Ferrari 458 Italia Spider

 The Ferrari 458 Italia Spider is not yet reality, but it has been confirmed by Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo, and already it’s the subject of speculation on fan forums like Teamspeed. The topic of conversation? The possibility of a folding hardtop roof.

The Ferrari California was the first Prancing Horse to have a folding hard top. A soft top was chosen for the F430 Spider and its high-performance Scuderia 16M variant to save weight and store compactly in order to keep the engine visible at all times, top up or down. Adding a hardtop to the 458 Italia could thwart those goals.

On the other hand, a folding hardtop adds a level of safety and comfort a soft top can’t deliver. A hardtop can also better preserve the lines of a car when it’s up–no small consideration of an image-obsessed marque like Ferrari. It would also make sense of the images spied back in 2008 of a hardtop-equipped F430 Spider. In the past, a folding hardtop hasn’t been a primary concern for its performance-focused models, instead favoring the space and weight savings of the soft top.

The California’s decidely more relaxed manner wears the hardtop well, however, and Ferrari could always skip the folding hardtop in favor of a soft top for a Scuderia version of the 458 Italia Spider.

As for us, we’d be fine with a hardtop, provided it stows away without significantly compromising space and without covering up the gorgeous 4.5-liter, 570-horsepower V-8 in the middle.

What do you think? Will Ferrari give the Italia Spider a hardtop? Or should it stick with the soft top?

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Source: Teamspeed via motorauthority.com

Ferrari 458 Italia Spider

 The stunning new 2010 458 Italia, Ferrari’s replacement for the outgoing F430, was just revealed to the world a few months ago, but already Ferrari is thought to be working on an open-top version of its latest supercar, previewed here in this latest computer generated rendering. According to a report by Quattroruote.it, Ferrari has confirmed that it will produce a convertible version of its new Ferrari 458 Italia. Ferrari’s chairman, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, confirmed to the publication that the Ferrari 458 Italia Spider will hit the market in the coming years.

“Deliveries of the Ferrari 458 Italia will begin in mid-January 2010,” said Montezemolo. “We are also planning a Spider version, but not for a couple of years.”

He said that Ferrari is waiting for the economy to recover a little and is looking forward with “hopeful realism.”

While Ferrari has adopted a folding hard-top roof for its most recent convertible model, the California, the 458 Italia Spider is likely to retain the lightweight soft-top roof seen on the F430 Spider and high-performance Scuderia 16M. Apart from the roof and some chassis reinforcements, the 458 Italia Spider should be identical to its hard-top sibling, which means power will come from a 4.5-liter V8 engine rated at 570 hp (425 kW) and 400 lb-ft (553 Nm) of torque and sending torque to the rear wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Weight will almost certainly be higher than the hard-top’s 3,036 lbs (1,380 kg).

What do you think about the Ferrari 458 Italia Spider?

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Source: motorauthority.com and egmcartech.com

Novitec Rosso Ferrari 16M Scuderia Spider

Novitec Rosso, a German tuner has just created a twin-supercharged Ferrari 16M Scuderia Spider, the latest Maranello exotic.

Novitec Rosso has added their own Bi-Compressor system, adding on two belt-driven superchargers tuned to 6.9 psi of boost. It’s $66,400 package adds a water-to-air intercooler in each cylinder bank, a redesigned intake manifold, larger injectors, and revised water and oil cooling. The additions are good for 696 hp, the tuner claims, and 503 lb-ft. A set of lightweight wheels with custom Pirelli tires manage traction the best they can, measuring 235/30 ZR20 front and 325/25 ZR20 rear. And a new set of springs lowers the package slightly. They added a new lowered sport suspension system with a front-lift system so you won’t scrape the front lip on bumps and curbs. Exterior changes include black taillights, side markers, and reflectors, while on the inside they’ve added a sport steering wheel, and bigger carbon fiber paddle shifters.

