Let’s forget we’ll see the new Ferrari FF at the Geneva Motor Show, and concentrate on the previous model which Ferrari fans got all excited about: the 458 Italia. Considered Ferrari’s return to form, the Novitec Rosso 458 Italia tuning will go on show and you can’t get a Ferrari much better than this.

The hot 458 Italia gets mostly new accessories as the V8 has been only slightly modified at this stage. It gets a new carbon fibre airbox and Inconel exhaust saving 21 kg off the original. New engine remapping has achieved an increase of 39 hp for a total of 609 hp. Torque is also up from 540 Nm to 569 Nm.

The Ferrari has been lowered further but is fitted with the hydraulic raising system (just as well because I would never have got this in my garage otherwise…). A new set of wheels is included as is a new spoiler, side skirts and mirrors after wind tunnel tested was carried out. A carbon fibre diffusor and roof panels complete the package.

Novitec Rosso Ferrari 458 Italia

Continue reading: Novitec Rosso Ferrari 458 Italia at Geneva

....

0 comments

The first of the McLaren MP4-12C video challenges has emerged in this drag race against the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Porsche 911 Turbo. The challenge takes place at the Portimao track and was organised by McLaren - clearly confident of the results of its new weapon. The MP4-12C has a declared sprint time of 3.3 seconds to reach 100 km/hr, which drops to 3.1 seconds when using the optional Corsa tyres.

The Ferrari 458 Italia, already considered one of the queens of the 100 km/hr race has a time of 3.4 seconds. The McLaren is supposed to be lighter, though, and quicker despite the Ferrari’s higher top speed of 325 km/hr. The challenge was organised during the media presentation of the new MP4-12C and while we find the video slightly disappointing (obviously the time it takes to wave the starting flag is longer than the overall acceleration of the vehicles), see what you think in the video.

....

0 comments

There are only seven Ferrari 458 Italia Oakley Design models planned and the small range will be crowned with a one-off Oakley 458 Italia. Six will be produced in white and the last, seen in these pics at the Las Vegas SEMA, appears in bright red - Rosso Corsa, to be precise.

The 458 Italia Oakley Design will be ready for delivery to customers next year and two of the six white ones are still on sale. Oakley Design will also make an aftermarket kit available for those who can’t manage to purchase up front. The kit includes the mechanical modifications, aerodynamic and electronic changes made on the limited series.

Ferrari 458 Italia Oakley Design Rosso Corsa - SEMA 2010

Continue reading: Ferrari 458 Italia Oakley Design at SEMA

....

0 comments

Leaving aside any nasty comments about Jeremy Clarkson he has got a really good job. In fact, we imagine there are a lot of people out there wanting his job and if not all of it, at least the part where Clarkson does the Italian job. Meaning he spends part of his summer at Imola and Fiorano driving around in Italian supercars.

Clarkson has developed a two-disc DVD set of his exploits in which we can presumably see him in lots of scenes driving vehicles like the Ferrari 458 Italia, Lamborghini Gallardo and even the Pagani Zonda R. It’s all been in preparation for him to take on the ‘pros’ at a touring car event in the UK. Unfortunately the video above is just the trailer and if you want the full thing, with all the action and smart aleck comments, you’ll have to wait.

Source | Autoblog.com

....

0 comments

Ferrari has initiated a recall of 1,248 models of the new 458 Italia due to the recent cases of a few models catching fire. The incidents were part of a series of accidents for Ferrari owners in which about five vehicles actually caught fire in the rear engine compartment. According to reports from Italy, the rear bulkhead will be modified to further protect the wheels against the heat produced in the exhaust.

Company engineers have stated that a particular adhesive used in the rear of the car is subject to combustion when the car is used in extreme circumstances (as if anyone would actually use a Ferrari in an ‘extreme’ fashion….). Ferrari is currently contacting all owners of the 458 Italia to take their cars back to their dealerships to get them fixed.

Source | Quattroruote

....

0 comments

After reports of a third Ferrari 458 Italia going up in flames and more accidents in these vehicles than you’d generally expect, Ferrari has finally released some sort of a statement as to what it’s doing about the situation. Before the crisis gets out of PR hands, Ferrari has indicated that there has been a total of nine accidents with the 458 Italia recently.

According to the company, six of the nine incidents could most likely be attributed to driver error, while for the vehicles that catch alight, Ferrari is starting investigations as to whether any technical error could be at fault. A spokesperson has said: “I am not in a position to comment on the vehicle fires and all we can say is we are taking it obviously very seriously.” We can’t imagine it would be very pleasant to see your brand new 458 Italia get redder than expected.

Source | Just Auto via Autoblog.it

....

