2014 Ferrari 458 Speciale

THE FERRARI 458 SPECIALE TO DEBUT AT FRANKFURT

Maranello, 20th August 2013 – The 458 Speciale is the latest product of Ferrari's core philosophy of extreme technological innovation and research which, in this instance, has yielded powertrain, aerodynamics and vehicle dynamics advances that transform the already exceptional 458 Italia into a car genuinely worthy of the 'Speciale' moniker. The result is a completely new, uncompromising, streamlined sports car concept.

Many of the sophisticated solutions being applied for the very first time to an in-range car in the 458 Speciale, including its advanced active aerodynamics, will become a standard feature of all new Ferraris in the future.

Flanked in the Maranello marque's range by the multi-award-winning 458 Italia and 458 Spider, the new mid-rear-engined V8 berlinetta was designed to boost both performance and driving emotion to unprecedented levels, yet simultaneously guarantee smooth, effortless control in all kinds of situations.

Having lavished meticulous attention on the power unit that was named 'Best Performance Engine' at the International Engine of the Year Awards for two consecutive years, Ferrari has now built its most powerful naturally aspirated V8 ever (605 cv) with an extraordinary specific power output of 135 cv/l , the highest ever achieved by a road-going naturally aspirated engine.

Thanks to an equally exceptional weight/power ratio of just 2.13 kg/cv, the 458 Speciale can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 3.0' (0-200 km/h in 9.1') and also clocked a lap time of just 1'23'5 at the Fiorano Circuit.

Aerodynamic requirements guided the work of the Ferrari Styling Centre, which led the project in cooperation with Pininfarina, to sculpt the car's forms to ensure they were more performance-oriented than ever. The most notable features in this sense are the front and rear movable aerodynamics which balance downforce and cut drag, thus helping make the 458 Speciale the most aerodynamically efficient range production car in Ferrari history (E Index of 1.5)

The technology used in the vehicle dynamics subsystems which gives the driver instant confidence and control at high speeds, natural power oversteer management and precise response to commands are further advances in an area in which Ferrari is already a well-established leader.

One of the most innovative content of the 458 Speciale is the Side Slip angle Control system (SSC) which makes it easier to achieve car control on the limit, thereby greatly improving driving emotions. Thanks to the development of an accurate new algorithm SSC performs instant-to-instant analysis of the car's side slip, comparing it with the target value and then optimising both torque management (via integration with F1-Trac traction control) and torque distribution between the two wheels (via integration with the E-Diff electronic differential).

Part and parcel of the car's development included Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 tyres which were specifically honed for it in an intensive collaboration programme involving, amongst other factors, numerous track test and simulator sessions. Conceived for the 458 Speciale, they boost performance over a single lap in the dry as well as improving performance consistency in subsequent laps. They also allow the car to avail of maximum available grip in the wet.

The abovementioned technical content has improved the 458 Speciale's single lap time and also delivers repeatability of that performance on subsequent laps that is absolutely unprecedented for a car not designed exclusively for track use. The result is that the 458 Speciale has the fastest response time (0.060 s) and highest lateral acceleration (1.33 g) ever achieved by a car in the Prancing Horse range.

Source - Ferrari

The 458 speciale debuts at the Frankfurt international motor show

World premieres in engine, active aerodynamics and side slip angle control for the new special-series

The new car completes the most comprehensive and exclusive range Frankfurt, 10th September 2013 – Ferrari's stand at this year's Frankfurt International Motor Show displays the most comprehensive range in its history. The newest addition is the 458 Speciale, an extreme sports car that joins the Coupé and Spider versions of the multi-award-winning 458.




As with all Ferrari special series models, the 458 Speciale boasts an array of technological innovations that make it a thoroughly unique model designed for owners looking for an even more focused sports car that offers extreme driving emotions. The innovations span the entire car and include both Ferrari patents and world firsts, particularly with regard to the engine, active aerodynamics and electronic controls that mark this car out.

Thanks to the Maranello engineers' meticulous development, the technical differences between the458 Speciale and the 458 Italia are unprecedented compared to the previous Challenge Stradale and 430 Scuderia special series.



The engine is the most powerful naturally-aspirated Ferrari V8 ever, punching out 605 cv at 9000 rpm and delivering an exceptionally high specific power output of 135 cv/l, comparable to power units designed for the track. The engine is produced in the factory's in-house foundry using the same machinery and processes as employed by the F1 team. The F1 dual-clutch transmission's new control logics deliver an even keener sense of urgency during acceleration, while the Fast Down-shift makes response to commands even more prompt when the car is shifting down through the gears.

One of the car's main characteristics is new Ferrari-patented mobile aerodynamic solutions at the front and the rear of the car which ensure that different aerodynamic configurations can be adopted in cornering, where maximum downforce is essential, and on straights where, instead, drag must be reduced to a minimum. The 458 Speciale has an excellent downforce (Cl) value of 0.53. Thanks to the aforementioned active aerodynamics, the latter does not penalise the Cd which is just 0.35.

The 458 Speciale also confirms Ferrari's leadership in vehicle electronics. Its Side Slip Angle Control (SSC) is a world first. Thanks to a sophisticated new algorithm, which computes lateral acceleration, yaw angle, steering wheel angle and speed, SSC instantaneously calculates the car's side slip angle, comparing it with reference data, and then allowing smooth, controllable power oversteer, by optimising both torque management via F1-Trac traction control and the E-Diff electronic differential.

