Wednesday 14th September 2011

Frankfurt: Ferrari 458 Spider

Aluminium folding hard-top a first for a mid-engined Ferrari

---

Ferrari has finally whipped the covers off its new 458 Spider, revealing its trick new aluminium fully folding hard-top (its first on a mid-engined car) in the metal for the first time.

The new top goes up and down in just 14secs and, although it adds 50kg over the weight of the 458 coupe, it is actually 25kg lighter than the fabric arrangement on the old F430 Spider.

The oily bits are carried over unchanged from the coupe, meanwhile, meaning the 562bhp, 398lb ft 4.5-litre V8 coupled to a twin-clutch transmission is a little slower than in the 458 Italia. A tenth of a second has been added to the 0-62mph time (3.4secs) as a result, with top speed dropping by 5km/h to 'just' 199mph.

Aerodynamic 'buttresses' are designed to optimise the flow of air over the car, while the throttle mapping, spring and damper rates, and even the soundtrack have been tweaked specifically for open-top motoring, part of a concerted effort to improve the experience of high-speed open-top Ferrari-ing.

There is one unfortunate side-effect of all this, though; the transparent engine cover from the coupe has gone - if you want to see that engine, you'll have to lift the cover...

[thewheelman]

My dislike for modern Ferraris continues, that added with a folding hard top just adds to my dislike for it. But if it was my money, & i was after a supercar, it would have a fixed hardtop. Peter Stringfellow your car is ready!

[Roberty]

Call me Stringfellow then as I love it!


I'm glad the glass engine cover has gone as I'm not a fan of them, too showy even for this Stringfellow if no the real one!

[Stew2000]

I'm wondering how they will stop it catching fire.

[sinbaddio]

Lovely....

[RobM77]

Looks good, but they're saying that the folding roof from the F430 was 75kg That's more than an MX5 soft top with me sat on it...

[alsem]

Stew2000 said:

I'm wondering how they will stop it catching fire.

That's why they cut of the roof: Drive it in a lake and swim away!

[soad]

Looks the business

[MogulBoy]

I am slightly surprised that they didn't come up with a solution to provide a small window just to let you have a peek at the motor but perhaps you will be able to see a tiny bit of it through the vents which will presumably get a lot of use expelling all that hot air (and for some I would imagine, flames) from the engine compartment!

[kambites]

So not a folding roof as such, but a flip top like the California.

[Lordbenny]

Does absolutely nothing for me, looks dreadful with the roof down and ruins the lines of the gorgeous berlinetta.

[Stew2000]

kambites said:

So not a folding roof as such, but a flip top like the California.

Renault Wind

[WhiteBaron]

[quote=Roberty]Call me Stringfellow then as I love it!
quote]

+1

[BuzzLightyear]

Goes to show how subjective car design is, I suppose.

For me, that is about as good as it gets. If I had the money, that is what I would buy, no question.

cento per cento!

[ewolg]

kambites said:

So not a folding roof as such, but a flip top like the California.

The California doesn't have a flip roof - I think you are thinking of the Superamerica.

[Jw Vw]

Looks fantastic.

[V8A*ndy]

This has to be my next car!

I love it!

[dasherdiablo1]

That has to be one of the most gay cars I have ever seen. Looks naff.

[nutbehinddawheel]

Having owned almost every new model Ferrari since 1994,both Coupe and Spider,I have to say that based on my experience with the California-I would now always go for a folding/flip option if available.
It gives you every thing a fixed head can offer,with the wonderful feeling of wellbeing and freedom that an open car has to offer.
Rigidity,handling,performance etc are still all you could ask forin this format(take a California for a few laps at any motor circuit).
There is no longer a valid case for a fixed head Ferrari when the two options mentioned above are so good.
I cannot wait until my 458 Spider arrives.

[jbforce10]

Up until now I'd struggle to name more than two convertible cars that I liked (Fiat Dino Spider and the Alfa 2uettottanta concept).... and now there's three with the 458 Spider.

Beautiful, even for a modern Ferrari and even for a drop-top.

[Jasandjules]

Well, if I win the lottery tonight I will be placing my order for one tomorrow!