Ferrari drops new photos of 458 Challenge test session at Vallelunga

Sat

31

Jul

Ferrari drops new photos of 458 Challenge test session at Vallelunga

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Ferrari, Racing

Ferrari 458 Challenge – Click above for high-res image gallery

A few weeks ago, Ferrari officially debuted its latest Challenge race car, based on the 458 Italia. Now they’ve released new photos of the car during its test session at the Vallelunga race circuit. Factory test drivers Maurizio Mediani and Jaime Melo were on hand to provide feedback on the 458 Challenge, and predictably, both seem impressed with the car’s capabilities. Mediani described his drive as “very quick and extremely good fun,” while his counterpart commented, “I am sure that Prancing Horse competition owners will be very pleased with the car.”

Using the standard roadgoing 458 Italia as a base, Ferrari creates the Challenge version by increasing output of the 4.5-liter V8 to 570 horsepower, cutting weight via thinner and lighter body panels, adding a race-specific suspension setup, fitting 19-inch BBS wheels with Pirelli racing slicks, installing a set of carbon ceramic Brembo brakes and more.

So equipped, Ferrari claims the 458 Challenge can lap Fiorano over two seconds per lap quicker than its predecessor, the F430 Challenge, while pulling a cornea-yanking 1.6g’s worth of lateral acceleration. You can check out the new photos below, and we’ll be sure to bring you any more if Ferrari sends them our way.

Gallery: Ferrari 458 Challenge racer

[Source: Ferrari]

Ferrari drops new photos of 458 Challenge test session at Vallelunga originally appeared on Ferrari News on Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted in 458, 458 challenge, 458 italia, 458Challenge, 458Italia, Ferrari, ferrari 458, ferrari 458 challenge, Ferrari458, Ferrari458Challenge, maranello, vallelunga | No Comments »

Wed

7

Jul

Motor Trend forecasts Ferrari 458 Scuderia, new Enzo

Filed under: Performance, Ferrari

Ferrari 458 Italia – Click above for high-res image gallery

There’s been a lot of talk recently about new Ferraris slated to roll out of Maranello. Which makes sense, considering that its parents at Fiat are in the midst of a big product shake-up. But while previous reports foreshadowed replacements for the 599, 612 and Enzo – and even went as far as outlining the product life-cycle to be implemented across Ferrari’s entire line – executives in Maranello have until now avoided any mention of a Scuderia version of the new 458.

And we could hardly blame them. After all, there aren’t many better ways to kill off excitement for a brand-new supercar than talking about the better version in the pipeline. Motor Trend, however, claims to have it on good authority that a lighter-weight, more powerful version of the 458 Italia will arrive in 2013, taking up the position held by the outgoing 430 Scuderia and the 360 Challenge Stradale before it.

Unfortunately, not much else is known, other than to say that, while some body panels will be replaced by carbon fiber, Ferrari’s intent on sticking with aluminum for its production models, rather than integrating the magic black weave into its mainstream offerings as some of its competitors are doing.

The Enzo’s replacement, however, is not considered a mainstream production model. MT figures the twin-turbo, direct-injection V8 that will power the new flagship will produce upwards of 700 horsepower, driving through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and aided by all the latest electronic wizardry which Ferrari has cooked up in its F1 and XX development programs.

Gallery: Ferrari 458 Italia

[Source: Motor Trend]

Motor Trend forecasts Ferrari 458 Scuderia, new Enzo originally appeared on Ferrari News on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted in 458, 458 italia, 458 scuderia, 458Italia, 458Scuderia, enzo, Ferrari, ferrari 458, Ferrari 458 Italia, ferrari 458 scuderia, Ferrari Enzo, Ferrari458, Ferrari458Italia, Ferrari458Scuderia, FerrariEnzo | No Comments »

Thu

1

Jul

Riding with the King: Clapton wants a Ferrari 458 Italia… with a V12

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Ferrari, Celebrities

Hey brother, can you spare a chin? Clapton in the Ferrari paddock with Michael Schumacher

When you’ve recorded as many platinum records, collaborated with as many big names and topped as many best-guitarists-of-all-time lists as Eric Clapton, you can get pretty much anything you want. And the ironically nicknamed Slowhand is known to have a taste for Ferraris. So much so that when he stopped by the factory in Maranello, even Ferrari couldn’t pass up the opportunity to interview him.