Novitec Rosso says shifting through the F1-SuperFast2 transmission at wide-open throttle will send you to 62 mph in 3.5 sec. A blast to 125 mph takes 9.7 sec.  Top speed: over 205 mph. And remember, this is a convertible.

That’s an improvement over the stock 16M. Using “just” 503 hp and 347 ft from its 4.3 liter V8, that car took 3.8 sec. to reach 60 mph. At 1:26.5 seconds around Ferrari’s Fiorano test circuit, the 16M was 1.5 seconds slower than the Scuderia coupe. A supercharger or two has helped with the performance.

What do you think about the Novitec Rosso Ferrari 16M Scuderia Spider?

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Source: wot. motortrend.com and automoblog.net

The 2009 Ferrari 430 Scuderia Spider 16M is a high performance 2-door sports car.

The body of the car is made of carbon fiber, it features a powerful engine, stylish body structure, alloy wheels and an open top.

The Scuderia Spider 16M is the fastest moving open top car in the Ferrari lineup. The open top is operated by the touch of a button and it can be opened or closed within a few seconds.

The car features a mid engine V8 with a capacity of 4,308 cc. The engine delivers an output power of 510 bhp at 8,500 rpm and 347 lb.-ft. torque at 5,250 rpm. It reaches the speed of 60 mph in 3.6 sec. and the top speed is about 195 mph. The Scuderia Spider 16M features a 6-speed F1 transmission and the gear shifts can be performed easily and quickly in 60 milliseconds when the driver flips the paddle.

The Scuderia Spider 16M is available in two new colors: the standard version is black with grey trim while a tricolor livery is also available as part of the Carrozzeria Scaglietti Personalization Program. The new car also has a special plaque on it’s rear grill commemorating Ferrari’s 16th Constructor’s World title. The interior is also underscored by the silver “limited series” plaque just above the air vents at the center of the dashboard. Other exclusive features include a roll bar with a carbon-fiber outer shell and an audio system that can be combined with the removable customized Ferrari iPod Touch 16GB media player.

-Represents the number of times Ferrari has won the World Constructors Championship. The CEO, Luca di Montezemolo is personally for the 16M as he requested a car to celebrate last years constructors title: 16M

-The number of 16M to be built: 499

-Base price: $313,350

-Vehicle layout: Mid-engine, RWD, 2-passenger, 2-door, convertible

-Engine: 4.3L/503 hp/347-lb.-ft. DOHC 32-valve V-8

-Transmission: 6-speed auto-clutch manual

-Curb weight (front/rear distribution): 3,175 lb. (43/57%)

-Wheelbase: 102.4 inches

-Length x width x height: 177.6 x 75.7 x 47.9 inches

-0-60 mph: 3.6 sec.

-Quarter mile: 11.8 sec. at 122.7 mph.

-1.8-mile road course lap: 86.5 sec. *

-Braking, 60-0 mph: 96 ft.

-Braking, 100-0 mph: 288 ft.

-EPA city/hwy fuel economy: 11/16

-CO2 emissions: 1.52 lb./mile

-The kilograms saved over the standard Spider from the introduction of additional carbon fiber and special light weight wheels as well as the deletion of carpet (not optional) and noise reduction material: 176 lbs.

*Ferrari test driver, Fiorano circuit

Please leave a comment and answer the eight question survey to the right of the article where it says, “We Want Your Opinions!: Click Here to take our survey.”               

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Source: carsguide.news.com.au, motortrend.com and the supercars.org.

Novitec Rosso Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M

The Novitec Rosso Ferrari 16M is the latest creation from the German tuner. They have raised the bar to the next level of performance. Novitec outfitted the 16M with their 3-pc NF3 wheels in custom painted colors.

