Ferrari 458 Speciale

The 458 Speciale is the top performing 458 Italia. Distinctions of the Speciale are the forged wheels, vented bonnet, finned side sills, taller rear spoiler and redesigned bumpers, which include active aerodynamics designed by Ferrari Styling Centre in cooperation with Pininfarina; front and rear movable flaps balance downforce and cut drag at speed. The engine was revised, with power increased to 445 kW (597 hp) at 9,000 rpm, 540 N·m (398 lb·ft) of torque at 6,000 rpm. Electronic systems were updated too, introducing side slip angle control (SSC) to improve car control on the limit. 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 weight/power ratio (1,290 kg dry, 1,395 kg at the kerb, 90 less than the standard 458) is equal to 2.13 kg/cv, sprints from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just three seconds (0–125 mph or 0–200 km/h in 9.1 seconds with a response time of just 0.060 seconds). Ferrari declared a Fiorano test track lap time of 1:23.5, only 0.5 seconds slower than the F12berlinetta. Lateral acceleration now reaches 1.33 g.