Neither could Quattroruote, for that matter. While speaking with the Italian car-mag, Clapton reportedly professed his love for the new 458 Italia… with just one caveat: He’s not such a fan of eight cylinders. Could he get it with V12?

According to Quattroruote, apparently he can, as Ferrari has reportedly agreed to build it for him, with the 6.0-liter V12 from the 599 GTB Fiorano. We’ll believe it when we see it, which is pretty much exactly what we said the first time we heard the guitar riff on Layla.

Gallery: Ferrari 458 Italia

[Source: Quattroruote via Ferrari News.it]

Riding with the King: Clapton wants a Ferrari 458 Italia… with a V12 originally appeared on Ferrari News on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted in 458, 458 italia, 458 v12, 458Italia, 458V12, clapton, eric clapton, EricClapton, Ferrari, ferrari 458, Ferrari 458 Italia, ferrari 458 v12, Ferrari458, Ferrari458Italia, Ferrari458V12 | No Comments »

Fri

25

Jun

Video: Ferrari 458 Italia Challenge testing at Monza?

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Ferrari, Racing

Ferrari 458 Italia Challenge at Monza – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Even though Ferrari hasn’t given the official word, it’s clear that the automaker is working on a hardcore 458 Italia Challenge prepped for race duty. We first spied the car in May, and now we have video of the beastly Ferrari ripping off some test laps at Monza with a couple of 430 GT2s in tow. Nothing like the sound of race-spec Ferraris to enhance your day.

Visually, not much has changed since we first saw the 458 Challenge, and while we expected to have already heard the full details about Ferrari’s newest stunner, it appears that the full kit of information won’t be released until later this year (in Paris, perhaps?). Consider us on the edge of our seat.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Ferrari 458 Challenge?

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Ferrari 458 Italia Challenge testing at Monza?

Video: Ferrari 458 Italia Challenge testing at Monza? originally appeared on Ferrari News on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted in 458 italia, 458 Italia Challenge, 458 italia video, 458Italia, 458ItaliaChallenge, 458ItaliaVideo, Ferrari, ferrari 458, Ferrari 458 Italia, Ferrari458, Ferrari458Italia, spy video, SpyVideo, video, videos | No Comments »

Mon

7

Jun

Rumormill: Ferrari 458 Spider to go hard-top?

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Ferrari, Rumormill

These interwebs are full or rumor and conjecture. The juiciest tidbits we publish here for your consideration and amusement. The latest? That the upcoming roadster version of the Ferrari 458 Italia will receive a retractable hard top.

Now if you’re thinking – given the “unavoidable” extra weight – that a hard top on a performance exotic makes about as much sense as a screen door on a proverbial submarine, we dare to challenge that assumption. Maybe that was once the case, and arguably still is for most automakers, but Ferrari‘s carved out a niche for itself as an expert in lightweight construction and advanced design.

Say what you will about the Ferrari California, but during its development Maranello claims to have found the use of a hard-top convertible mechanism was actually lighter in weight than an equivalent fabric roof would have been. (Not to mention that, in true Prancing Horse style, it’s the fastest in the business.) And remember the Superamerica it made out of the 575M with that innovative flip-top invented by former Pininfarina designer (and deputy Ferrari GM) Leonardo Fioravanti?

