Paris Motor Show: Ferrari 458 Speciale Drops Its Top

[William Maley]

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Ferrari's showing for the Paris Motor Show is the Ferrari 458 Speciale A. The 458 Speciale A (Aperta) is the convertible version of the 458 Speciale and features most of the the lightweight materials found on the coupe. The difference is the addition of a folding aluminum roof which can open or close in 14 seconds, and only adds about 110 pound to the weight of the Speciale A.

Power comes from a 4.5L V8 engine which makes 605 horsepower and 397 pound-feet of torque. Ferrari says the 458 Speciale A can hit 60 MPH in about 3.0 seconds (about a tenth slower than the coupe). The Special A also features Ferrari's Side Slip angle Control (SSC) system which varies the torque distribution to improve handling.

Ferrari says they will only build 499 458 Speciale A models. No word on when Ferrari will begin selling them.

Source: Ferrari

Press Release is on Page 2

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FERRARI 458 SPECIALE A: A NEW RECORD-BREAKING SPIDER

25/09/14

• 499 cars to celebrate our most successful, award-winning 8-cylinder model
  

Maranello, 25th September 2014 – Ferrari is pleased to announce the Paris Motor Show world debut of the 458 Speciale A (A as in Aperta). The new limited edition special series is a celebration of the dazzling success of the various versions of the 458, a model that has collected an array of international motoring media awards and track victories, not least a double WEC title and category wins in classic endurance races, such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.

Dedicated to just 499 Ferrari collectors, the 458 Speciale A is the most powerful spider in Prancing Horse history, effortlessly marrying extreme performance with the sublime pleasure of drop-top driving. Its aluminium retractable hard top, which takes a mere 14 seconds to deploy or retract, helps reduce the weight difference with the Speciale coupé to just 50 kg.

The 458 Speciale A sports the most powerful naturally-aspirated road-going V8 engine ever built by Ferrari. It punches out a massive 605 cv (135 cv/l specific power output) and 540 Nm of torque at 6000 rpm yet only generates 275 g/km of CO2 emissions. The three international Best Performance Engine awards the V8 has won are acknowledged on a special plaque in the cockpit.

The new car sprints from 0-100 km/h in just 3.0 seconds and has a Fiorano lap time of 1'23"5. These superb results are thanks in great part to its front and rear active aerodynamics, the rigidity of a chassis that incorporates 10 aluminium alloys, and Side Slip Angle Control (SSC) which guarantees unparalleled sporty driving in all conditions, underscored by the seductively exhilarating signature Ferrari soundtrack.

As is the case with all Prancing Horse cars, the 458 Speciale A's sculpted forms are absolutely performance-oriented. In fact, a series of innovative and original bodywork solutions has made the 458 Speciale A the most aerodynamically efficient Ferrari spider ever.

The 458 Speciale A is being premiered in a unique triple-layer yellow livery with a Blu Nart and Bianco Avus central stripe as well as five-spoke forged wheels in Grigio Corsa. The cockpit has a distinctive racing-inspired look: lightweight yet exclusive materials have been adopted throughout and, of course, crafted with Ferrari's signature artisanal sophistication. This is particularly true of the finish of the dash, the moulded door panels and central tunnel in an exclusive blue carbon-fibre (also used for the treadplates) as well as the newly-designed seats in Alcantara© with contrasting stitching and 3D technical fabric.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION SUMMARY

EngineType V8 – 90°

Total displacement 4497 ccMax. power output 605 cv at 9000 rpm

Maximum torque 540 Nm at 6000 rpm

WeightDry weight 1340 kg

Weight-power ratio 2.21 kg/cv

Performance0 - 100 km/h 3.0"

0 - 200 km/h 9.5"Fiorano lap time 1'23"5

Emissions (ECE + EUDC combined cycle)

CO2 emissions** 275 gr/km

**with HELE system

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[G. David Felt]

NOT Impressed!, Corvette is so much better.

 

This car first from the front looks like a Giant stepped on it. The back end looks like a Chef cut it off with a large blade and then stuck on some after thought rear tail lights. Interior Dash is just hideous and the over all layout makes me shake my head. The Steering wheel clearly came out of a Nintendo game. Guess for gamers of Nintendo, Xbox and PS4 they will love it.

 

Pass on this over priced Garbage and what is with the Pathetic Engine? GM makes better V8's with at least the Torque almost equal to or surpasing the HP of the engine.