The NF3 wheels are 20×8.5″ front and 20×12″rear and feature Pirelli tires. The suspension is converted to their Hydraulic Coil-Over Suspension system which allows for a 40mm front and lift when entering driveways or going over speed bumps by the touch of a button. The engine is outfitted with a twin supercharger system that gives a horsepower rating of 696hp! The car is finished off by Novitec’s black tail lights, LED third brake light and reflectors. Novitec also has a range of products for the Scuderia and other Ferraris.

Novitec has fitted twin superchargers to the 16M. Power should be up by an estimated 186hp (139kW) on the factory model to 696hp (519kW). Compared to the stock vehicle’s V8, it has a maximum power output of 510hp (380kW). It will push the car from 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds and let it go as fast as 315 km/h (196mph). Therefore it would be fair to assume the more powerful Novitec car will outsprint and ultimately outrun a normal F430 Scuderia Spider 16M. 

Source: ferrarituningmag.com

At the last Bologna Motor Show in Italy, the first week of December, Ferrari publicly unveiled its limited edition Scuderia Spider 16M built in celebration of the brand’s newly won sixteenth Formula 1 World Constructor’s championship title. Although basically an open top version of the 430 Scuderia, the Scuderia Spider features its own lineup of personalized traits.

The Scuderia Spider 16M will be available in two new color schemes. The standard will be black and grey, but you can choose a tricolor livery available as part of the Carrozzeria Scaglietti Personalization Program. In commemoration of Ferrari’s 16th Constructor’s World title the rear grill will sport a special badge.

Inside, a plaque reading “limited series” is mounted just above the air vents at the center of the dashboard. Other features specific to the limited edition include a carbon-fiber roll bar and the implementation of a next generation audio system that can be used together with a customized Ferrari 16GB iPod Touch that can be docked right in front of the dash.

It tips the scales at just 2,954lbs which is 132lbs lighter than a F430 Spider. Behind the cockpit sits the 4.3-liter V8 cranking out 510 horsepower and linked to the quick-shifting six-speed F1-style gearbox. That 5.7lb/hp ratio is good for a 0-62 time of only 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 195 mph.

Ferrari says the Scuderia Spider 16M is the fastest open-top road car around the Fiorano circuit yet, and from those numbers above, we’d believe it. There is only going to be 499 editions built by Maranello and expect to pay more than the $277,000 base price of the hardtop.

Source: rumors.automobilemag.com and printthis.clickability.com

The Scuderia Spider 16M was launched last weekend in commemoration of Ferrari’s 16th victory in the 2008 Formula 1 Constructor’s World Championship, the Ferrari World Finals in Mugello. It has become the fastest ever open-top Ferrari around the Fiorano circuit and only 499 examples will be built, and the model is, according to Ferrari, “aimed at the most passionate clients, drivers who demand both exclusivity and superb driving pleasure.”

The Scuderia Spider 16M is available in two new colors: the standard version is black with grey trim while a tricolor livery is also available as part of the Carrozzeria Scaglietti Personalization Program. The new car also has a special plaque on it’s rear grill commemorating Ferrari’s 16th Constructor’s World title. The interior is also underscored by the silver “limited series” plaque just above the air vents at the center of the dashboard. Other exclusive features include a roll bar with a carbon-fiber outer shell and an audio system that can be combined with the removable customized Ferrari iPod Touch 16GB media player.

This model has a dry weight of 1,340kg (80kg lighter than the F430 Spider). The curb weight is a claimed 1,440kg. This combined with the 502bhp provided by its V8 engine which results in a blistering 0-62mph time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 196mph. Carbon emissions are 360g/km on the Combined cycle. The transmission is Ferrari’s six-speed dual-clutch F1 Superfast gearbox and the car is also equipped with the company’s CST Stability and Traction Control System which can be operated via the usual steering-wheel mounted “manettino” (or switch, as it’s also known) with five settings.

Expect to pay more than the $277,000 base price of the hard-top-that is if you can get your hands on one in the first place.

Sources: telegraph.co.uk, motorauthority.com, classicdriver.com, fullboost.com.au and paultan.org