General data  
Year/s of production 2009 –            
Presentation Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) – 15 September 2009
Galleria Ferrari – 15 September 2009
Fiorano Nuovo Logistica – 09 September 2009 – Presentation for selected customers
VIN span 163241 –
Number produced
Design Pininfarina
Manufactured by Ferrari S.p.A.
   
Technical Specifications  
Chassis Aluminium-Spaceframe
Length 4527 mm
Width 1937 mm
Height 1213 mm
Wheelbase 2650 mm
Front suspension Independent wheel suspension, twin wishbones, coil springs, anti-roll bar, adaptive suspension
Rear suspension Independent wheel suspension, multi-link wishbones, coil springs, anti-roll bar, adaptive suspension
Front track 1669 mm
Rear track 1616 mm
Front tyres 8,5“ x 20 “, light alloy wheels
Tyres 235/35 ZR 20 “
Rear tyres 10,5“ x 20 “, light alloy wheels
Tyres 295/35 ZR 20 “
Front brakes Ceramic brake system, integrated ABS- and ASR-system
Rear brakes Ceramic brake system, integrated ABS- and ASR-system
Brake distance 100 – 0 km/h 32,5 m
Dry weight Approx. 1380 kg
Body material Aluminium
Body type Two-seater Berlinetta
   
Engine  
Type Mid-rear engine – longitudinal installed
Number of cylinders V8 – 90°
Displacement 4499 ccm
Bore and Stroke
Camshaft 2 overhead per cylinder bank
Valves 4 per cylinder, variable valve train, natural aspiration
Compression ratio 12,5:1
Ignition Electronic ignition
Lubrication Dry sump
Maximum power 570 hp/425 kW – 9.000 rpm
Specific power output 127 hp/l
Weight/Power ratio 2,42 kg/hp
Maximum torque 540 Nm – 6.000 rpm, 80% available from 3.250 rpm
Specific torque output 120 Nm/l
Fuel management Electronic double injection
Clutch Dual-clutch
Weight distribution 42% front, 58% rear
Gearbox Dual-clutch 7 speed + rev F1 gearbox
Electronics E-Diff3, F1-Trac, highperformance ABS
   
Performance  
Acceleration 0-100 km/h: Less than 3,4 sec.
Top speed In excess of 325 km/h
   
Fuel Consumption  
Combined cycle (ECE+EUDC) Approx. 13,7 l/100 km
   
CO2 Emmission  
Combined cycle Approx. 320 g C02/km

 

Ferrari 458 Italia unveiling at Frankfurt
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, Sept 14, 2009. The new Ferrari 458 Italia makes its official debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show tomorrow at 12:15.

Chairman Luca di Montezemolo and Ferrari’s top management will attend the press conference at which the new mid-rear-engined 8-cylinder berlinetta is unveiled to the international media. They will also be joined by Michael Schumacher, who contributed to the honing of the car from the earliest stages of its development.

For all those not able to attend the Frankfurt unveiling, the Ferrari 458 Italia will also go on public display at the Galleria Ferrari in Maranello tomorrow. The Galleria itself will remain open until midnight for one day in celebration.

 

458 ITALIA – Ferrari’s innovative new V8
Source: Ferrari

The 458 Italia is the latest incarnation of the mid-rear engined berlinetta and will be unveiled at the next
Frankfurt Motor Show

Maranello, July 28th 2009 – While it’s true that every Ferrari is innovative by definition, it’s equally true that in the course of the Prancing Horse’s history, certain cars have marked a genuine departure from the current range. This is very much the case with the Ferrari 458 Italia, which is a massive leap forward from the company’s previous mid-rear engined sports cars.

The new model is a synthesis of style, creative flair, passion and cutting-edge technology, characteristics for which Italy as a nation is well-known. For this reason Ferrari chose to add the name of its homeland to the traditional figure representing the displacement and number of cylinders.

The Ferrari 458 Italia is a completely new car from every point of view: engine, design, aerodynamics, handling, instrumentation and ergonomics, just to name a few.