0 comments

A third Ferrari 458 Italia has apparently caught on fire, this time in California, with flames destroying the rear end of the car. The fire, much like the other two that occurred in Paris and on an alpine pass in France, looks like it started in the rear engine compartment, moving through to the front of the vehicle. According to reports, nine Ferrari 458 Italia models have been involved in accidents over the last 90 days, making for an expensive line-up of damaged or destroyed cars.

Source | Autoblog.it

....

0 comments

Our colleagues at Autoblog.it are asking themselves just how heavy the Ferrari 458 Italia is. It’s performance stats were impressive from the start, but it looks like they’re hauling around more kilos than Ferrari likes to declare. The official dry weight of the Ferrari 458 Italia is 1,380 kg as declared by the company.

But tests would indicate that this is not the case. Recently, the guys at Asphalte.ch tested the 458 Italia and it weighed in at 1,598 kg on a full tank. That’s a difference of 218 kg compared to the official figure. The May issue of Italy’s Quattroruote magazine also provided a very different figure. In a comparison test with the Mercedes SLS AMG, the Ferrari weighed 1,633 kg in testing conditions.

That takes the difference to 253 kg. To put things into perspective, the Ferrari F430 in testing conditions has previously weighed in at 1,474 kg and the Scuderia at 1,421. With similar dimensions, it looks like you get more performance but more kilos into the bargain. It seems Ferrari’s figures are more optimistic than testing has proved, on a full tank of fuel or not. We could also guess that the new dual clutch transmission would affect weight but 250 kg or more of difference is a lot of explaining to do.

....

0 comments

Ferrari has released this photo and details of its Ferrari 458 Challenge. It debuted at the Maranello track at the annual meeting for dealers but unfortunately Ferrari has provided us with just this one pic. The 458 Challenge will appear alongside the F430 Challenge in the 2011 Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli. The series is expanding next year with a new program in the Asia Pacific region and it seems the single-marque Ferrari challenge is important for the company in developing new models.

The 458 Challenge is basically the track version of the Ferrari 458 Italia road vehicle. It is equipped with the production engine 4.5-litre V8 with 570 hp at 9,000 rpm. Changes have been made to the dual-clutch F1 transmission to provide greater torque at lower revs and it has E-Diff electronic differential. The latter is also present on the road version but is a novelty for the Challenge models.

Weight reduction has been achieved with work done on the thickness of the bodywork and the use of light materials like carbon fibre and Lexan both inside and out. Suspension set-up has changed with stiff, racing-style aluminium joints and springs and modifications to the shock absorbers.

Continue reading: Ferrari 458 Challenge details

....

0 comments

An all Italian dream car challenge between the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Lamborghini Gallardo FP550-2 Valentino Balboni. The latest jewel from the Prancing Horse with its 4.5 V8 engine with 570 hp against the 5.2 V10 550V of the Charging Bull.

Performance wise the 458 Italia beats the the small super car from Sant’Agata Bolognese: top speed 325 km/h and from 0-100 in 3,4 seconds against 320 km/h and 3,9 seconds for the Gallardo.

Check out the video.

....

0 comments

English tuning house Oakley Design will produce five units of this tuned Ferrari 458 Italia. Changes to the vehicle include aerodynamic modifications, a slightly new look and a new electronics system which achieves a ten percent increase in power: up from 570 hp to 627 hp. Torque gets a slight increase too, from 540 to 567 Nm.

The power and torque increases are also due to a new and larger aspiration system made from carbon fibre, with a revamped airbox and exhaust. There is a new front spoiler and rear Gurney Flap, which give an extra 45 kg down force at 240 km/hr, and an extra 25 kg at 150 km/hr at the rear.

There is carbon fibre peppered throughout the Ferrari 458 Italia which saves 65 kg off the weight, and other features include 20-inch Oz racing alloys shod with Pirelli Trofeo tyres and twin tone colour scheme. Performance is impressive, with the Oakley 458 Italia reaching 100 km/hr in three seconds and having a top speed of 330 km/hr. The updates can also be bought as aftermarket.

Ferrari 458 Italia by Oakley Design

....

0 comments

When you look at these pics don’t you just feel like crying? This poor and injured Ferrari 458 Italia was spotted in Wroclaw, Poland after it’s young driver crashed into a Volkswagen Bora.

According to an eyewitness, the Ferrari was driving between 60-70 mph on “Armii Krajowej” street which has a posted speed limit of 30 mph. When the Ferrari approached the intersection, a small bus abruptly made a left turn in front of it. In an effort to avoid crashing into the bus, the driver of the Ferrari veered slightly to his left and bang … the result is Italian mincemeat.

Source | wreckedexotics.com via topspeed.com

....

0 comments