mail, 24 november 2009 "The steering is incredibly sharp, but there's none of the wound-up feel of previous models. The 458 goes sideways but it doesn't come off the slide with a bang, more a polite murmur." Daily telegraph, 24 november 2009 "The Italia feels like a feisty thoroughbred stallion you are convinced is going to run away with you, but very quickly you realise that it can cope with anything the road can throw at you, thanks to an impressive array of gadgetry. It grips the road like a leech and seems to get more grip the harder you go, almost challenging you to go faster." The Sun, 24 november 2009 "World’s best, the new reference point to beat." Le Figaro, 24 november 2009 "It’s our “golden wheel”. If we had to pick our top 10 in terms of driving pleasure the new Ferrari 458 Italia would happily take the top spot." L’Equipe, 24 november 2009 "The 458 Italia’s breathtaking acceleration is a moment of happiness even for the ears and the steering’s sweetness allows you to take corner after corner without getting tired." Le Monde, 24 november 2009 "Turn the key, prepare for hyperspace. Only the Italians could invent such an expensive mistress, but then only the Italians could flatter you in the way the 458 does. The low-slung seats – you can visit the factory and select the colour of the stitching and seatbelts to match your chosen paintwork – elevate you above everything else on the road." Sunday Times, 24 november 2009 |
"This 458 Italia has totally conquered us. This new two-seater mid-engine model from Ferrari gave us a lecture in dynamics with its ability of drift control."
Auto Motor und Sport, 24 november 2009 "I drove the 458 solidly for five hours and came away hugely impressed. It responded to my two big doubts (the gearbox and steering) in the best possible way: by putting a smile on my face." Autocar, 24 november 2009 "The latest all-new Ferrari is the most useable yet - a racer for the road but with more than a nod in the direction of GT talents as well. Perhaps the greatest compliment we can pay the 458 is that it no longer feels like it needs a Challenge Stradale or Scuderia version. The 458 does it all. And does it bloody well." Top Gear, 24 november 2009 "Born out of competence, but foremost out of the best Ferrari engineers’ passion. A car introducing unseen technical content, but also a supercar completely involving the driver. Easy to exploit and exhilarating on the road and on the track." Automobilismo, 24 november 2009 "Ferrari without limits. Smooth on the road, angry on the track." Corriere della Sera, 10 November 2009 "The incredible technological evolution of the supercar. The 458 Italia is the result of a new way of interpreting sportiness made in Maranello, creating a formula of sustainable development of the traditional Ferrari values, valid today and even more so in the future." La Repubblica, 10 November 2009 "The car amazes with its stability to instill confidence ... It's also one of the prettiest and best engineered supercars of this century" Motor Trend, 10 November 2009 "The steering is exceedingly well tuned. Perfectly weighted. Perfectly precise. Perfectly communicative. Perfect. Divinely perfect." Automobile, 10 November 2009 "Just brilliant to drive, it worths its price" Autocar, 10 November 2009 "Enthralling driving on the road, extreme handling and a gratifying sensation of being one with the car. In other words: having complete control." Quattroruote, 10 November 2009 |
TOP FERRARI 458 VIDEOS
Jeremy Clarkson's review of the Ferrari 458 Italia was epic and hilarious as expected. We waited with baited breath and he didn't let us down with his video of the 458. Jeremy Clarkson loves the 458 Italia and thrashes it for our video-viewing pleasure.
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FERRARI 458 TECHNICAL HIGHLIGHTS
When launched, the Ferrari 458 came out with an all-new, 4.5-liter direct-injected V-8 producing 570 hp at 9000 rpm and 398 lb-ft of torque at 6000 rpm, and over 80 percent of the latter is available from 3,250 rpm. It makes the F430 look really underpowered, adding 87 hp and 55 lb-ft of torque. Ferrari's official 0-100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration is 3.3 seconds, while top speed is 325 km/h (202 mph).
The chassis of the 458 Italia is constructed of aluminum and suspended by control arms up front and multilinks in the rear. Ferrari promises an even more direct steering ratio, which should help maintain the fantastic turn-in we know from the F430 despite nearly two extra inches of wheelbase and 0.6 inch of additional length (the Italia’s wheels sit 104.3 inches apart). The 458 Italia is 178.2 inches long, 76.3 inches wide, and 47.8 inches tall, which represent increases of 0.6 inch, 0.6 inch, and nothing, respectively. The 458 will boast essentially the same weight distribution as the F430, with 42 percent of its heft over the front axle and 58 percent over the rear.
The only transmission available on the 458 is a dual-clutch 7-speed GETRAG gearbox, in a different state of tune shared with the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. There is no traditional manual option, making this the fourth road-car after the Enzo, Challenge Stradale and 430 Scuderia not to be offered with Ferrari's classic gated manual. It is the first mainstream model to not be offered with a manual transmission.
The chassis of the 458 Italia is constructed of aluminum and suspended by control arms up front and multilinks in the rear. Ferrari promises an even more direct steering ratio, which should help maintain the fantastic turn-in we know from the F430 despite nearly two extra inches of wheelbase and 0.6 inch of additional length (the Italia’s wheels sit 104.3 inches apart). The 458 Italia is 178.2 inches long, 76.3 inches wide, and 47.8 inches tall, which represent increases of 0.6 inch, 0.6 inch, and nothing, respectively. The 458 will boast essentially the same weight distribution as the F430, with 42 percent of its heft over the front axle and 58 percent over the rear.