A two-seater berlinetta, the Ferrari 458 Italia, as is now traditional for all Ferrari’s road-going cars, benefits hugely from the company’s Formula 1 experience. This is particularly evident in the speed and precision with which the car responds to driver inputs and in the attention focused on reducing internal friction in the engine for lower fuel consumption than the F430, despite the fact that both overall displacement and power have increased. However, Ferrari’s track experience makes its presence felt in the 458 Italia not only in terms of pure technological transfer but also on a more emotional level, because of the strong emphasis on creating an almost symbiotic relationship between driver and car. The 458 Italia features an innovative driving environment with a new kind of steering wheel and dashboard that is the direct result of racing practice. Once again input from Michael Schumacher – who was involved from the very start of the 458 Italia project – played an invaluable part.

The Ferrari 458 Italia’s Pininfarina design provides further evidence of the complete departure from the past that this new car hails. The Ferrari 458 Italia has a compact, aerodynamic shape, underscoring the concepts of simplicity, efficiency and lightness that inspired the project. As with every Ferrari, the car’s styling has been very heavily influenced by the requirements for aerodynamic efficiency, as can be seen from the downforce of 140 kg at 200km/h generated by the new model. The front features a single opening for the front grille and side air intakes, with aerodynamic sections and profiles designed to direct air to the coolant radiators and the new flat underbody. The nose also sports small aeroelastic winglets which generate downforce and, as speed rises, deform to reduce the section of the radiator inlets and cut drag.

The new 4499 cc V8 is the first Ferrari direct injection engine to be mid-rear mounted. It has a very low piston compression height typical of racing engines which contributed to achieving its compression ratio of 12.5:1. Equipped with the traditional flat-plane crankshaft, the engine delivers 570 CV at 9000 rpm and, with an outstanding power output of 127 CV/litre, sets a new benchmark not only for the whole Ferrari range and the history of company, but also for the entire market segment. Maximum torque is 540 Nm at 6000 rpm, over 80 per cent of which is available from 3250 rpm. Specific torque is a record 120 Nm/litre. However, what is truly extraordinary is the amount of torque available while still maintaining high levels of power at low revs.

The car’s soundtrack is also typical Ferrari, with an exciting, powerful growl emerging from the engine before it channels through to the exhaust’s three rear tailpipes.

The 458 Italia is equipped with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission which increases performance whilst providing very smooth shifts even at full throttle. The engineers have developed specific, sportier gear ratios to match the power and torque curves of the new V8, guaranteeing high torque even at lower engine speeds and allowing the car to reach its maximum speed in top gear.

This new Ferrari is also a major leap forward when it comes to cutting emissions. Despite the fact that the new engine is significantly more powerful than the V8s that preceded it, the Ferrari 458 Italia produces just 320 g/km of CO2 and fuel consumption is 13.7 l/100 km (combined cycle), the best in the entire segment.

The engineers also focused on weight reduction during the design phase for similar reasons. Consequently, the Ferrari 458 Italia has a dry weight of 1380 kg with a power-to-weight ratio of 2.42 kg/CV. Weight distribution is also optimal with 58 per cent over the rear axle. The result of the engineers’ endeavours can be summed up in to two simple statistics which together perfectly encapsulate the Ferrari 458 Italia’s exceptional performance: 0-100 km/h acceleration in under 3.4 seconds and a maximum speed in excess of 325 km/h.

For the new chassis, once more in aluminium, Maranello’s engineers incorporated various types of advanced alloys along with aerospace industry-derived manufacturing and bonding techniques.

With regard to vehicle dynamics, the Ferrari 458 Italia’s suspension features twin wishbones at the front and a multi-link set-up at the rear tuned for maximum roadholding and superlative handling. Along with a more direct steering ratio, the 458 Italia thus offers extremely rapid turn-in and body control whilst maintaining superior ride comfort.

The integration of the E-Diff and F1-Trac (now controlled by the same ECU) and their respective mappings is even greater, resulting in a 32 per cent increase in longitudinal acceleration out of corners compared to previous models. The evolution of the control logic, with even faster and more accurate calculation of levels of grip, ensures even greater roadholding, better handling and ease of control on the limit.

