2014 Ferrari 458 Speciale

The Ferrari 458 Speciale joins the Ferrari range alongside the 458 Italia and 458 Spider and, like all special-series Ferraris, is aimed at a specific kind of owner, in this case those looking for an even more focused sports car that offers extreme driving emotions.

2014 Ferrari 458 Speciale

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.

Technical Specifications

• Engine type : V8 - 90°
• Total displacement: 4495 cm3
• Max. power output: 605 cv @ 9000 rpm
• Max. torque: 540 Nm @ 6000 rpm
• Weight: 1290 kg
• Weight/power ratio: 2.13 kg/cv
• Fiorano lap time: 1'23"5
• CO2 emissions: 275 gr/km (with HELE System)

Interior

The cockpit features a distinctly racing-inspired atmosphere, with simplicity the order of the day. Lightweight exclusive technical materials, such as Alcantara and carbon-fibre, are used extensively but meld seamlessly with the superb craftsmanship and sophistication typical of all Ferrari interiors, courtesy of exclusive details, contrasting hand-stitching, aluminium triangular-pattern tread plates and sills with a pewter grey finish, and particularly fluidly sculpted door panels.

The glove compartment on the dash has been replaced with convenient odds and ends pockets on the tunnel and doors. This has significantly streamlined the volumes under the dash adding practical padding at knee level.

Onboard ergonomics are absolutely functional with all controls clustered around the driver and on the steering wheel. This concept has been further enhanced by the use of the iconic bridge, a carbon-fibre wing that extends over the central tunnel section, putting the F1 gearbox controls at an ideal angle to the driver. There is also a comfortable leg rest cushion on the driver's side of the tunnel.

Design

Aerodynamic requirements guided the work of the Ferrari Styling Centre which collaborated on the project with Pininfarina to sculpt forms that are more performance-oriented than ever, balancing aerodynamic requirements while staying true to Ferrari's aesthetic philosophy.

Most of the bodywork panels have been redesigned without modifying either the passenger cell or the signature design features of the 458 Italia. The thickness of the glass used has been reduced to cut weight, while the rear windscreen is now a Lexan© panel.

Gear-shift strategy

The F1 dual-clutch transmission now features a new control logic that delivers an even keener sense of urgency during gear shifts. The car feels much sportier as it shifts up through the gears, with response time to commands more prompt than ever, thereby guaranteeing 40 per cent faster longitudinal acceleration with engine revs adapting 20 per cent more rapidly. Conversely with the Fast-Down Shift strategy, when down-shifting, the transient time required for engine revs to match the gear ratio is 44 per cent faster.

Soundtrack

Like the rest of the car, the Ferrari 458 Speciale's soundtrack is both seductive and uncompromising, thanks to unprecedented intensity inside the cabin as well as outside. The position of the tailpipes lends the V8 the full-bodied low frequency soundtrack typical of Ferrari's sportiest engines while the configuration of the silencers is designed to guarantee maximum intensity and exceptional clarity. The immense power and full-bodied nature of the sound inside the cabin were achieved by redesigning the inlet tract.

Suspension

Thanks to being very flat through corners, the 458 Speciale is extremely efficient and satisfying in faster, sharper, more challenging changes of direction. This is due partly to its Frequency-Shaped SCM-E (Frs SCM-E) dampers which have twin solenoids, new CPU and new software that modifies the magnetic field every millisecond. The result is a much faster response and more precise body control.

Tyres and wheels

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 involving lengthy track tests and simulator sessions.

Specially made for the Ferrari 458 Speciale, they feature a compound obtained using specific additives to boost performance over a single lap in the dry as well as improving performance consistency over multiple laps. They also deliver 6 per cent more grip, which also translates into better grip even in the wet.

Braking system

To cope with the demands of the car's increased performance, all of the components in the Brembo braking system have been evolved from the solutions introduced on the LaFerrari. The 458 Speciale sports Extreme Design calipers, new generation HT2 discs with a higher percentage of silicon, and smaller front pads made from HY hybrid material for improved heat dissipation which is also boosted by special channels in the bodywork and is crucial in extreme driving situations. The result is shorter stopping distances (100 - 0 km/h in 31 m) without any compromises in weight, and more consistent performance under severe use.

Side Slip Angle Control (SSC)

The Ferrari 458 Speciale sees the introduction of Side Slip Angle Control (SSC) for more effortless car control on the limit, thereby greatly enhancing driver enjoyment.

Thanks to sophisticated new software, which computes lateral acceleration, yaw angle, steering wheel angle and speed, SSC carries out instantaneous analysis of the car's side slip angle, comparing it with reference data, thereby allowing smooth, controllable oversteer, and optimising both torque management (via F1-Trac traction control) and differential torque distribution between the two driven wheels (via the E-Diff electronic differential) for maximum vehicle response times.

Dynamics

The Ferrari 458 Speciale's dynamic behaviour guarantees maximum driving emotions in all situations, allowing drivers to match and improve their own limits with ease and delivering an intense driving experience even at lower speeds.

Nimble and responsive, the car is at its best over really twisty routes with demanding switchbacks and camber changes. New technical features have not only improved the 458 Speciale's lap time over single laps, but also the repeatability of that performance on subsequent laps without needing to be a professional driver, offering unprecedented levels of driving pleasure.

Powertrain

The 458 Speciale's mid-rear-mounted 4497 cc GDI engine is the most powerful naturally aspirated Ferrari 8-cylinder ever developed, punching out 605 cv at 9000 rpm and maximum torque of 540 Nm at 6000 rpm, while its record 135 cv/l specific power output is also the highest ever achieved by a naturally-aspirated road-going engine.

F1 technology transfer to the Ferrari 458 Speciale was of fundamental importance to its development, including the production processes. The engine is produced in the factory's in-house foundry using the same machinery and processes as employed by the F1 team for complex components with the extreme structural and dimensional characteristics needed for a naturally-aspirated engine capable of hitting 9000 rpm.

Aerodynamics

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 in 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.

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Judul: 2014 Ferrari 458 Speciale
Rating: 100% based on 99998 ratings. 5 user reviews.
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