Thursday, July 30, 2009

Ferrari 458 Italia Unveiled

Ferrari 458 Italia

The curvy accomplishment sitting before you is the newly-unveiled Ferrari 458 Italia, which will replace the F430. While the car won’t be shown in public until the Frankfort Motor Show in September, Ferrari has released the details and given us an intimate glimpse of what to expect with these stunning renderings. “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”, the 458 Italia features a direct-injected, mid-rear V8 good for 562 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque. A seven-speed dual clutch gearbox provides seamless shifting and control while a steering wheel with integrated controls keeps nearly every necessary adjustment at the driver’s fingertips. The 458 tops out at 9000 rpm and Ferrari redesigned the gear ratio so that 80% of its torque is available at the low 3250 rpm. The powertrain combines with the compact, aerodynamic shape and lightweight aluminum structure to provide a 0 to 62 time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 202 MPH. The 458 gives us just one more thing to look forward to at Frankfort.