All of the components in the Brembo braking system have been evolved employing solutions introduced on the LaFerrari. Part and parcel of the Speciale's development included Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 tyres which were specifically honed for it in an intensive collaboration programme to boost performance over a single lap in the dry, performance consistency over multiple laps, and grip in the wet.

Weighing in at an extremely light 1290 kg, the 458 Speciale has an extraordinary weight-power ratio of 2.13 kg/cv, which translates into record-breaking performance: 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in a scorching 3.0' and a Fiorano lap time of just 1'23'5.

In collaboration with Pininfarina, the Ferrari Styling Centre has sculpted forms that are more performance-oriented than ever. The modifications to the bodywork were mostly made to underscore the car's sporty character, and a huge effort was lavished on fulfilling aerodynamic demands without impinging on Ferrari's signature styling features and aesthetic standards. ( posted on conceptcarz.com)

The cockpit features a distinctly racing-inspired atmosphere, with simplicity the order of the day. Lightweight exclusive materials, such as Alcantara and carbon-fibre, dominate, yet it still exudes the sense of craftsmanship and sophistication typical of all Ferrari interiors. The cockpit's ergonomic layout, with all controls either on the steering wheel or clustered around the driver, is boosted too by the bridge which puts the gearbox commands at an ideal angle to the driver.

The range

Flanking the 458 Speciale on the stand, and representing the company's more performance-oriented sports car range, are an F12berlinetta finished in Ferro Met with black interior, and a 458 Spider in Nero Stellato and Sabbia interior. The Prancing Horse's GT heritage is ably represented by the California30, a convertible that marries performance and versatility. The car on the stand sports Bianco Italia bodywork and a Nero Daytona cockpit, and is flanked by the four-seater, four-wheel drive FF in Rosso Maranello with panoramic glass roof.

The Ferrari range is at the leading-edge in terms of environmental responsibility. The Prancing Horse's substantial investment in emissions and fuel consumption reduction has resulted in average power output being boosted by 100 cv whilst slashing a massive 40 per cent off CO2 emissions.

Ferrari's business strategy, which sees the company present on 62 markets worldwide, focuses strongly on retaining the Prancing Horse's signature exclusivity to protect the brand and the value of the cars. A range of unique, excellence-oriented service contributes to this also.

The latter include the Tailor Made service for clients wishing to personalise their cars to a truly bespoke standard. The Tailor Made atelier has its own area on the stand, featuring an FF in Grigio Abu Dhabi with detailing in vintage Grigio Ferro Met. The cabin boasts a luxury trim that encompasses buttery-soft 'Soul Aretha' Frau leather in warm, deep hues, and also 'Solaro', a stunningly refined, elegant tailoring fabric with a wonderfully opulent, iridescent finish. Wood trim (teak and ash) and L-pattern stitching further enhance the unique allure of this car.

Source - Ferrari

458 Speciale: extreme technology for maximum excitement

Frankfurt, 10 September – The Ferrari 458 Speciale was officially launched this afternoon at the Frankfurt International Motor Show, by President Luca di Montezemolo and Managing Director Amedeo Felisa and Vice President Piero Ferrari.
The new special edition from the Maranello company, like all cars produced by Ferrari, features a range of technical innovations which make this car unique and special, aimed at the most demanding sports-oriented owners, who are looking for maximum driving excitement. Patented by Ferrari and a world first, the innovations concern the car as a whole, in particular the power unit, the aerodynamics and the vehicle dynamics, which make the difference between it and the base model even more marked, when compared to past special editions, such as the Challenge Stradale and the 430 Scuderia.

On road or track, the driver of a 458 Speciale will feel part of the vehicle system, which ensures immediate response to all inputs and total control in even the most complex of manoeuvres. All drivers can therefore attain high performance levels, experiencing great excitement at the wheel of Ferrari's highest performance 8 cylinder car.



Agile and responsive, the new rear-mid engined 8 cylinder sports car has been designed with the aim of raising performance and excitement to the maximum level, especially on a mix of race tracks and twisty roads, featuring tight hairpins and high speed corners with a variety of gradients, ensuring that is it very controllable, whatever the situation.

Source - Ferrari

This 458 Speciale was in fact slated to be displayed at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering in 2019. However, a vandal smashed the window of the vehicle with a rock two nights before the show, forcing the car to sit out. Repaired, the vehicle returned in 2021 as part of The Great Ferraris display.

The Ferrari 458 was officially announced as the F430's successor, and in keeping with the company's tradition, its body was designed by Carrozzeria Pininfarina under the supervision of Ferrari's design director, Donato Coco. Its blistering 200mph-plus top speed was courtesy of its 4.5-liter V8 engine offering 562 horsepower, and in keeping with the ongoing trend among supercars towards clutch-less semi-automatic transmissions, a seven-speed Getrag gearbox of that type was the only one available.

The 458 lapped Ferrari's Fiorano test circuit quicker than the track-focused 430 Scuderia.

A Spider version was introduced in 2011, and the 458 Speciale followed in 2013. The latter offered even more performance, updated electronics, revised bodywork, and active aerodynamics. The engine was tuned to produce 597 horsepower.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2024