The 4.5-litre V8’s 133bhp per litre is the highest performance ratio ever measured in a naturally aspirated road car
Following in the tyretracks of the 360 Challenge Stradale and 430 Scuderia, the 458 Speciale is the Prancing Horse’s latest super-sports road-racer. Ferrari’s engineers have managed to coax more power from the award-winning V8 (now 597bhp, up from 562bhp), as well as chopping 90kg off the weight, but perhaps more influential to its 1.23.5 Fiorano lap time (1.5sec faster than a standard 458, 0.5 behind the F12) are the active aerodynamics. Moveable parts on the redesigned front and rear ends – used to balance downforce and reduce drag as required – are present for the first time in a series-production Ferrari. Furthermore, Maranello has promised that every car which leaves the factory from now on will include them as standard.
Faster, more responsive - and also easier to control
As if we needed further proof that the Speciale is vying for the title of the ultimate driver's car, a new Side Slip Control (SSC) system allows for plenty of on-the-limit shenanigans before instructing the traction control systems to intervene. If straight-line performance is more your thing, 0-62mph is dispatched in three seconds, with a sprint to 124mph lasting 9.1 seconds. The 4.5-litre V8’s 133bhp per litre is the highest performance ratio ever measured in a naturally aspirated road car.
The Ferrari 458 Speciale will make its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, where price details (and the availability of the NART-inspired livery seen here) are expected to be announced.
