The Ferrari 458 Italia Spider – An in depth take a look at this sports activities automotive efficiency, technical knowledge, options, evaluating rivals, historical past, used costs
from Basic to Fashionable
THE CAR
The 458 Spider sports activities automotive, additionally known as the Ferrari 458 Italia Spider, was launched in 2011 on the Frankfurt Motor Present, and priced at $257,000.
It was the convertible model of the 458 Italia, and featured a singular retractable hardtop.
This was, in essence, a roadster that changed the standard mushy prime with an mechanically operated hardtop, made solely of aluminium, which saved itself away in entrance of the engine bay in as little as 14 seconds, and with out affecting the automotive’s aerodynamics. The coefficient of drag remained at 0.33.
The engine cowl of the 458 Italia was modified to include this new system, which truly weighed 25 kg lower than that of the mushy prime used within the F430 Spider.
A further profit was that additional house was created behind the seats to be able to retailer baggage, and many others.
Externally, this sports activities automotive appeared similar to the coupe variant, with the entrance part remaining unchanged, while the rear space obtained minor styling modifications to maximise the circulate of air to the engine’s cooling ducts and oil cooler.
An extra innovation was that the 458 Spider was fitted with a big, adjustable, electrically operated wind break, which was designed to decelerate and dissipate the airflow all through the cockpit in order that dialog between the occupants was not affected, even at excessive pace.
The Spider weighed in at 3153 lbs, barely heavier than the 3042 lbs of the 458 Italia.
It had an aluminium physique on an aluminium chassis which had been strengthened to be able to face up to the extra stresses in keeping with the elimination of the roof part.
It used rear wheel drive, with 20 inch wheels, and carbon ceramic ventilated and drilled disc brakes.
There was a steering wheel mounted Manettino change which managed the restricted slip differential (E-Diff), the traction management (F1-Trac), ABS, dampers and transmission, all activated electronically.
THE ENGINE
The 458 Spider was powered by the identical 4.5 litre, V8 mid-engine, with the brand new direct gas injection as used within the 458 Italia.
It produced the identical 0-60 mph time of three.3 secs, while the highest pace was 3 mph slower at 199 mph.
It had an enormous 12.5:1 compression, and used a seven pace Getrag F1-style paddle shift gearbox with a twin clutch.
The Spider produced 570 bhp at 9000 rpm (the crimson line), and 398 ft/lbs of torque at 6000 rpm, with most being on faucet down at 3250 rpm.
Total gas consumption was 21 mpg. Technical knowledge:
COMPETITION
Typical of the competitors of the Ferrari 458 Italia Spider had been the next sports activities vehicles: Audi R8 GT Spider, and Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster. Ferrari efficiency:
SPORTS CARS FOR SALE
A Ferrari 458 Italia Spider in good situation may fetch round $300,000, while an instance in showroom situation may command as much as $525,000.
One other supercar from Ferrari.
This marks the top of my Evaluation of the Ferrari 458 Italia Spider sports activities automotive.