458 Italia disappoints

[boxerTen]

With the release of the California to cater for the cruisers and the posers one had hoped the 458 Italia would move more toward satisfying the driver. Unfortunately we drivers appear to be in a small minority. Witness the posts on PH praising the looks of the 458. There's dozens of them. That seems to be all most care about.

Had the 458 been orientated more towards performance than the 430 it replaces it would have been lower, narrower, and lighter. Instead we are pushing the same high and wide car through the air, and it weighs (as best I can tell) 20kg more than a 430. Its got 15% more power, but it could just as easily have had 15% less weight and frontal area as well.

I was expecting better of Ferrari. They showed us the Mille Chili concept 2 years ago so it wasn't unreasonable to expect a lighter 458 was it? A miserable 150kg would have been enough.

Am I the only one disappointed?

[EL77]

go and buy an R500!!!

[AndrewD]

boxerTen said:

With the release of the California to cater for the cruisers and the posers one had hoped the 458 Italia would move more toward satisfying the driver. Unfortunately we drivers appear to be in a small minority. Witness the posts on PH praising the looks of the 458. There's dozens of them. That seems to be all most care about.

Had the 458 been orientated more towards performance than the 430 it replaces it would have been lower, narrower, and lighter. Instead we are pushing the same high and wide car through the air, and it weighs (as best I can tell) 20kg more than a 430. Its got 15% more power, but it could just as easily have had 15% less weight and frontal area as well.

I was expecting better of Ferrari. They showed us the Mille Chili concept 2 years ago so it wasn't unreasonable to expect a lighter 458 was it? A miserable 150kg would have been enough.

Am I the only one disappointed?

I'm no fan of modern Ferraris, but, and here's a guess, do you suppose people are only talking about the way it looks because they haven't actually driven it? Perchance?

A bit soon to be saying you're expecting better of Ferrari surely?

[andy74b]

In this months Evo they say it's 70kg under the 430. Thought that was quite good.

[northo]

boxerTen said:

With the release of the California to cater for the cruisers and the posers one had hoped the 458 Italia would move more toward satisfying the driver. Unfortunately we drivers appear to be in a small minority. Witness the posts on PH praising the looks of the 458. There's dozens of them. That seems to be all most care about.

Had the 458 been orientated more towards performance than the 430 it replaces it would have been lower, narrower, and lighter. Instead we are pushing the same high and wide car through the air, and it weighs (as best I can tell) 20kg more than a 430. Its got 15% more power, but it could just as easily have had 15% less weight and frontal area as well.

I was expecting better of Ferrari. They showed us the Mille Chili concept 2 years ago so it wasn't unreasonable to expect a lighter 458 was it? A miserable 150kg would have been enough.

Am I the only one disappointed?

I too was disappointed. How dare Ferrari develop a car which is intended to be better than the crappy 430 which is a bit of a heavy weight, and by no means a good drive! What a preposterous idea to add new technologies including active aerodynamics and have it weigh almost the same. I thought the additional power increase was the final straw - do they think we're stupid!!

More oriented towards performance - pah!

I will be cancelling my order straight away - I suggest you do the same.

[evil_dr_fish]

Your Mum!

[AL001]

andy74b said:

In this months Evo they say it's 70kg under the 430. Thought that was quite good.

Some sloppy reporting from Evo, as they went off the dry weight. It's actually slightly heavier/bigger than a standard 430.

[cho]

very few cars have been lighter with following next gen models I assume mostly due to newer technology and safety improvements. I suppose they can make them lighter but they will be a lot more expensive as a result. see formula one technology for an example of costs!

[cho]

very few cars have been lighter with following next gen models I assume mostly due to newer technology and safety improvements. I suppose they can make them lighter but they will be a lot more expensive as a result. see formula one technology for an example of costs!

[mr_tony]

boxerTen said:

I was expecting better of Ferrari. They showed us the Mille Chili concept 2 years ago so it wasn't unreasonable to expect a lighter 458 was it?

Wow. I'm still trying to wipe the coffee off the keyboard. Certainly brightened my morning up with that rant

Surely, in 2 years is should be possible to completely design, engineer, prototype, crash test for all world markets a brand new Ferrari. I mean what are they doing with the rest of their time?

Or might it be that designing and engineernig a new direction in entry level Ferraris is somthing that takes more like 5 years with powerplant development being a key part of that, and the replacement for the 458 in 3/4 years time is where we might see influence from the MilleChillie in the engineering, rather than just the exterior cues.

