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The new Ferrari 458 Spider: Maranello, 23rd August 2011 – The new 458 Spider joins the 458 Italia, widening the range of Ferrari’s mid-rear engined V8s and offering the same uncompromising technological solutions, handling and performance in a refined open-top configuration. It is equipped with a Ferrari patented, fully retractable hard top, a world first for a sports car with this lay-out. The 458 Spider is powered by Ferrari’s naturally-aspirated, direct-injection 4.5 litre V8 which was nominated as the 2011 International Engine of the Year for its engineering excellence in terms of driveability, performance, economy and refinement. The power is transferred to the road by Ferrari’s class-leading dual-clutch F1 paddle-shift transmission through the sophisticated E-Diff, itself integrated with the F1-Trac traction control and high-performance ABS for maximum handling dynamics. Certain of the car’s features, such as its accelerator pedal mapping and the damping of the multilink suspension, have been calibrated to guarantee maximum sportiness and absolute driving pleasure with the top down, in line with Maranello’s exclusive spider tradition. Even the engine soundtrack has been honed to ensure that the car’s occupants are completely captivated by the drop-top driving experience. Entirely in aluminium, the hard-top solution adopted for the 458 Spider offers a number of advantages over the traditional folding soft-top, including a reduction of 25 kg in weight and a deployment time of just 14 seconds. Fully integrated into the styling of the car, the hard-top was engineered to fit neatly ahead of the engine bay without compromising aerodynamics or the performance of the car. The small space needed to house the roof enables the designers to include a generous rear bench for luggage behind the seats. The rear of the car is characterised by innovative forms with the buttresses designed to optimise the flow of air to the engine intakes and the clutch and gearbox oil radiators. For maximum comfort whilst driving top down the 458 Spider features a generously-sized adjustable electric wind stop. The design was perfected to slow and diffuse the air in the cockpit, enabling normal conversation to be held even at speeds over 200 km/h. New technical solutions adopted for the chassis guarantee identical levels of structural rigidity with the roof up or down. The result is a car that is truly exciting to drive, blending extreme performance with the responsiveness that has always characterised Ferrari’s open-top berlinettas. 458 SPIDER TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
* With forged wheels and Racing seats |
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Ferrari 458 Spider wins “Best Sports Car and Convertible” award from The Sunday Times Driving
Source: Ferrari Maranello, 07 October – Ferrari has been honoured to receive a very prestigious award from The Sunday Times Driving, the motoring section of the UK’s most influential quality newspaper, with the 458 Spider announced as the “Best Sports Car and Convertible” in a special edition issue celebrating the Top 100 Cars on sale today. In its review of the Top 100 Cars, The Sunday Times Driving commented: “This car is simply sublime. A 458 is not a pure-bred sports car. Yes, it drives like one, but it’s also a singer and a model and an athlete. It’s a heptathlete with the lungs of Pavarotti and the face of an angel. The best convertible sports car on the market.” The 458 Spider continues a long tradition of mid-engined V8 convertibles for Ferrari, but this is the first time that a mid-engined sports car has featured a folding hard-top, making it a perfect combination of performance and glamorous style. This award is yet another trophy in the cabinet for the 458 Spider, and it will sit alongside the BBC Top Gear Magazine’s “Cabriolet of the Year” in 2011, and also the two consecutive awards from the International Engine of the Year in 2011 and 2012 for the “Best Performance Engine” in the category over 4 litres, for the naturally-aspirated 4.5 litre V8 which is shared by the 458 Spider and the 458 Italia. |
The Ferrari 458 Spider receives “Best Cabriolet” award from Auto Motor und Sport
Source: Ferrari
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 24 January 2012 – The readers of the prestigious German car magazine Auto Motor und Sport have crowned the 458 Spider “Best Imported Cabriolet” in the traditional “Best cars” poll.This is the second time the 458 Spider has won this category, and it’s the 15th time that a convertible Ferrari has received this award, demonstrating the esteem with which the marque is held in Germany. The trophy was presented by Auto Motor und Sport Editor-in-Chief, Ralph Alex, to Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa at the prize-giving ceremony held in Stuttgart today.The 458 Spider continues the long tradition of Ferrari mid-engined V8 convertibles and is the first mid-engined model to feature a folding hard-top combining performance and style perfectly. The engine powering the car – the remarkable 570 HP, 4.5-litre V8 – has also been in the spotlight, having won the International Engine of the Year award for two consecutive years in 2011 and 2012.
Overall the 458 – in both the Italia coupé and the Spider versions – has received over 50 awards worldwide to date and is one of the most recognised and successful models in the history of Ferrari.