Ferrari 458 Italia

[Duffman]

So who's buying one? :lol:

Start the Ferrari 458 Italia up, blip the throttle and the intoxicating sound of a thoroughbred V8 fills the cabin.

The Italia’s 425kW V8 sounds surprisingly tame and refined when you’re driving sedately around town. But as with most sports cars these days, the Ferrari has an exhaust bypass flap that opens up as the revs rise. The harder you push the 458, the better it sounds, all the way to an ear-splitting 9000rpm.

But the noise is only a small part of the fun. The acceleration is mind-boggling. Ferrari says the 458 reaches 100km/h in 3.4secs and 200km/h in 10.4secs. After a day driving the car on the track and the open road, we found no reason to doubt those figures.

Some of the credit for the blistering acceleration goes to the Ferrari’s seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. The maker decided not to develop a manual transmission for the 458 because it says the dual-clutch delivers noticeably better performance while using less fuel.

The shifts in the Ferrari 458 Italia are razor-sharp and intuitive, with the car downshifting automatically each time you hit the awesome ceramic brakes. Each downshift is accompanied by a wonderful-sounding blip of the throttle, whether you change gears by the paddleshifts or let the 458 do it for you. The car also gargles and spits when you come off the throttle.

http://images.smh.com.au/2009/11/30/933113/458_ITALIA_02-600x400.jpg

http://images.smh.com.au/2009/11/30/933122/458_ITALIA_09-600x400.jpg

http://images.smh.com.au/2009/11/30/933119/458_ITALIA_03-600x400.jpg

http://images.smh.com.au/2009/11/30/933120/458_ITALIA_01-600x400.jpg

Styling looks a little odd to me. Probably costs as much as a small house too! 9000rpm V8 sounds the goods though :eyes:

Thoughts?

[Muncha]

It looks a bit funny, around the headlight and bonnet area. Not sure about the rear either, but I'm sure i could live with it.

Needs more turbo though. :)

[seldo]

Mmmm...pure sex on wheels...:pray:

[35R]

ooo yes please.

[SSUte01]

ooo yes please.

Ditto. I really like the styling. Apart from it being pure porn (I am normally not a real Fazza lover) how incredible is it to get 570-odd hp out of 4.5L NA, that's around 125hp/L which for a production engine (that's a loose term I think) is absolutely incredible engineering feat in my opinion. That's even better than the new GT3 RS at about 120hp/L.

[bok1]

great looking car.incredible performance.

phil

[NickS]

:drool: ... wow, looks amazing ... love it.

n/a too, I'm over all this forced induction crap !!!

:hide:

[hsvredsled]

Love it...

But dang most ferraris are small inside. Not sure how Tom Selleck (Magnum) spent a lot of time in one!!

[35R]

yeah but you just get your black friend (with a helicopter) to do the shopping don't you? (in between solving murders)

are they bringing this thing here btw?

[Duffman]

are they bringing this thing here btw?

It's just the replacement for what used to be the 'entry level' F430, so yes it will be here. I guess the new California would be the entry model now.

Performance wise, your R35 would probably still flog it round a track for well under half the price.

In any event, I have placed an order for one this morning. Just waiting on finance approval :potty:

[Dan_]

If i can book 60 people in for $10,000 details i should be able to get me one. Part of the detail would be having a ride in my new car. Who is in??

[NickS]

If i can book 60 people in for $10,000 details i should be able to get me one. Part of the detail would be having a ride in my new car. Who is in??

More like 75 by the time you've paid your tax ... :cry:

If you can line up 74 I'll take the last spot for you.

:D

[hsvredsled]

More like 75 by the time you've paid your tax ... :cry:
:D


Nahhh...he just needs to find a good accountant. :stick:

[NickS]

Nahhh...he just needs to find a good accountant. :stick:

Or do fifty $10,000 "cashies"

:lol: