Ferrari will show the world's first open-air, mid-rear-engined sports car with a retractable hardtop at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
The new Spider, above, delivers the same uncompromising technology, handling and performance as the 458 Italia, but in a refined open-top configuration. It is equipped with a Ferrari patented, fully retractable hardtop, a world first for a sports car with this mid-rear engine layout.
The 458 Spider is powered by Ferrari’s naturally aspirated, direct-injection 4.5-litre V8 that was nominated as the 2011 International Engine of the Year for its engineering excellence. It delivers world-class drivability, performance, economy and refinement. Power is transferred to the road by Ferrari’s dual-clutch F1 paddle-shift (seven-speed) transmission through the sophisticated E-Diff, integrated with the F1-Trac traction control and high-performance ABS for maximum handling dynamics.
Certain features, such as accelerator pedal mapping and the damping of the multilink suspension, have been calibrated to insure maximum sportiness and absolute driving pleasure with the top down. 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 aluminum, the 458 Spider’s hardtop offers a number of advantages over the traditional folding soft-top, including a reduction of weight of approximately 55 pounds and deployment time of just 14 seconds. Fully integrated into the styling of the car, the hardtop 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 behind the seats for luggage.
Innovative forms highlight the Spider’s rear. Its buttresses have been designed to optimize airflow to the engine intakes and the clutch and gearbox oil radiators. For maximum comfort while driving with the top down, the 458 Spider features an 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 120 mph.
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 characterized Ferrari’s open-top berlinettas.
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