Ferrari 458 Italia 2013, Itália
Fotografia
The heir to Ferrari’s rear mid-mounted V-8 engine crown debuted at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. The 458 Italia’s performance was as serious as its Frankfurt Messe underpinnings, and yet its dramatic design was nothing short of Italian.
Under a glass panel behind the passenger compartment sat an upgraded version of the F136 V-8 that had debuted in the car’s F430 predecessor. With direct injection now fitted for the first time in a mid-engine car with the prancing horse affixed to its nose, the engine was rated at a compelling 562 horsepower in its initial guise. A rapid-shifting seven-speed Getrag dual-clutch transmission hurtled power to the rear wheels. Remarkably, the 458 was the first mid-engine Ferrari not designed for a manual transmission, a clear step into a new direction for Ferrari. The gearbox was shared with the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, though the two automakers worked with Getrag for bespoke tuning.
Magnetic dampers cushioned the ride when needed and firmed up for high-performance, track-day sprints. The brakes brought things to a halt quickly, thanks to an innovative system that moved the pistons into the calipers as soon as the driver lifted off the gas pedal to pre-charge the system. From 60 mph, the 458 would come to a halt in just 80 feet.
The 458 Italia’s design was, of course, handled by Pininfarina, with oversight provided by Donato Coco. Special winglets incorporated into the front grille split the air more efficiently while providing a remarkably elegant touch.
This stunning example of a Ferrari 458 Italia is finished in the beautiful Rosso Corsa, with a Couio Naturale leather interior. Options include 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, yellow brake calipers, leather lower and central tunnels, suspension lifter, Ferrari prancing horse logo stitched on the headrests, carbon-fiber steering wheel with shift-point LEDs, Scuderia Ferrari shields, full-optional mirrors with Homelink, stereo with navigation, Bluetooth, satellite radio, with iPod connectivity, parking cameras, front and rear parking sensors, yellow tachometer, full-electric seats, leather headliner, black colored stitching, and a tire pressure monitoring system.
This 458 Italia was manufactured in February 2013 and delivered new to Ferrari of Newport Beach, California on 9 April 2013. The odometer shows just over 2,800 miles at the time of cataloguing.
