Ferrari 458 to Hit Streets Following Frankfurt Debut

Ferrari Automobiles SpA’s new 458 Italia model will go on sale late this year after taking its initial public bow at the Frankfurt auto show in September.

Ferrari says the all-new 458 Italia, which replaces the 430, is a massive leap forward from its previous mid/rear-engined sports cars and promises to be the most advanced V-8 Ferrari ever.

“We are proud to pay homage to Italy with a fabulous new car which offers truly high performance along with the kind of innovation that no other Ferrari has ever reached,” Ferrari President Luca Montezemolo says in releasing the first official photos of the car.

Despite a 110-lb. (50-kg) increase in curb weight from the stripped-down Scuderia to 3,042 lbs. (1,380 kg) its power-to-weight ratio is easily 10% better. This likely suggests a 10% increase in the selling price of the new supercar to about €200,000 ($285,000).

The Pininfarina SpA-designed 458 is slightly bigger than the 430 but appears nimbler, lighter and more dynamic. The styling evokes Pininfarina show cars of the past and adheres to a form-follows-function philosophy that puts the accent on efficiency and aerodynamics.

The front end features a single opening for the grille and side air intakes, with aerodynamic sections and profiles designed to direct air to the coolant radiators and the new flat underbody. The nose also sports small aero-elastic winglets that generate down force and, as speed rises, deform to partially close the radiator inlets and cut drag.

With its 7-speed, dual-clutch, F1-type transmission geared to deliver a top speed of more than 202 mph (325 km/h) in its highest gear, the 458 Italia sprints from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in less than 3.4 seconds, Ferrari says.

Form follows function in new 458 Italia.

The 458 provides an innovative driving environment, the auto maker says, with a new kind of steering wheel and dashboard derived directly from its racing experience that creates “an almost symbiotic relationship between driver and car.”

Ferrari says its new supercar also represents a major leap forward in cutting emissions. Despite a V-8 engine that is more powerful than the one it replaces, the Ferrari 458 Italia produces just 320 g/km of carbon-dioxide.

Fuel economy is 17 mpg city/highway (13.7 L/100 km), what Ferrari claims is the best in the entire segment.