Ferrari 458 Speciale lands in South Africa
Johannesburg, 21 November 2013. Unveiled internationally at the Frankfurt Motor Show earlier in 2013, the Ferrari 458 Speciale has been unveiled in South Africa with order books now open for the latest and greatest model in the 458 range.
The 458 Speciale, which features special livery and a revised body design to the regular Ferrari 458 Italia, as well as a more powerful naturally-aspirated mid-mounted V8 engine, follows on the back of the Ferrari F12 berlinetta and joins an increasingly visible Ferrari product offering in South Africa.
Viglietti Motors CEO, Mervyn Eagles, says the addition of the exclusive 458 Speciale will heighten Ferrari awareness in South Africa. “With the entire Ferrari product portfolio now available in South Africa, we are reiterating our commitment to the Ferrari brand on the African continent. The 458 Speciale exhibits exactly what its name suggests – a special dose of exclusivity and flair, power and performance, acting as the new halo model of the Ferrari 458 range.”
The 458 Speciale boasts an array of technological innovations that make it a thoroughly unique model designed for owners looking for an even more focused sports car that offers extreme driving emotions. The innovations span the entire car and include both Ferrari patents and world firsts, particularly with regard to the engine, active aerodynamics and electronic controls that set this car apart.
The technical differences between the 458 Speciale and the 458 Italia are unprecedented compared to the previous Challenge Stradale and 430 Scuderia special series.
Whether on the road or on the track, drivers will feel immediately at one with the 458 Speciale thanks to the speed with which it responds to every input and the consequently natural control that it offers, even in extreme manoeuvres. This finely-tuned handling balance enables the car to reach the highest performance levels of any Ferrari V8.
The engine is the most powerful naturally-aspirated Ferrari V8 ever, punching out 445 kW at 9 000 rpm and 540 Nm of torque at 6 000 rpm. The engine is produced in the factory’s in-house foundry using the same machinery and processes as employed by the F1 team. The F1 dual-clutch transmission’s new control logics deliver an even keener sense of urgency during acceleration, while the fast down-shift makes response to commands even more prompt when the car is shifting down through the gears.
One of the car’s main characteristics is new Ferrari-patented mobile aerodynamic solutions at the front and the rear of the car which ensure that different aerodynamic configurations can be adopted while cornering, where maximum downforce is essential, and on straights where, instead, drag must be reduced to a minimum. The 458 Speciale has an excellent downforce (Cl) value of 0.53. Thanks to the aforementioned active aerodynamics, the latter does not penalise the Cd which is just 0.35.
The 458 Speciale also confirms Ferrari’s leadership in vehicle electronics. Its Side Slip Angle Control (SSC) is a world first. Thanks to a sophisticated new algorithm, which computes lateral acceleration, yaw angle, steering wheel angle and speed, SSC instantaneously calculates the car’s side slip angle, comparing it with reference data, and then allowing smooth, controllable power oversteer, by optimising both torque management via F1-Trac traction control and the E-Diff electronic differential.
All of the components in the Brembo braking system have been evolved employing solutions introduced on the LaFerrari. Part and parcel of the Speciale’s development included Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 tyres which were specifically honed for it in an intensive collaboration programme to boost performance over a single lap in the dry, performance consistency over multiple laps, and grip in the wet.
Weighing in at an extremely light 1 290 kg, the 458 Speciale has an extraordinary weight-power ratio of 2.9 kg/kW, which translates into record-breaking performance: 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in a scorching 3.0 seconds and a Fiorano lap time of just 1:23.5.
In collaboration with Pininfarina, the Ferrari Styling Centre has sculpted forms that are more performance-oriented than ever. The modifications to the bodywork were mostly made to underscore the car’s sporty character, and a huge effort was lavished on fulfilling aerodynamic demands without impinging on Ferrari’s signature styling features and aesthetic standards.
The cockpit features a distinctly racing-inspired atmosphere, with simplicity the order of the day. Lightweight exclusive materials, such as Alcantara and carbon fibre, dominate, yet it still exudes the sense of craftsmanship and sophistication typical of all Ferrari interiors. The cockpit’s ergonomic layout, with all controls either on the steering wheel or clustered around the driver, is boosted too by the bridge which places the gearbox commands at an ideal angle to the driver.