The same ECU also governs the high-performance ABS, providing even more precise control over the logic threshold and greater efficiency. The brakes also feature a prefill function whereby the pistons in the callipers move the pads into contact with the discs on lift off to minimise delay in the brakes being applied. This combined with the ABS has cut the 100-0 km/h braking distance to a mere 32.5 metres.

The Ferrari 458 Italia’s interior is another area of the car that exalts its sporty personality. The driver is welcomed by a new layout and a revolutionary ergonomic interface where the main controls are all clustered on the steering wheel.

With the Ferrari 458 Italia, Maranello has brought a highly distinctive new car to its 8-cylinder range. The company now offers two models that share a common, race-derived DNA, both exceptionally sporty and fun to drive in true Ferrari tradition, but aimed at two very different kinds of client. While the Ferrari California was created for owners requiring a more versatile sports car with a practical edge, the 458 Italia is designed for owners for whom the priority is uncompromising on-road performance with occasional track day capability, but who still demand a car that is useable in day-to-day driving like all Ferrari’s recent models.

Ferrari 458 Italia – Technical specifications

Dimensions

Length 4527 mm (178.2 in.)

Width 1937 mm (76.3 in.)

Height 1213 mm (47.8 in.)

Wheelbase 2650 mm (104.3 in.)

Dry weight 1380 kg (3042 lbs)*

Weight/power ratio 2,42 kg/CV (7.16 lbs/kW)

Weight distribution fr/r 42%/58%

Engine

Type V8 – 90°

Displacement 4499 cc (274.5 cu in.)

Maximum power 570 CV (425 kW)** @ 9000 rpm

Maximum torque 540 Nm (398 lbs/ft) @ 6000 rpm

Specific power output 127 CV/l

Compression ratio 12.5:1

Tyres

Front 235/35 ZR20 8.5”

Rear 295/35 ZR20 10.5”

Performance

Maximum speed >325 km/h (>202 mph)

0-100 km/h

Fuel consumption + emissions

Fuel consumption*** 13.7 l/100 km

Emissions*** 320 g CO2/km

Gearbox

Dual-clutch, 7-speed F1

Electronics

E-Diff3, F1-Trac, high-performance ABS

* With forged wheels and Racing seats

** Including 5 CV of ram effect

*** Combined cycle (ECE+EUDC)

 

Luca di Montezemolo: “The new Ferrari is a tribute to Italy”
Source: Ferrari

We are proud to pay homage to Italy with a fabulous new car which offers truly high performance along with the kind of innovation that no other Ferrari has ever reached.

The new Ferrari is a tribute to Italy and its unique qualities. The creative flair of its people, the quality and style of its products all go to make up a country that is synonymous with excellence.

 

More news on the Ferrari 458 Italia on www.ferrari.com:
New photos and interview now on the site in the run-up to the Frankfurt Show
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, 27 August 2009 – In the run-up to the official unveiling of the Ferrari 458 Italia at the Frankfurt Motor Show on the 15th of September, enthusiasts can find out more about the car on www.ferrari.com. There they will find the first photographs of the 458 Italia’s interior and of the steering wheel and instrument binnacle which represent a significant step forward in the concept of the ergonomic interface between driver and car.

In fact the main commands are now grouped on the steering wheel, the secondary commands are handily set in two satellite pods either side of the dash and there are now comprehensive instrument displays on the panel ahead of the driver. These solutions represent an important safety aspect, enabling the driver to concentrate fully on driving. Similarly this layout ensures maximum control of the car in highperformance driving, an uncompromising approach that derives directly from Ferrari’s F1 experience.

Working closely with the Ferrari Styling Centre, the engineers have thus reinterpreted the positioning of the major commands to provide a truly driver-oriented cockpit. All steering-column mounted stalks have been eliminated, with the indicators, full beam, flash and windscreen wiper functions now being activated by buttons on the steering wheel boss. The button to select the shock absorber setting is now positioned next to the ‘Engine start’ button where it falls readily to hand. Behind the wheel are a number of secondary functions, such as the stereo, while the gearbox paddles are now longer making shifts even easier from any steering angle.

