Ferrari has officially revealed its spectacular 458 Italia Spider, three weeks before the 562-horsepower 4.5-liter V8-powered supercar is due to make its public premiere at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show. Set to go on sale in the U.S. in early 2012, the new car will compete head-on with the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder.

Described by the Italian carmaker as the first mid-rear-engine supercar to feature a retractable roof, the 458 Italia Spider eschews the traditional fabric hood used by a long line of illustrious open-top Ferrari models down through the years for a contemporary hardtop.

Made from aluminum, the patented structure is claimed to automatically retract back to a dedicated stowage area behind the seats, in front of the engine bay, in just 14 seconds. Significantly, it is also said to weigh 55 pounds less than the fabric roof of its predecessor, the F430 Spider — allowing the 458 Italia Spider to retain the same 42:58 front-to-rear weight distribution as its fixed-roof sibling, the 458 Italia.

Although the official photographs generated by Ferrari do not show the new aluminum hardtop, Ferrari says it has been engineered to fit in front of the engine bay without any compromise to aerodynamics or performance over the 458 Italia. Additional domes behind the high-set seatbacks are said to help channel wind over the rear bodywork to air intakes used to cool the engine, clutch and gearbox.

The small space required to house the hardtop has enabled the addition of what Maranello insiders describe as a “generous rear bench for luggage” behind the seats. To reduce buffeting within the interior at speed, Ferrari has also equipped the 458 Italia Spider with an electrically operated wind stop it says allows normal conversation between occupants at speeds up to 124 mph.

The rear-wheel-drive 458 Italia Spider runs the same highly strung 4.5-liter V8 engine as the 458 Italia. Mounted behind the space used to stow the new hardtop, it provides a solid 562 horsepower at 9,000 rpm along with 398 pound-feet of torque at 6,000 rpm. Detailed modifications have been made to the exhaust to provide the open top with a slightly different exhaust note than the coupe.

The direct-injection unit is mated to Ferrari’s latest seven-speed double-clutch F1 gearbox and sophisticated e-diff electronically operated differential. Other features include the F1 Trac traction control system and high-performance brake system.

Despite carrying 110 pounds more than the 3,152-pound 458 Italia (modifications were made to the convertible’s chassis to offset the loss of rigidity brought on by the lack of a fixed roof), the new 458 Italia Spider is just 0.1 second slower over the standard 0-62-mph sprint, with an official time of 3.5 seconds. Ferrari puts the new open-top two-seater’s top speed at 198 mph — or 3 mph down on the fixed-roof coupe, which is claimed to run to 203 mph.

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Source: insideline.com

We don’t know what the driver of this sorry-looking Ferrari F430 Spyder was doing when he flipped the car over but it’s safe to assume that some speeding was involved. The crash took place in Lichtervelde, Belgium on a quiet Thursday morning and is thought to have been caused by a busted tire.

We’re thinking the driver was going too fast on what appears to be a very shoddy stretch of road, but the investigation is still ongoing. Thankfully, the driver was able to walk away though the anguish of wrecking such a fine automobile is sure to keep him suffering. 

Perhaps on his next car the owner of this Ferrari F430 will be ditching the ‘666-EVL’ number plate in favor of something new.

Incidentally, this whole thing kind of reminds us this Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster that ended upside down in South Africa.

What do you think made this driver flip his car?

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Source: motorauthority.com

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

In the middle of a grand restructuring, reports have been announced by Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne at a investor meeting in Turin, Italy last Wednesday. First up was perhaps the most exciting, dealing with product development plans for Fiat’s most prized asset: Ferrari.

According to reports, Maranello currently has a total of six new models or model variants in the pipeline for debut over the next couple of years. The first new variant up for release is the 458 Spider, the convertible version of the 458 Italia that replaces the outgoing F430 Spider. But if that’s not enough to whet your appetite, plans are also underway on project F151, the replacement for the lackluster 612 Scaglietti, a four-seat grand tourer that is destined to feature the first road-going implementation of the company’s KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) hybrid drivetrain.

In 2012 we’ll get to see the most anticipated Ferrari, the next supercar that will build on the Enzo’s fame . Produced between 2002 and 2004 in just 399 units, the Enzo was powered by a V12 engine. No further details have been released about the Enzo successor. The company announced that it will not build more than four standard production models, so that the range will look like today, with the 458, the 599, the 612 and the California. The “new special series Enzo” is considered a distinct model and it is not part of the standard range. In the same year we’re expecting to see a completely new model to replace the 599 GTB Fiorano, code-named F152.

Finally in 2013, Ferrari is anticipated to overhaul the California with a comprehensive update tentatively called the California M, suggesting the difference between the current version and the new one will be similar in scope to the change from the 456 GT to the 456 M and from the 550 Maranello to the 575 MM. Also set for introduction in 2013 will be a hardcore , track-focused version of the 458 to follow in the footsteps of the 360 Challenge Stradale and the outgoing 430 Scuderia which most likely to be named the 458 Scuderia.

Look for both Ferrari and Maserati to make each of their models rather distinct, practically creating sub-brands within the two companies. Sister automaker Maserati is also expected to release two new models, slotted below the GranTurismo, before 2015.

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Source: autoblog.com, autoevolution.com, worldcarfans.com and wot.motortrend.com

Wimmer RS Ferrari F430 Spider

Be on the lookout at the Essen Motor Show for the Ferrari F430 Spider that the tuners at Wimmer RS have been working on. Wimmer’s refinement program is said to take the famous red sports car to a whole new level due to its striking sport characteristics and dynamics. Wimmer gave the car a specially developed power kit, which can be heard and felt.

