Ferrari 458 Italia

Vehicle Overview

The Ferrari 458 Italia included some innovative details, such as the new “scimitar” optical groups, similar to those of the Ferrari California, and the arrangement of the three tailpipes, joined in the center of the rear bumper, very similar to those of the Ferrari F40. The latter have two different sizes: the central one is smaller and the lateral ones larger. It features an 8-cylinder engine arranged in a V shape. The name of the car makes a reference to the displacement (of 4.5 liters), followed by the number of cylinders in the engine. The car was previewed on the web on July 28, 2009, while the official unveiling took place at the 63rd Frankfurt Motor Show held from September 17-27, 2009. The new product, according to company press releases, is the result of a major technical development that enables it to achieve lower emissions and fuel consumption than the previous “F430” model, while having more displacement and power. This improvement is thanks to weight reduction and attention to good aerodynamic profiling that generates a vertical load of 140 kilograms at 200 km/h with a drag coefficient (Cx) of 0.33. The Ferrari 458 Italia mounts a rear-center-mounted 90° V8 engine with both direct and indirect fuel injection to handle the high revs of which the powerplant is capable, flanked by a 7-speed electro-hydraulic dual-clutch gearbox, a technology the Italian manufacturer had already pioneered on the recent California. The car is developed on an aluminum alloy chassis made with aerospace-derived technologies, with overlapping triangle front suspension and multilink suspension for the rear. The car is equipped with a single Magneti Marelli ECU combined with the Formula 1-derived Ferrari manettino. A single ECU allows the E-Diff (electronic differential), F1-Trac (traction system) and ABS to be managed and disengaged. Particular attention was paid to the ergonomics of the interior and the driving controls, the latter all grouped on the steering wheel to ensure greater concentration at the wheel without taking the hands away from it. The creation and tuning of the car was assisted as a consultant by multi-time Formula 1-winning racing driver Michael Schumacher.