Ferrari 458 Speciale

Production Cars, Special Cars 20 Aug 2013

Ferrari has revelaed the 458 Speciale, an exclusive edition of the mid-rear-engined 458 with boosted performance and active aerodynamics. It will make its debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The 458 Speciale is an uncompromising sports car and includes a number of solutions applied for the very first time to an in-range car in the 458 Speciale. These include its advanced active aerodynamics, that will become a standard feature of all new Ferraris in the future.

The engine is Ferrari’s most powerful naturally aspirated V8 ever (605 cv) and features a specific power output of 135 cv/l , the highest ever achieved by a road-going naturally aspirated engine.

Thanks to a weight/power ratio of just 2.13 kg/cv, the 458 Speciale can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.0 seconds (0-200 km/h in 9.1 seconds) and also clocked a lap time of just 1:23.5 at the Fiorano Circuit.

The exterior design was created by the Ferrari Styling Centre cooperation with Pininfarina, and was mainly guided by aerodynamic requirements.

The most notable features in this sense are the front and rear movable aerodynamics which balance downforce and cut drag, thus helping make the 458 Speciale the most aerodynamically efficient range production car in Ferrari history (E Index of 1.5).

The technology used in the vehicle dynamics subsystems which gives the driver instant confidence and control at high speeds, natural power oversteer management and precise response to commands are further advances in an area in which Ferrari is already a well-established leader.

One of the most innovative features of the 458 Speciale is the Side Slip angle Control system (SSC) which makes it easier to achieve car control on the limit, thereby greatly improving driving emotions.

Thanks to the development of an accurate new algorithm SSC performs instant-to-instant analysis of the car’s side slip, comparing it with the target value and then optimising both torque management (via integration with F1- Trac traction control) and torque distribution between the two wheels (via integration with the E-Diff electronic differential).

The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 tires were specifically designed for the 458 Speciale in a collaboration that involved, amongst other factors, numerous track test and simulator sessions.

The 458 Speciale also scores the fastest response time (0.060 s) and highest lateral acceleration (1.33 g) ever achieved by a car in the Prancing Horse range.