The package consists of new Wimmer engine control software and sport valve exhaust system with remote control. Fitted with the new power pack, the Wimmer’s 4.3 liter V8 petrol engine generates 38 hp (28kW) more than the stock output of 483 hp (360kW). This makes the car achieve a top speed increase to 199 mph (321 km/h). The F430 is able to accelerate from 0-62 mph (o-100 km/h) in just 3.84 seconds. The refined Ferrari also has the KW HLS system (Hydraulic Lift System) that lifts up the front axle with 45 mm if needed. To reinforce the F430′s ultimate sport appeal, the car was given 19″ BBS FI alloy rims wrapped in speed tires from Dunlop in dimensions 225/35 R 19 on the front axle and 305/30 R 19 on the rear one.

Press Release:

Wimmer presents its Program for making modern Ferrari F430 appearance unique. The individualized sports car from Italy unites sport characteristics and dynamics, thus one more time expressing the basic principle of all Wimmer products: safety is guaranteed!

Wimmer Ferrari Performance Kit is topical at the Essen Motor Show. For Ferrari F430 Wimmer RS has developed a Power Packet that can be heared and felt. The kit includes new Wimmer engine control software and sport valve exhaust system. With the use of remote control a driver can choose between nearly serial sport sound and racing sound. In addition the handbuilt high grade steel exhaust system that optimizes dynamic pressure contains two welded high grade steel exhaust manifolds as well as two sport catalytic converters and an exhaust valves control unit. Upon the whole the new performance kit provides for the sensible increase of 38 hp in engine power what corresponds to the speed increase of about 11km/h, with maximum speed reaching 321 km/h. For acceleration up to 100 km/h F430  needs now just 3.84 seconds. 200 kph speed is reached within 11.03 seconds and 300 kph – within 34.9 seconds.

Now the program includes also new KW HLS system (Hydraulic Lift System): when you push the button, the vehicle equipped with KW HLS is adjusted by up to 45 mm on the front axle. Thus the obstacles that cannot be overcome with low ground clearance, can be driven over without any problems. The hydraulic unit is mounted on the coilovers between spring cups and springs. The advantage of the hydraulic system consists in the fact that no compression (movement) of moving-out cylinder unit (thus no undesired additional elastic deflection) occurs while driving.

19″ BBS FI alloy rims (7.6 kg each front axle rim and 8.8 kg each rear axle rim) on? more time emphasize its sport characteristics. High class super light BBS alloy rims in black are comleted by 8.75×19 with 225/35 R 19 tyres on the front axle and 11.25×19 with 305/30 R19 tyres on the rear axle. High speed tyres are presented by the technology partner Dunlop.

- By: Kap Shah

Source: Wimmer (via WCF)

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Source: 4wheelsnews.com and egmcartech.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).

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Source: motorauthority.com and egmcartech.com

Inden Design Ferrari F430 Spider

The Haiger, Germany Tuner Inden Design has specialized itself on improving upscale sports cars. Based on the Ferrari F430, Inden remakes a special edition of this car, which is assured with exceptional design and engine power.

Perhaps better known for their work with German cars-especially Mercedes-Benz-the tuners at Inden took a tried-and-true approach to tuning the Ferrari F430.

Performance-wise, changes are limited to a new stainless steel-made sport exhaust system with a special damper control that automatically opens until full throttle, but can also be controlled remotely to modulate the engine’s sound and a reworked ECU that ups the output of the 4.3-liter V8 engine to 525 hp, a 35 horsepower increase over the factory figure of the 490 hp rating. The kit also includes a sport spring set that bring the F430 Spider a few millimeters closer to the ground as well as new 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 325/25 R20 high-performance tires.

In typical Inden fashion, the tuner dresses up the F430 Spider with a new bodykit that comprises of a new front spoiler, side-flaps and a carbon-fiber rear diffuser.

For the interior, the German tuning firm offers various upgrades including special leather trims for the dashboard, the center console, the door panels and the steering wheel cover.

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Source: motorauthority.com, zercustoms.com and carscoop.blogspot.com

Top-selling musician Rod Stewart was the first owner of the stunning Ferrari F430 Spider shown below.

After leaving school Rod Stewart could only have dreamed of owning a Ferrari-one of his first jobs was working as a grave digger.

In the early 1960s he spent time traveling around Europe performing as a street musician and was even banished from Spain for vagrancy.

After returning to the UK he became well known in music circles, and began creating hits which have spanned more than 30 years.

Classics include Maggie May, Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? and The First Cut is the Deepest.

During his music career Rod Stewart has sold more than 250 million records and he’s had six UK number one hits.

Rod Stewart’s red Ferrari F430 Spider is for sale in the UK. Stewart is a longtime Ferrari enthusiast who changes models every few years; before the F430 he had a yellow 575 Maranello grand tourer V12, and he was also one of the first to buy an Enzo. The F430 is equipped with a 4.3-liter V8 producing 483hp for a 0-60 mph time of 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 196mph.

The bodywork of Stewart’s F430 is finished in classic red with a cream leather interior, red contrasting stitching and carpets, and a carbon fiber dashboard. The car, which has only 6,800 miles on the odometer, cost $245,000 when Stewart purchased it new in 2005, and is now being offered for $150,000. The UK Auto Trader has the listing.

Source: autotrader.co.uk and news.alibaba.com