2009 Ferrari 458 Italia AtFrankfurt review and pictures

Ferrari 458 Italia AtFrankfurt review:

The Ferrari 458 Italia debuts on the Ferrari stand at the 63rd IAA Frankfurt Motor Show. The unveiling of the new berlinetta comes after a series of innovative on-line sneak previews on www.ferrari.com, the official Ferrari web site, with exclusive photos, videos and details of the new car.

The Ferrari 458 Italia represents a genuine evolution of Maranello’s mid-rear engined V8 sports cars and the public will be able to admire two examples on the stand – in Rosso Corsa and Giallo Modena Tristrato. As with every new Ferrari the 458 Italia is a concentration of innovation thanks, in no small part, to the company’s racing expertise. Employing exactly the same techniques and methods used to develop the Scuderia’s F1 cars, Ferrari’s engineers concentrated their efforts on obtaining the maximum in terms of efficiency in every aspect of the car, and their commitment was repaid with levels of fuel consumption and C02 emissions that set the benchmark in this market segment – 13.3 l/100 km and 307 g/km respectively in the combined cycle (ECE+EUDC).

This achievement is the direct result of the reduction of internal friction losses inside the engine as well as significant aerodynamics development on the exterior design, including innovative solutions such as the aeroelastic winglets at the front that generate downforce and, as speed rises, deform to reduce the section of the radiator inlets and cut drag.

The new 4,499 cc V8 engine is a veritable powerhouse, punching out 570 CV, and, combined with the 7-speed F1 dual-clutch gearbox and a dry weight of just 1380 kg, the 458 Italia boasts a weight-power ratio of 2.42 kg (a power-weight ratio of 413 CV per ton), and can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in under 3.4 seconds and hit a maximum speed of over 325 km/h.

The driver-car interface has been revolutionised and the engineers, working closely with the Ferrari Styling Centre, have reinterpreted the ergonomics, grouping all the major commands on the steering wheel, and the secondary functions on two satellite pods that just out from the dash on either side of the wheel. This solution, together with the immediate visibility of all the car’s settings on dedicated screens ahead of the driver, ensures maximum control of the car at all times, an important safety factor.

Another important announcement at Frankfurt is the extension of the Atelier One-to-One personalisation programme to the Ferrari California which thus joins the 612 Scaglietti and the 599 GTB Fiorano. The Ferrari California is the first car in Ferrari’s V8 line-up to be included in this exclusive service, and clients may now personalise their car directly at Maranello, benefiting not just from a vast range of special contents to choose from, but also the support of one of the factory’s expert specialists.

As well as the F2008, the Scuderia’s F1 World Championship-winning car from last season, the Ferrari stand features the flagship 2+2, the 612 Scaglietti, in Grigio Ferro Met. with Nero interior, and a 599 GTB Fiorano in Nero Setoso and Nero. The latter is equipped with the optional Handling GTE package launched at Geneva this year which now accounts for 70 per cent of all orders. Joining the 458 Italia, and completing the V8 line-up, are two examples of the Ferrari California, the first in Nero Setoso and Cuoio interior and the second, Grigio Titanio with Bordeaux interior.

Supplier Partners

The Ferrari 458 was developed with the support of the following Supplier Partners:

Alcoa - Aluminium spaceframe

Brembo - Carbon-ceramic braking system

Bridgestone - Tyres

Delphi - HVAC, MagneRide™ suspension & wiring loom

Fontana Pietro - Aluminium bodywork

Getrag - F1 Dual-Clutch gearbox

Harman International - Infotainment & High Power Hi-Fi system

Magneti Marelli - Instrument cluster, front lift & LED rear lights

Michelin - Tyres

OMR - Engine casting components

Robert Bosch - Engine management & ESP

Shell Lubricants & fuel

Valeo Bi-xenon head lamps & Human-Machine Interface