[northo]

AL001 said:

andy74b said:

In this months Evo they say it's 70kg under the 430. Thought that was quite good.

Some sloppy reporting from Evo, as they went off the dry weight. It's actually slightly heavier/bigger than a standard 430.

Agreed - I don't know how they think they can compare the two cars given the totally different price points. Even suggesting that the car will be £150k seems unreasonable given that you would really need to spend that on a new 430, and will you get any change out of £170k for a 458?

The great press Zonda's have been getting from EVO (and the Sunday Times) over the last few weeks must have shored up residuals....

[AndrewD]

northo said:

The great press Zonda's have been getting from EVO (and the Sunday Times) over the last few weeks must have shored up residuals....

[JPF40]

boxerTen said:

With the release of the California to cater for the cruisers and the posers one had hoped the 458 Italia would move more toward satisfying the driver. Unfortunately we drivers appear to be in a small minority. Witness the posts on PH praising the looks of the 458. There's dozens of them. That seems to be all most care about.

Had the 458 been orientated more towards performance than the 430 it replaces it would have been lower, narrower, and lighter. Instead we are pushing the same high and wide car through the air, and it weighs (as best I can tell) 20kg more than a 430. Its got 15% more power, but it could just as easily have had 15% less weight and frontal area as well.

I was expecting better of Ferrari. They showed us the Mille Chili concept 2 years ago so it wasn't unreasonable to expect a lighter 458 was it? A miserable 150kg would have been enough.

Am I the only one disappointed?

Its not heavier, its 70kg lighter. Thats the same sort of weight as a Porsche GT3, or a Carrera GT.

560 bhp in a car of that weight is going to be fast. I've no doubt that'll it'll also be immense drive for "drivers", and..

...I'm sure I'm not the only one waiting with £180k in hand thinking that it'll be money very well spent.

[JPF40]

boxerTen said:

With the release of the California to cater for the cruisers and the posers one had hoped the 458 Italia would move more toward satisfying the driver. Unfortunately we drivers appear to be in a small minority. Witness the posts on PH praising the looks of the 458. There's dozens of them. That seems to be all most care about.

Had the 458 been orientated more towards performance than the 430 it replaces it would have been lower, narrower, and lighter. Instead we are pushing the same high and wide car through the air, and it weighs (as best I can tell) 20kg more than a 430. Its got 15% more power, but it could just as easily have had 15% less weight and frontal area as well.

I was expecting better of Ferrari. They showed us the Mille Chili concept 2 years ago so it wasn't unreasonable to expect a lighter 458 was it? A miserable 150kg would have been enough.

Am I the only one disappointed?

Its not heavier, its 70kg lighter. Thats the same sort of weight as a Porsche GT3, or a Carrera GT.

560 bhp in a car of that weight is going to be fast. I've no doubt that'll it'll also be immense drive for "drivers", and..

...I'm sure I'm not the only one waiting with £180k in hand thinking that it'll be money very well spent.

[martin thomas]

EL77 said:

go and buy an R500!!!

http://pistonheads.com/sales/1192793.htm


I could help with that!!lol


Martin

[boxerTen]

So there I was, thinking everybody was seduced by the new Ferrari, their discernment evaporating at the first glimpse of prancing horse on red curve ... and then along came CAR magazine (Oct 2009) in an article titled: "New Ferrari: triumph of beauty over progress?"

"The 458 italia has clever aero, F1-inspired interior, Enzo-beating pace... and it's stunning. But it's still thirsty, still heavy, still dirty. Is this enough in 2010?"

And again:

"But if Ferrari's recent 1000kg Mille Chili concept car left you hoping for a radical, class-beating tech-fest featuring low weight, low emissions, high mpg and challenging engine technology you will be disappointed. Although everything is improved, nothing is revolutionised. In this respect the 458 looks like a missed opportunity, albeit a pretty one."

So CAR's thinking has a healthy dose of heresy too. Balance is restored. Now, should I buy an R500? No. But perhaps an SR8, maybe with one of those things that keep the rain out, a roof, yes a roof ...

[Papoo]

As mentioned, surely it's quite a feat to incorporate new technology such as active aerodynamics into a new car? It's not going to be a slouch, that's a cert, coupled with the aerodynamic improvements (which look to be dramatic in magnitude), I'd wager it's a good bit more stable, and quicker round the bend than the beautiful 430.

No doubt there will be an uncompromising, lightweight CS/Scud equivalent for those with naturally slow heartbeats...