Ferrari 458

Summary

The Ferrari 458 Italia was the successor of the iconic Ferrari F430. The 458 design turned out to be the mainstay of the look of all Ferrari cars to come out after it. The 458 is widely regarded as one of the best in terms of performance and handling for a mid-size supercar.

Exterior

The design of the 458 is quite aggressive compared to its predecessor, the F430. The wedge-like front fascia is dominated by the wide honeycomb mesh grille. The lower lip of the bumper acts like a lip spoiler. The bonnet is scooped out to improve the aerodynamics. The swept back headlamps with its stacked up LEDs have become a signature for todays Ferraris. The two-door sports coupe is hunkered down and sits on the large 20-inch five-spoke alloys. The evocative curves blend into the rear fender while the wing mirror stands out on the side profile. The 458 tail was considered one of the most beautiful in its day and still continues to be one of the best looking rears on four wheels.

Interior

Ferraris are performance oriented and so is their interior. The leathers are exquisite and the fit and finish of the cabin is immaculate. You get climate control, adjustable seats and push-button start. The three-spoke steering wheel gets a bunch of knobs to select the various drive modes and alter the car dynamics on the go along with the paddle shifters.

Engine Transmission

The 458 Speciale is driven by a 4499cc naturally aspirated V8 petrol engine. The direct injection Ferrari V8 develops a whopping 597bhp of power at 9000rpm and 540Nm of torque from 6000rpm. Mated to a seven-speed dual clutch GETRAG gearbox that shifts within milliseconds, the power is sent to the rear wheels.

Performance & Handling

A zero to 100kmph dash takes less than three seconds in the Ferrari 458 Speciale. And with the double wishbone setup up front and a multi-link suspension in the back replete with active dampers, the Ferrari is a treat around corners. Add a Magneti Marelli body control system, an e-diff and F1-trac traction control, you are talking about Formula 1 inspired performance.

Braking System

The 458 Speciale gets carbon ceramic brakes as standard - an all-four disc brake setup with carbon ceramic discs, four-pot calipers and ABS.

Mileage

The 4497 cc Petrol - powered variant delivers a fuel economy of 10 kmpl in city and 12 kmpl on highways.

Safety Features

The Ferrari gets dual stage front and side airbags with built in crumple zones in the chassis. For active safety, you get ABS, EBD, ESP, traction control, skid control et al.

Verdict

The Ferrari 458 Speciale is indeed a special car. As a package of performance, style and iconic status, the 458 Speciale is a car like none other.

Competition

The Ferrari 458 Speciale competes with the Lamborghini Huracan, the Aston Martin DB9, the Maserati GT and the Porsche 911 Turbo.

Pros

1. Looks
2. Performance

Cons

1. Low ride height