The 2012 Ferrari 458 Spider is powered by Ferrari’s naturally-aspirated, direct-injection 4.5-liter V8 which was nominated as the 2011 International Engine of the Year for its engineering excellence in terms of driveability, performance, economy and refinement. The power is transferred to the road by Ferrari’s class-leading dual-clutch F1 paddle-shift transmission through the sophisticated E-Diff, itself integrated with the F1-Trac traction control and high-performance ABS for maximum handling dynamics.
Certain of the car’s features, such as its accelerator pedal mapping and the damping of the multilink suspension, have been calibrated to guarantee maximum sportiness and absolute driving pleasure with the top down, in line with Maranello’s exclusive spider tradition. Even the engine soundtrack has been honed to ensure that the car’s occupants are completely captivated by the drop-top driving experience.
Entirely in aluminum, the hard-top solution adopted for the 2012 Ferrari 458 Spider offers a number of advantages over the traditional folding soft-top, including a reduction of 55 lb (25 kg) in weight and a deployment time of just 14 seconds. Fully integrated into the styling of the car, the hard-top was engineered to fit neatly ahead of the engine bay without compromising aerodynamics or the performance of the car. The small space needed to house the roof enables the designers to include a generous rear bench for luggage behind the seats.
The rear of the 458 Spider is characterized by innovative forms with the buttresses designed to optimize the flow of air to the engine intakes and the clutch and gearbox oil radiators. For maximum comfort whilst driving top down the 2012 458 Spider features a generously-sized adjustable electric wind stop. The design was perfected to slow and diffuse the air in the cockpit, enabling normal conversation to be held even at speeds over 124 mph (200 km/h).
New technical solutions adopted for the chassis guarantee identical levels of structural rigidity with the roof up or down. The result is a car that is truly exciting to drive, blending extreme performance with the responsiveness that has always characterized Ferrari’s open-top berlinettas.
