Speed and elegance

Italian sports-car manufacturer Ferrari will launch its latest production model, the 458 Spider, at this month's Frankfurt Auto Show.

The new 458 Spider joins the 458 Italia, widening the range of Ferrari's mid-rear engined V8s and offering the same uncompromising technological solutions, handling and performance in a refined open-top configuration, the company said.

The car is also equipped with Ferrari's patented, fully retractable hard top, a world first for a sports car with this lay-out.

The 458 Spider is powered by Ferrari's naturally-aspirated, direct-injection 4.5 litre V8, which was nominated as the 2011 International Engine of the Year for its engineering excellence in terms of driveability, performance, economy and refinement. The power is transferred to the road via Ferrari's dual-clutch F1 paddle-shift transmission, through the sophisticated E-Diff, itself integrated with the F1-Trac traction control and high-performance ABS for maximum handling dynamics.

Certain features, such as its accelerator-pedal mapping and the damping of the multilink suspension, have been calibrated to guarantee maximum sportiness and absolute driving pleasure with the top down, in line with Maranello's exclusive spider tradition. Even the engine sound has been honed to ensure that the car's occupants are completely captivated by the top-down driving experience.

Made entirely of aluminium, the 458 Spider's hard-top solution offers a number of advantages over the traditional folding soft-top, including a reduction of 25kg in weight and a deployment time of just 14 seconds. Fully integrated into the styling of the car, the hard-top was engineered to fit neatly ahead of the engine bay without compromising aerodynamics or the performance of the car. The small space needed to house the roof enables the designers to include a generous rear bench for luggage behind the seats.

The rear of the car is characterised by innovative forms, with buttresses designed to optimise the flow of air to the engine intakes and the clutch and gearbox oil radiators. For maximum comfort whilst driving with the top down, the 458 Spider features a generously-sized adjustable electric wind stop. The design was perfected to slow and diffuse the air in the cockpit, enabling normal conversation even at speeds of more than 200kph.

New technical solutions adopted for the chassis guarantee identical levels of structural rigidity with the roof up or down. The result is a car that is truly exciting to drive; blending extreme performance with the responsiveness that has always characterised Ferrari's open-top berlinettas.

Specifications:

Ferrari 458 Spider

Engine: 90-degrees V8

Displacement: 4499cc

Max power: 570 horsepower at 9000 rpm

Max torque: 540Nm at 6000 rpm

Compression ratio: 12.5:1

Gearbox: dual-clutch, 7-speed F1

Dimensions (mm) -

Length: 4527

Width: 1937

Height: 1211

Wheelbase: 2650

Dry weight: 1430kg

Weight to power ratio: 2.51kg per 1 horsepower

Weight distribution (front/rear): 42%/58%

Performance -

Maximum speed" More than 320kph

0-100kph: Less than 3.4secs

Fuel consumption: 8.47km/litre*

Emissions (CO2): 275g/km*

Electronics: E-Diff3, F1-Trac, high-performance ABS

Tyres -

Front: 235/35 ZR20 8.5-inch

Rear: 295/35 ZR20 10.5-inch

* Combined cycle with HELE system (ECE+EUDC)