After months of speculation, Ferrari have finally unveiled its new 458 Italia to the public at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show.
A mid-engined V8 replacement for the Ferrari F430, the all-new Ferrari 458 Italia has a new direct-injected 4.5-litre V8, pumping out 562 horsepower and 398 foot-pounds of torque. With a top speed of 203 miles (327 kilometres) per hour and a zero to 60 miles (97 kilometres) sprint of just 3.4 seconds, this is the fastest car Ferrari has ever built.
As with last year’s Ferrari California, the Ferrari 458 Italia has a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox that directs power to the rear axle. Much has been done to reduce internal friction within the new V8;in addition aerodynamic drag improvements have been made. As a result, the Ferrari 458 Italia’s gas mileage improves to a combined 17.1 miles per gallon (7.27 kilometres per litre) on the EU test cycle.
Design-wise, this supercar looks impressive from any angle, as it has a design that has never been seen before on a Ferrari model. Its wedge shaped body was penned by renowned Italian car design firm Pininfarina, while the interior was left up to the work of Donato Coco, Ferrari’s Chief Designer. While the exterior might be seen as being more or less based on the traditional Ferrari lines, there a few revolutionary additions, all intended to improve the car’s aerodynamics. The front-end features a single wide mouth opening to let a specific amount of air in, paired with a vent on either front fender. At the back, there are a pair of large ducts just before the taillights, all designed with aerodynamic contours and partitions that direct air directly into the radiators and away from the new flat underbody. The nose also sports small aeroelastic winglets which generate downforce and, as speed rises, deform to reduce the section of the radiator inlets and reduce drag.
The Ferrari 458 Italia is expected to go on sale in the UK next spring. It will be more expensive than the F430, so expect prices to start at around L150,000.
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