It’s taken a coupe of years, but Ferrari have now revealed the convertible version of the 458 Italia. The 458 Spider is equipped with a retractable hardtop instead of a folding soft top. According to Ferrari it’s a world first for a mid-engine RWD sports car.
Like its tin-top brother, the 458 Spider is powered by Ferrari’s award-winning naturally aspirated, direct-injection 4.5 litre V8, which produces 570 horsepower at a stratospheric 9,000 rpm. The power is sent to the rear wheels through a dual-clutch F1 paddle-shift transmission and Ferrari’s sophisticated E-Diff differential.
Ferrari 458 Spider Specifications:
Engine: 4.5 litre 90-degree V8
Transmission: Dual-clutch, 7-speed sequential RWD
Horsepower: 570 hp @ 9,000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 540 Nm (398 lb-ft) @ 6,000 rpm
Top Speed: 198 mph
0-60 mph: 3.4 seconds
Dry weight: 1,430 kgs / 3,153 lbs
Certain aspects of the Ferrari 458 Spider’s engineering have been modified – other than those related to the retractable roof. For example, Ferrari’s engineers have played with the accelerator pedal mapping and also the suspension damping in order to better suit open air driving. In addition the exhaust note has been tweaked to produce an even more divine noise for the occupants – whether the top is up or down.
The retractable roof of the Ferrari 458 Spider is formed from aluminium. It offers a number of benefits over a the typical folding soft top, including reduced weight and a quicker deployment time, 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 stowed roof meant the designers could still integrate a rear bench for accommodating luggage behind the seats.
The rear of the Ferrari 458 Spider is marked out by innovative forms, with the buttresses designed to optimise the flow of air towards the engine intakes and the clutch and gearbox oil radiators. To improve the occupants comfort while driving with the roof down, the 458 Spider features an electrically adjustable wind stop. This slows and diffuses the air in the cockpit, enabling normal conversation to be held even at speeds over 125 mph (200 km/h)!
Source: Ferrari
