Ferrari 458 Italia

Any new Ferrari is big news, and the 458 Italia is no exception, being the replacement for the F430. It may be the entry level Ferrari, but buyers do not get a watered down version of a supercar.

The Ferrari 458 Italia is an 8-cylinder two-seater berlinetta with a mid-rear mounted engine, and represents a genuine break with the past in terms of Maranello's previous high performance sports cars. The new 4,499cc V8 engine is a veritable powerhouse, punching out 570 CV, and, combined with the 7-speed F1 dual-clutch gearbox and a dry weight of just 1380 kg, the 458 Italia boasts a weight power ratio of 2.42 kg, and can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in under 3.4 seconds and hit a maximum speed of over 325 km/h.

The driver car interface has been revolutionised and the engineers, working closely with the Ferrari Styling Centre, have reinterpreted the ergonomics, grouping all the major commands on the steering wheel, and the secondary functions on two satellite pods that jut out from the dash on either side of the wheel. This solution, together with the immediate visibility of all the car's settings on dedicated screens ahead of the driver, ensures maximum control of the car at all times.

The external design is also standout. The nose features a single opening for the front grille and side air intakes, with aerodynamic sections and profiles designed to direct air to the coolant radiators and the new flat underbody. The nose also sports small aero elastic winglets which generate downforce and, as speed rises, deform to reduce the section of the radiator intake and cut drag.

The oil radiators for the F1 gearbox and the dual-clutch are situated in the tail and air is fed from two intakes on the top of the rear wings. This solution provides a base bleed effect, an aerodynamic function that was developed by Ferrari for the FXX and which reduces drag by feeding the hot air out of the radiators under the nolder and into the slip stream. Using experience gained in aerodynamic development on the Ferrari F430 GT2, the flat underbody now incorporates the air intakes for engine bay cooling. These are positioned ahead of the rear wheel arches where they use pressure differences to efficiently channel air flow to the engine bay, at the same time generating more rear downforce.

The engine, in mid-rear V8 Ferrari tradition, is visible below the engine cover. The generous torque available - 540Nm at 6000 rpm, with over 80 percent available from 3250 rpm - ensures rapid pick-up from all revs. The car will be available in mid- 2010 for more than $500,000.