Ferrari 458 Italia

Engine

Displacement4.5 L/275

Engine Order CodeNA

SAE Net Torque @ RPM398 @ 6000

Fuel SystemDirect Injection

Engine TypeGas V8

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM570 @ 9000

Transmission

Trans Type7

Third Gear Ratio (:1)1.63

Clutch Size (in)NA

DrivetrainRear Wheel Drive

First Gear Ratio (:1)3.08

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)0.84

Trans Description Cont.Automatic w/Manual Shift

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)1.29

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)5.14

Trans Order CodeNA

Second Gear Ratio (:1)2.19

Reverse Ratio (:1)- TBD -

Trans Description Cont. AgainNA

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)1.03

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)0.69

Brakes

Disc - Front (Yes or )Yes

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)NA

Brake TypePwr

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)14.2

Disc - Rear (Yes or )Yes

Brake ABS System4-Wheel

Drum - Rear (Yes or )NA

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)15.7

Steering

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)- TBD -

Steering TypePwr Rack-&-Pinion

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)- TBD -

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall- TBD -

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)- TBD -

Tires

Spare Tire Order CodeNA

Front Tire Order CodeNA

Spare Tire SizeNA

Front Tire SizeP235/35YR20

Rear Tire Order CodeNA

Rear Tire SizeP295/35YR20

Wheels

Spare Wheel Size (in)NA

Front Wheel Size (in)20 X 8.5

Spare Wheel MaterialNA

Front Wheel MaterialAluminum

Rear Wheel Size (in)20 X 10.5

Rear Wheel MaterialAluminum

Suspension

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)NA

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)- TBD -

Suspension Type - FrontDouble Wishbone

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)N/A

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)NA

Suspension Type - RearMulti-Link

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)- TBD -

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)N/A

The latest of Ferrari's mid-engine super sports cars, the 458 Italia is already nearing three years of age: It made its debut at the 2009 Frankfurt auto show, and has been on sale since. Only minimal updates have been made to the car during this time frame, primarily for safety and reliability issues. 

First and foremost, the 458 Italia is about stunning looks to match its supercar performance. Here, the 458 Italia succeeds almost effortlessly. A low stance; clean, graceful curves; and undeniably Ferrari mid-engine proportions combine to give the 458 Italia a modern interpretation of Ferrari's sporting essence. 

In 2011, Ferrari added the Spider to the range. With its folding hardtop roof, the Spider mimics the Coupe's lines with the top up, and wears the car's high haunches and flowing curves with equal grace with the top down. 

Inside, the 458 Italia duo is luxurious and modern, though not particularly striking in terms of design, though the race-style seats will turn some heads. Ferrari forged no fundamentally new territory here, instead choosing to execute a handsome, simple, familiar interior. 

It's just behind that interior that the heart of the 458 lives, in the form of the 4.5-liter V-8 engine. Rated at a stout 562 horsepower at the 9,000 rpm redline, and 400 pound-feet of torque, 80 percent of which is available from 3,250 rpm, the 458 Italia's V-8 is, in a word, magnificent. It's not the most powerful in the supercar world, but it's one of the most sonorous, and located right behind the passengers with only a thin divider between, it transforms from mellow and quiet to raucous and race-inspired with just a short sweep of the throttle pedal. 

As the sound awakens, so does the speed, vaulting the 458 Italia forth in frenetic style, hitting 60 mph in under 3.4 seconds and carrying on to a top speed of 202 mph (or 198 mph for the Spider). Both the Spider and the standard 458 Italia use the same Getrag seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, inspired by Ferrari's F1 race cars. Gas mileage barely tips the 12 mpg city and 18 mpg highway mark. 

Handling is, as you'd expect of a mid-engine Ferrari, remarkable. Balance, grip, and stability are all at such a high level that they can only be partially accessed on the street. Steering feel is almost otherworldly, communicating through the driver's hands with exquisite detail the surface of the road and the behavior of the tires, while requiring relatively light inputs. The synergy of the engine, gearbox, suspension, chassis, and the overall setup of the 458 Italia makes it one of the most engaging, rewarding, and simply fun-to-drive cars on the planet. 

Safety is generally expected to be good, but Ferraris aren't often crash tested by the major rating bodies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). One concern for early Ferrari 458 Italia owners was the risk of fire due to an adhesive used near the engine bay. After a number of customer cars caught fire, the company remedied the problem with an alternate fastener. Another recall for mechanical reliability in the engine has also resulted in a limited recall and modification to affected cars. 

Quick Specs

Gas Mileage13 mpg City/17 mpg Hwy

EngineGas V8, 4.5 L

EPA ClassTwo-Seaters

Style Name2dr Cpe

DrivetrainRear Wheel Drive

Passenger Capacity2

Passenger Doors2

Body Style2dr Car

Transmission7-speed dual clutch automated manual transmission -inc: driver selectable mode, F1-Superfast sequential shift control w/steering wheel controls, oil cooler

Vehicle

EPA ClassificationTwo-Seaters

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)3274

Interior Dimensions

Front Shoulder Room (in)- TBD -

Front Head Room (in)37.5

Passenger Capacity2

Front Hip Room (in)- TBD -

Front Leg Room (in)45

Passenger Volume (ft³)- TBD -

Exterior Dimensions

Track Width, Front (in)65.8

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)76.3

Liftover Height (in)- TBD -

Wheelbase (in)104.3

Track Width, Rear (in)63.2

Height, Overall (in)47.8

Length, Overall (in)178.2

Min Ground Clearance (in)- TBD -

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)- TBD -

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)22.7

Mileage

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)15

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)13

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)17

Safety

Air Bag-Frontal-DriverYes

Air Bag-Frontal-PassengerYes

Air Bag-Passenger Switch (On/Off)Yes

Air Bag-Side Body-FrontYes

Air Bag-Side Body-RearYes

Air Bag-Side Head-FrontNo

Air Bag-Side Head-RearNo

Brakes-ABSYes

Child Safety Rear Door LocksNo

Daytime Running LightsYes

Traction ControlYes

Night VisionNo

Rollover Protection BarsNo

Fog LampsNo

Parking AidNo

Tire Pressure MonitorNo

Back-Up CameraNo

Stability ControlYes

Other FeaturesF1-Trac anti-lock brakes
Driveline traction control
Electronic stability control (ESC)
Side impact beams
Dual-stage driver & passenger airbags w/passenger off switch
Dual-stage driver & passenger door-mounted side airbags

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)- TBD -

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)760

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)165

Trailering

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)NA

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)NA

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)NA

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)NA