Dream Car: The Ferrari 458 Italia
April 29th, 2010
The new 458 Italia is the successor to the immensely popular F430 sports car.
It signals a massive leap forward from the best-selling F430, thanks to technology from Formula 1 racing. The cab- forward shape, with long sloping flanks and triple exhaust pipes, was fashioned by aerodynamics rather than style. Special venting directs air through and around the car.
The 458 transports you to 60 mph in some 3.2 hair-burning seconds (mama mia!).
How can this be? For one, maximum engine power is achieved at a boggling 9,000 revolutions per minute. Most cars redline at less than 7,000 rpm, so that’s the equivalent of the Dow Jones suddenly shooting to 18,000 — it’s just not supposed to happen.
The driver can dial in the level of Jekyll versus Hyde with a five-mode system on the steering wheel, called the manettino. Choose from quiet boulevard cruising to general sport mode all the way up to Felipe Massa master.
Steering is sharper than any other car out there; most turns are made with a wiggle. Even hairpin corners are achieved barely moving your hands.
All of the controls, including lights and blinkers, are now found on the steering wheel itself, so you never have to take your hands off.
The Ferrari 458 Italia at a Glance
- Engine: 4.5-liter V-8 with 562 horsepower and 398 pound- feet of torque
- Transmission: 7-speed double-clutch automated manual with paddle shifters
- Speed: 0 to 60 mph in about 3.2 seconds
- Gas mileage per gallon: 15 combined city and highway
Categories: Entertainment | Tags: 458, 458 Italia, dream car, Ferrari, Italia | 1 Comment
