The all-new Ferrari F458 Italia is the successor to the much-loved F430. Apart from its performance components and a glimpse at its design, auto writers know very little about the Italia. However, more information will surely be made available at its official unveiling in September 2009.
The automotive press has yet to test drive the 2010 Ferrari F458 Italia, but buzz is building. Here’s what the press has to say about the 2010 Ferrari F458 Italia:
“This is it. The Ferrari 458 Italia, the 562 HP replacement for the F430 and the latest prancing pony to make you ache with automotive lust.” – Jalopnik
“The 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia also makes a statement about speed. The 458 Italia is faster than the high-performance 430 Sumerian, which was not only faster than the F430 but also the Enzo, Ferrari’s last hyper car.” – Edmunds
The Ferrari F458 Italia features a 4.5-liter V8 engine that produces 570 horsepower at 9,000 rpm and 398 pound-feet of torque at 6,000 rpm — with over 80 percent of its torque available from 3,250 rpm. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is standard. According to Ferrari, the F458 has a top speed of 202 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in under 3.4 seconds. “The Pininfarina-designed shell is sure to spark controversy among those particularly fond of classic Ferrari styling: the company calls it a ‘complete departure from the past.’ The futuristic look is sculpted, according to the company, to aerodynamic requirements.” — Car and Driver
Other standard features include a twin wishbone suspension in the front and a multi-link set-up in the rear, as well as a high-performance ABS braking system with carbon-ceramic discs. An E-Diff and F1-Trach system provide enhanced traction and stability. The Italia’s body is all-aluminum.
Edmunds Inside Line explains, “Ferrari has revealed images and tantalizing first details of the successor to the best-selling F430. The new 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia will be launched officially at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show” this fall. Ferrari’s next top dog represents a new direction for the automaker – an attempt to show that world-class performance can be had with greater fuel economy.
According to Inside Line, the new car “is faster than the high-performance 430 Scuderia, which was not only faster than the F430 but also the Enzo, Ferrari’s last hyper car.” The 458 has a reported top speed of 203 mph. “The new car is also quicker to 60 mph than the 430 Scuderia and beats it under braking.” The car’s stability control systems allow it to “put 25 percent more power to the road when it exits a corner,” for faster driving on twisting roads, according to the automaker.
But beyond the performance gains, Ferrari says the car is significantly more fuel-efficient than other super cars. Autoblog explains, “Like last years California convertible, the 458 gets a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox to send power to the rear axle. A lot of work on reducing the internal friction of the power plant in addition to reduced aerodynamic drag also helps improve the 458s mileage to a combined 17.1 mpg (US)” in European testing – and while that doesn’t sound like much to those of us accustomed to more pedestrian cars, it beats the F430′s 12 mpg easily
A two-seat sporty coupe. Will officially launch at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September 2009, and expected to go on sale in early 2010.Reviewers forecast that its price will start between $200,000 and $220,000