The right-hand satellite pod on the dash incorporates controls for the infotainment, the Bluetooth connection, sat-nav, digital speedo and rear parking camera. Clustered on the left-hand satellite pod instead are the optional cruise control, buttons for choosing the video setting of the left-hand dash TFT screen and the on-board computer interface. The latter controls the trip computer, the Vehicle Dynamic Assistance and the display of the car’s set-up.

The Vehicle Dynamic Assistance monitors the operating parameters of the most important areas of the car – engine/gearbox, tyres and brakes. The VDA is enabled in the following manettino settings – Race, CT off and CST off – and provides visual confirmation of the status of each component based on an algorithm from parameters reading lateral and longitudinal acceleration, revs and speed. This enables the driver to assess the ideal operating conditions for the car. There are three status settings: WARM-UP (operating temperature too low), GO (ideal operating conditions) and OVER (one or more components are no longer at their optimum level and need cooling).

Along with the photos now on-line, the Ferrari site also includes an exclusive videointerview with Paolo Pininfarina, Chairman of Pininfarina S.p.A., who provides indepth insight into the 458 Italia’s design philosophy and exterior styling. The next release on www.ferrari.com will include an analysis of the car’s performance characteristics with an interview with seven-times F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher.

 

The multi-award-winning 458 Italia
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, 19th May 2011 – The Ferrari 458 Italia continues to go from strength to strength and has garnered over 30 international awards in its short career. Yesterday, it added two further plaudits to that collection at the International Engine of the Year Awards when its V8 was voted “Best Performance Engine” and “Best Engine Above 4 Litres”.

The success being enjoyed by the 458 Italia with both critics and public alike crosses all borders– it has won awards in a host of different nations from the USA to the Far East and Europe. In the US, the mid-rear V8 was named “World Performance Car of the Year”. It was also named “Car of the Year” by the Robb Report and topped the New York Times rankings.

On the other side of the Atlantic, the discerning British motoring media proved equally enthusiastic. In fact, the 458 Italia scooped both BBC Top Gear Magazine’s “Supercar of the Year” and “Car of the Year Awards”. Staying in Britain, CAR magazine also named the 458 Italia “Performance Car of the Year 2010”, as did Auto Express and What Car. It triumphed too as the Daily Telegraph’s “Car of the Year” and TV programme Fifth Gear’s “Fast Car of the Year”. The 458 Italia also enjoyed an enthusiastic welcome from the German and Italian public with the result that it voted “Sports Car of the Year” by the highly reputable Auto Moto und Sport and Quattroruote magazines.

Continuing around the world, the authoritative Car Middle East magazine declared the 458 Italia both “Car of the Year” and “Supercar of the Year” also. In China, Top Gear, Auto Moto und Sport, Robb Report and the popular X-Car website all named it “Car of the Year”.

Lastly, in Japan, the 458 Italia was Engine’s “Best Car of the Year”, proving that the Ferrari’s extreme sportiness has a genuinely worldwide appeal.

  

The 458 Italia’s V8 voted Best Performance Engine and Best Engine Above 4-litres of the year
Source: Ferrari

Stuttgart, 18 May 2011 – The 4499 cc V8 engine powering the Ferrari 458 Italia has won two categories in the prestigious 2011 International Engine of the Year Awards, taking the accolade of Best Performance Engine as well as winning the Above 4-litre category. The jury for the awards is made up of 76 motoring journalists from 36 countries who assess engineering excellence in engines in terms of driveability, performance, economy and refinement. In assigning the awards the jury also praised the 458 Italia’s engine for its unmistakable sound. The awards were received by Jean Jacques His, head of Ferrari powertrain department.

Ferrari’s dry-sump, flat-crank, 90-degree V8 sets a number of firsts for a naturally-aspirated engine of this displacement. Representing the peak of engine technology, the V8 reaches a maximum of 9,000 rpm – a first on a road car – with a high 12.5:1 compression ratio and maximum power output of 570 CV. This equates to an outstanding power output of 127 CV/litre, a new benchmark.