Couple those past experiences with reports that the convertible version of arch-rival McLaren’s MP4-12C could also go drop-tin-top, and suddenly a 458 Spider with a hard top doesn’t seem quite so far-fetched.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Ferrari 458 Italia

[Source: Teamspeed.com via Motor Authority]

Rumormill: Ferrari 458 Spider to go hard-top? originally appeared on Ferrari News on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 08:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted in 458, 458 italia, 458 italia spider, 458 spider, 458Italia, 458ItaliaSpider, 458Spider, Ferrari, ferrari 458, Ferrari 458 Italia, ferrari 458 spider, Ferrari458, Ferrari458Italia, Ferrari458Spider | No Comments »

Mon

18

Jan

Ferrari prices the 458 Italia at £169,545

11122e06caefrank Ferrari prices the 458 Italia at £169,545
Ferrari 458 Italia at the Frankfurt Auto Show – Click above for high-res image gallery
When you’re driving a Ferrari, you’d better keep your eyes open. When you’re buying one, you might want to avert your eyes lest they start watering. Because you know it’s going to be a big bill. Just how big is a matter of details, and new reports from the glossies in the UK give us exactly that.

Posted in 458, 458 italia, 458Italia, Ferrari, ferrari 458, Ferrari 458 Italia, ferrari pricing, ferrari uk, Ferrari458, Ferrari458Italia, FerrariPricing, FerrariUk | No Comments »

Fri

9

Oct

Ferrari 458 Scuderia

7625631054uderia Ferrari 458 Scuderia

The new Ferrari 458 Italia isn’t even out on the street yet, but already the automotive rumormill is churning out speculation over a potential Scuderia version. When outlining the roll-out of upcoming Ferrari models for the near future, Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa dismissed any such speculation as premature, but that’s not going to stop some. Hence the rendering you see above, courtesy of user DJ at Teamspeed.com.

Since this can of worms has already been opened, the first thing we can say is that, while Maranello will in all likelihood produce a lightweight, slightly more powerful version of the new 458, it’s probably several years away. The Italia is already expected to eclipse any previous benchmarks set by previous “volume” Ferrari road cars. And when it does, it almost certainly will not be called Scuderia – based on the 360 Challenge Stradale and the 430 Scuderia, it appears Maranello’s keen on changing up the naming scheme with each new model. One board member suggested 458 Tifoso in tribute to Prancing Horse’s dedicated legions of fans, but whatever name Ferrari decides on, and whenever it makes its way into the limelight, expect the supercar to drop a little weight, gain a little power and wipe the smirk off of any competitor’s mug.

Posted in 458, 458 italia, 458 tifosi, 458 tifoso, 458Italia, 458Tifosi, 458Tifoso, Ferrari, ferrari 458, Ferrari 458 Italia, ferrari 458 scuderia, ferrari 458 tifosi, ferrari 458 tifoso, Ferrari458, Ferrari458Italia, Ferrari458Scuderia, Ferrari458Tifosi, Ferrari458Tifoso | No Comments »

Wed

7

Oct

Ferrari 458 Italia at $240,000

9d9bfa353fch web Ferrari 458 Italia at $240,000
Dreaming of getting your hands on Ferrari’s upcoming 458 Italia? You’d better know what you’re getting yourself into, and this is our first real indication. Stemming from a supposedly leaked price sheet, the new V8 supercar will start in Europe at €162,900, before any taxes are taken into account. At today’s exchange rates, that figures to about $240,000 – around halfway between the price of the outgoing F430 and the 430 Scuderia.

Of course, that’s not an official figure – Ferrari North America has yet to confirm pricing for the U.S. market – and the long list of options amply demonstrates that the $240k starting price is exactly that: a starting price. On to that you can add leather everything, special paint finishes, upgraded wheels and more – most if not all of which you can already check out in the online configurator we reported on recently.

Posted in 458, 458 italia, 458Italia, Ferrari, ferrari 458, Ferrari 458 Italia, ferrari prices, ferrari pricing, Ferrari458, Ferrari458Italia, Ferrari458ItaliaPricing, FerrariPrices, FerrariPricing | No Comments »

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