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Ferrarists! Start panting! This is the latest eyegasmic Spider from Maranello ahead of its launch at the Frankfurt motor show. Isn't it a peach?
This rather pleasant thing shuffles alongside the 458 Italia (watch Jeremy drive one here) in Ferrari's lineup, and despite the fully retractable hard top, keeps its mid-rear engined layout. In fact, it's the first in the world to feature both.
See more pics of the 458 Spider
Like the California, the roof's made out of aluminium alloy, which saves 25kg over a folding rag-top. But it's still 50kg heavier than the fixed head. That said, it gets from 0-62mph in the same time - a dizzying 3.4 seconds.
When flaccid, the top stows itself neatly in front of the engine bay, which allows for what Ferrari describes as "a generous rear bench" for luggage. There's also a wind stop that enables what the Italians describe as "normal conversation" to be held at speeds over 125mph.
Like the fixed head, it's powered by a naturally aspirated, direct-injection 4.5-litre V8, which runs through a flappy paddle dual-clutch ‘box and the snazzy E-Diff system.
Its pricetag remains a mystery for now, but if the 430 price structure's anything to go by, it'll be around £9,000 more than the tin-top, which'll make it £182,000.
This is all very well. But this rather delicious-looking 198mph 'vert begs the question - what happens to the California?
Open Car Bar
What do you think?
Want to comment on this?
daNinooo commented on this article
at 11:15 am on 23 August 2011
this is a piece of art. no really, i'm so stunned by that - it even looks better than the normal 458, which was by far the most beautiful CAR (not only supercar) of the last, let's say 15 years?
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Gavron commented on this article
at 11:24 am on 23 August 2011
This car is god-damn beautiful!
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clairehuxtable commented on this article
at 11:24 am on 23 August 2011
Its pretty, but the Alfa 8C is much prettier. You must also remember that for a car to be art, it must not function well as a car . . . hence the 8C trumps this in the art category as well.
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mc93 commented on this article
at 11:32 am on 23 August 2011
I love Ferrari completely but I think I must be the only person who dislikes the modifications they made to the back to allow for the roof, for me it ruins the whole visual appeal of the car.
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InnerGearHead commented on this article
at 11:40 am on 23 August 2011
I adore the 458, one of the most beautiful Ferraris since the 288 GTO back in 1984. The 458 Spider... not so much. A drop-top was not required for this model.
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