The generous torque available – 540 Nm at 6000 rpm, with over 80 per cent available from 3250 rpm – ensures rapid pick-up from all revs. The specific torque output of 120 Nm/l is another record.

The design of the engine components has been influenced by the carry-over of racing technology – F1 in particular – for maximum fluid-dynamic efficiency in order to achieve both performance and fuel consumption objectives, and meet the most stringent international emissions restrictions. With the introduction of the HELE (High Emotions Low Emissions) system, the 570 CV V8 now produces a best-in-class 275 g/km of C02 with fuel consumption of just 11.8 l/100 km (ECE + EUDC combined cycle).

 

The Ferrari 458 Italia takes yet another international award
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, 15 October 2010 – The Ferrari 458 Italia has been awarded the title ‘Best Exotic Car’ by Middle East Motor Awards, the most prestigious ceremony of its kind in the GCC, that took place at the International Automobile Show (IAS) in the UAE on the 14th of October 2010.

Judged by a panel of 12 respected independent motoring journalists from seven countries across the MENA region, the 458 Italia beat five other prestigious cars to take the Award which was presented by the President of the Automobile and Touring Club of the United Arab Emirates (ATCUAE) and Vice President for Sport on the FIA World Motor Sport Council, Mr Mohammed Bin Sulayem.

This latest recognition further underlines the international critical acclaim that the 458 Italia has received since its launch last September at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

 

Ferrari 458 Italia receives prestigious BBC Top Gear Magazine
Source: Ferrari

“Car of the Year” and “Supercar of the Year” Awards

Maranello, 3 December 2009. The Ferrari 458 Italia has scooped two prestigious awards from BBC Top Gear Magazine, one of the world’s most influential automotive magazines. Not only did the British monthly nominate the 458 Italia “Supercar of the Year”, but also, for the very first time for a Ferrari, the coveted title of “Car of the Year”. This brings Ferrari’s tally of consecutive BBC Top Gear Magazine awards to the astonishing figure of eight in seven years.

The Ferrari 458 Italia was revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September to immediate critical acclaim. Following an extensive international media test drive programme in Maranello, the home of the fabled Prancing Horse, the car has been the subject of enthusiastic reviews, with its handling, roadholding, ride comfort and performance all being subject to the kind of superlatives rarely seen from the world’s leading journalists.

In electing the Ferrari 458 Italia as their Supercar of the Year, BBC Top Gear Magazine underlined how it has established “the new benchmark in getting from A to B as rapidly as possible.” They also described the 570-hp V8-engined berlinetta as “a game-changing car.”

When nominating the car for the overall top award as Car of the Year, the magazine described how it became “our winner because the scope of its abilities is absolutely breathtaking”, concluding that the Ferrari 458 Italia “isn’t just a worthy winner, it’s off the scale!”

 

A 458 dedicated to Lauda

Posted: January 2014
Source: Ferrari

In the year the film “Rush” has been released, directed by Oscar winner Ron Howard and telling the story of the rivalry between Niki Lauda and James Hunt, a Prancing Horse owner has decided to personalise his new 458 Italia in the livery that featured on the Maranello cars back in the golden age that covered the mid-Seventies. In those days, the Scuderia took three consecutive Constructors’ titles and two Drivers’ both of them thanks to the Austrian driver.

In red with a white roof, featuring the Italian flag going longitudinally across it, with gold rims, the car was prepared with this exclusive design by the Commercial Department at Ferrari as part of the Tailor Made personalisation programme, with the collaboration of a personal designer from the Maranello Style Centre. The interior has not been neglected with the seats and central tunnel reprising the italian flag motif and the racing aspect is accentuated by the type of seats and the red motif on their stitching, the dashboard and instrument panel and the steering wheel with LEDs, as well as the F1 type gear shifts.

The 458 Italia represents the perfect synthesis of technological innovation, style, creativity and passion, all qualities that are a byword for Italy in the world. The owner of this two seater berlinetta, powered by the multi award winning V8 engine, wanted to make it unique by paying tribute to one of the happiest and most productive eras in the history of the Scuderia.

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