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2010 Ferrari 458 Italia Review

[ Wednesday, December 1st, 2010 | by automotiveroom | under CAR, Ferrari, New Cars ]

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The 2010 458 Italia looks to have a longer wheelbase than the F430, and should also measure a bit longer overall. Width and height are little changed from what we can tell, but mass is expected to drop considerably, thanks to more-extensive use of lightweight materials, including composites and carbon fiber. We estimate the weight loss at nearly 200 pounds.

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The 458 will use a new, 4.5-liter direct-injected V-8 producing 570 hp at 9000 rpm and 398 lb-ft of torque at 6000 rpm, and over 80 percent of the latter is available from 3250 rpm. That’s a hefty increase of 87 hp and 55 lb-ft of torque over the already-potent F430. The wheels are 20 inches in diameter—one more than the F430’s—and the rubber grows, too, measuring 235/35 up front and 295/35 in back. This should add grip that will no doubt aid the Italia in reaching Ferrari’s estimated 0-to-62-mph time of “under 3.4 seconds.” Top speed is a claimed 202 mph. The exhaust will exit through three tips at the back, and prototype photos show what appear to be active flaps integrated into the two outboard tailpipes. A high-performance ABS braking system is said to halt the 458 from 62 mph in just 107 ft with help from a function that lays the brake pads against the standard carbon-ceramic discs once the driver lifts off the throttle. Power will be delivered through a paddle-shifted, seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission that has been geared to take advantage of the new engine’s superior low-end grunt.

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That system controls the suspension, stability control and drivetrain via the one ECU, which Ferrari says allows the systems to work together for quicker response times.

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The aluminium-spaceframe vehicle, which was developed with input from Michael Schumacher, sits on a double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension, with some similarity to the underpinnings of the California – but some of the suspension has been altered for 458 Italia duty, including the bushing.

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The cabin is all about the driver, with every control and display angled that way. Passengers are clearly meant to sit in awe, thankful to get a ride. A saffron-colored tachometer nods to tradition and a 9,000 r.p.m. red line, but it is flanked by a Ferrari first: twin digital displays that flash everything from performance parameters to navigation maps and iPod playlists.