The only transmission available on the 458 is a dual-clutch 7-speed GETRAG gearbox, in a different state of tune shared with the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. There is no traditional manual option, making this the fourth road-car after the Enzo, Challenge Stradale and 430 Scuderia not to be offered with Ferrari's classic gated manual. It is the first mainstream model to not be offered with a manual transmission.
PERFORMANCE
It's fast. With a 570bhp 4.5-litre V8, of course it's fast, and the seven-speed twin-clutch semi-auto gearbox is more than capable of keeping up with the engine. However, it's the breadth of ability that really gets you. With the gearbox in full automatic mode, it will dawdle through town at 35mph in seventh gear. Seventh! Astonishingly flexible.
Its 0-60mph time starts with a three, its top speed starts with a two and, on the way, it passes 100mph in around seven seconds, eases to a standing quarter mile in less than 12sec.
More impressive than the numbers themselves, though, is the way with which the 458 goes about setting them. Not too many years ago, extracting 562bhp from a naturally aspirated 4.5-litre engine – some 125bhp per litre – would have produced an undriveable, snarling fire-breather of an engine. Not too many years before that, it would not have happened in a road car at all.
Handling is, as you'd expect of a mid-engine Ferrari, remarkable. Balance, grip, and stability are all at such a high level that they can only be partially accessed on the street. Steering feel is almost otherworldly, communicating through the driver's hands with exquisite detail the surface of the road and the behavior of the tires, while requiring relatively light inputs. The synergy of the engine, gearbox, suspension, chassis, and the overall setup of the 458 Italia makes it one of the most engaging, rewarding, and simply fun-to-drive cars on the planet.
Its 0-60mph time starts with a three, its top speed starts with a two and, on the way, it passes 100mph in around seven seconds, eases to a standing quarter mile in less than 12sec.
More impressive than the numbers themselves, though, is the way with which the 458 goes about setting them. Not too many years ago, extracting 562bhp from a naturally aspirated 4.5-litre engine – some 125bhp per litre – would have produced an undriveable, snarling fire-breather of an engine. Not too many years before that, it would not have happened in a road car at all.
Handling is, as you'd expect of a mid-engine Ferrari, remarkable. Balance, grip, and stability are all at such a high level that they can only be partially accessed on the street. Steering feel is almost otherworldly, communicating through the driver's hands with exquisite detail the surface of the road and the behavior of the tires, while requiring relatively light inputs. The synergy of the engine, gearbox, suspension, chassis, and the overall setup of the 458 Italia makes it one of the most engaging, rewarding, and simply fun-to-drive cars on the planet.
Acceleration:
Top Speed: |
0–60 mph (97 km/h): 3.2 sec
Top speed: 230 mph |
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO DRIVE
There is no hang, no lag, no waiting when you floor the 458 Italia pedal, it just builds it's revs at an astonishing rate. You ask of the throttle and the engine delivers in an utterly predictable, linear fashion.
The 458’s power is directed to its wheels via a dual-clutch transmission that is utterly superb. It is efficient and fun, even in auto-mode where it reads you mind. The 458, like all current Ferraris, comes as standard with carbon-ceramic brakes capable of stopping it repeatedly, from high speed, in no time at all.
The sound of the mid-ships engine is, simply, glorious. Only a thin divider separates the engine from the passenger compartment, and that means there's a symphony of mechanical excellence each and every time you fire it up and plant your foot. The presence of the engine transforms the car from a fairly mellow cruiser to a race-bred thrill machine with just a quick stab of the gas.
It's not all about the auditory experience, however. The 458 Italia and 458 Spider also deliver impressive speed and remarkable driver feedback. The coupe hits 60 mph from a stop in just 3.4 seconds, and carries on to a top speed of 202 mph. The Spider's slightly less-slick aerodynamics cap it at 198 mph. Both cars use the same Getrag seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, and both get gas mileage around the 12-mpg mark in the city and 18 mpg on the highway.
The handling, however, is where the Ferrari 458 truly shines. Balance and grip are both evident in large quantities, imbuing a stability not often found in high-horsepower, mid-engine cars. The steering feel is among the very best we've ever experienced, with perfect weight and exquisitely detailed feedback about the road surface and the tires' comfort zones.
The 458’s power is directed to its wheels via a dual-clutch transmission that is utterly superb. It is efficient and fun, even in auto-mode where it reads you mind. The 458, like all current Ferraris, comes as standard with carbon-ceramic brakes capable of stopping it repeatedly, from high speed, in no time at all.
The sound of the mid-ships engine is, simply, glorious. Only a thin divider separates the engine from the passenger compartment, and that means there's a symphony of mechanical excellence each and every time you fire it up and plant your foot. The presence of the engine transforms the car from a fairly mellow cruiser to a race-bred thrill machine with just a quick stab of the gas.
It's not all about the auditory experience, however. The 458 Italia and 458 Spider also deliver impressive speed and remarkable driver feedback. The coupe hits 60 mph from a stop in just 3.4 seconds, and carries on to a top speed of 202 mph. The Spider's slightly less-slick aerodynamics cap it at 198 mph. Both cars use the same Getrag seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, and both get gas mileage around the 12-mpg mark in the city and 18 mpg on the highway.
The handling, however, is where the Ferrari 458 truly shines. Balance and grip are both evident in large quantities, imbuing a stability not often found in high-horsepower, mid-engine cars. The steering feel is among the very best we've ever experienced, with perfect weight and exquisitely detailed feedback about the road surface and the tires' comfort zones.