Article

Horse power

The fastest road Ferrari ever built is revealed, and the frankly staggering F458 Italia looks like it will be an instant classic
Issue: Sep, 2009
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 The comeback starts here. And probably ends just over there, after the merest squeeze of the accelerator pedal. As good as their rivals have been in recent years, and hats must be doffed in the direction of Audi and Maserati, Ferrari’s latest beast of a car ought to bring a neat close to the argument about who is still the daddy when it comes to sports performance. The F458 is a bullet of a road car, packaged in a tactile red coating that makes you want to park it next to your sofa so you can stroke it with your feet up. 

The big unveiling will take place this month at the Frankfurt Motorshow – where the phrase “cash for clunkers” will have really started to grate. Although we doubt that the $4,500 rebate will make much difference to a pricetag of a reported $230,000 – and that’s in the States. Still, we’re thankful for these early shots because nothing makes a magazine page sexier than an enormous red sports car with a prancing horse motif on its bonnet.
 
Engine
As the name suggests, this is a 4.5 litre, V8 unit that belts out 570bhp. Plans suggest that it will be reconfigured to become a petrol-electric hybrid as well. 
 
Performance
In a word: ludicrous. The top speed is 326kmh, and it can sprint to 100kmh in a bewildering 3.4 seconds. It’s the fastest road Ferrari in history.
 
Bodywork
Using new build technology, the sleek exterior lines are barely interrupted by body panels or door hinges, reducing aerodynamic drag.
 
Aerodynamics
Intakes push air through tunnels under the car to create 140kg of downforce at 195kmh. Moveable wings are placed behind the radiator.

Exhaust
The three-tailpipe arrangement adds a distinctive look, while the high exhaust note has been modelled on the F1 car.
 
Build
The innovation extends to the materials used in the construction, including magnesium in the suspension and carbon fibre in the chassis to reduce overall weight.