2012 Ferrari 458 Spider

The new Ferrari 458 Spider: the world's first mid-rear engined berlinetta equipped with a retractable hard top debuts at the Frankfurt Motor Show

The new 458 Spider joins the 458 Italia, widening the range of Ferrari's mid-rear engined V8s and offering the same uncompromising technological solutions, handling and performance in a refined open-top configuration. It is equipped with a Ferrari patented, fully retractable hard top, a world first for a sports car with this lay-out.

The 458 Spider is powered by Ferrari's naturally-aspirated, direct-injection 4.5 litre V8 which was nominated as the 2011 International Engine of the Year for its engineering excellence in terms of driveability, performance, economy and refinement. The power is transferred to the road by Ferrari's class-leading dual-clutch F1 paddle-shift transmission through the sophisticated E-Diff, itself integrated with the F1-Trac traction control and high-performance ABS for maximum handling dynamics.

Certain of the car's features, such as its accelerator pedal mapping and the damping of the multilink suspension, have been calibrated to guarantee maximum sportiness and absolute driving pleasure with the top down, in line with Maranello's exclusive spider tradition. Even the engine soundtrack has been honed to ensure that the car's occupants are completely captivated by the drop-top driving experience.

Entirely in aluminium, the hard-top solution adopted for the 458 Spider offers a number of advantages over the traditional folding soft-top, including a reduction of 25 kg in weight and a deployment time of just 14 seconds. Fully integrated into the styling of the car, the hard-top was engineered to fit neatly ahead of the engine bay without compromising aerodynamics or the performance of the car. The small space needed to house the roof enables the designers to include a generous rear bench for luggage behind the seats.

The rear of the car is characterised by innovative forms with the buttresses designed to optimise the flow of air to the engine intakes and the clutch and gearbox oil radiators. For maximum comfort whilst driving top down the 458 Spider features a generously-sized adjustable electric wind stop. The design was perfected to slow and diffuse the air in the cockpit, enabling normal conversation to be held even at speeds over 200 km/h.

New technical solutions adopted for the chassis guarantee identical levels of structural rigidity with the roof up or down. The result is a car that is truly exciting to drive, blending extreme performance with the responsiveness that has always characterised Ferrari's open-top berlinettas.

Source - Ferrari

Ferrari 458 Spider debuts at Frankfurt

Ferrari's exclusive new 8-cylinder, the 458 Spider has finally been unveiled to the public at the 64th Frankfurt International Motor Show.

The latest addition to the Ferrari range is a mid-rear-engined two-seater featuring a fully retractable aluminium hard-top, a world first for a sports car with this layout.

The 458 Spider's innovative new hard-top is not only 25 kg lighter than a traditional folding soft-top, but is also quieter and thermally more efficient when raised. Aside from taking just 14 seconds to open or close, the hard-top was engineered to occupy a very small space when stored so that the designers were able to include a generous rear bench for luggage behind the two seats.

The rear windscreen doubles as an effective wind-stop which is electrically adjustable. When the hard-top is folded away the wind-stop opens to the height that guarantees the most efficient aerodynamics, reducing buffeting in the cockpit.

The 458 Spider is powered by Ferrari's 570 CV 4,499 cc V8 which was named International Engine of the Year 2011. This is coupled with Ferrari's class-leading dual-clutch F1 paddle-shift transmission which delivers 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in under 3.4 seconds and a maximum speed of 320 km/h.

The all-aluminium chassis incorporates new alloys and castings, also adopted on the coupé, which ensure the 458 Spider already conforms to 2020 safety legislation.

Its category-topping performance aside, the new car also boasts class-leading fuel consumption and emissions levels. Thanks to the HELE (High Emotion Low Emission) system, in fact, fuel consumption on the combined urban cycle stands at 11.8 l/100 km with CO2 emissions of 275 g/km.

Tailor-Made Programme
Ferrari chose Frankfurt to introduce a new service, displaying an area of the stand dedicated to the Tailor-Made Programme which will enable owners to reach an even more personal level of distinctiveness with the specification of their cars.

The Tailor-Made Programme provides clients with an extensive range of exclusive cloth trim, colours, finishes and technical materials for a final specification inspired by unique classic Ferraris and by motor racing. The selection is available in three innovative collections - Classica, Scuderia and Inedita – specifically conceived by Ferrari's Styling centre.

In creating a truly bespoke car clients will be assisted by their own Personal Designer throughout the decision-making process, right up until delivery.

The Carrozzeria Scaglietti programme continues the range of personalisation options open to clients.

The Ferrari range

Source - Ferrari

458 Spider unveiled by F1 drivers Alonso and Massa at the Japan Premiere

Ferrari charity auction also held in the same evening

Over 70m JPY of donations raised this year, which will help build two after-school facilities in Ishinomaki

Source - Ferrari

Fernando Alonso behind the wheel of the 458 Spider

Maranello, 9 September – Right before the start of the race weekend of the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, Fernando Alonso wanted to try the new 458 Spider, which will be presented at the IAA Frankfurt next Tuesday. The Scuderia Ferrari driver enjoyed the potential of the 8-cylinder mid-rear engine from the Prancing Horse - with hard top and fitted with the same most advanced technological content as the multi-awarded 458 Italia and now available in an 'en plein air' version - on the roads around Maranello.

Alonso was extremely satisfied with the perfect combination of high performance, exceptional handling and the engine sound the 458 Spider is able to deliver.

Source - Ferrari

The 458 comes from a long line of mid-engine V8 Ferraris, the first of which, the 308 GT4 first appeared in 1972. #08 became 328 then 355, 360 jumping up to 430 and 458 with the 458 Italia in 2009. The 458 Italia Spider in 2011. The car's designer was one Donato Coco at Pininfarina. Under the hood is the Ferrari/Maserati 4.5-liter F136 V8 pushing out a quoted 562 horsepower at 9000 RPM and 398 ft-lb of torque at 6000 RPM using direct injection, a first for a Ferrari mid-engine street car. The transmission is a dual-clutch 7-speed from Getrag in Germany, another first in that no manual option was available for such a mainstream car for Ferrari. Carbon ceramic brakes were installed together with 'magnetorheological' dampers. Top speed approaches 210 mph.