Ferrari continues its renaissance with an all-new mid-engine sports car to replace the F430. The 458 Italia features stunning looks, racing-level performance, and a new focus on lower carbon dioxide output.
Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Ferrari's new 458 Italia, to be officially unveiled at the Frankfurt auto show, is a new design for its mid-engine sports car. Its low front end and bubble-like roof seem to borrow from the Enzo and FXX. But the rear incorporates a different look, with high fenders and an angular back end.
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The number of stacked LEDs in the headlight casing suggest these would be used for normal headlight illumination, while the high-intensity lamp at the bottom could be used for a high beam.
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The design is slightly marred in the middle, with the broken belt-line, a design cue seen to a lesser degree on the Ferrari California, unveiled last year at the Paris auto show.
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The high rear fenders end in cylindrical tail lights, another strange design cue, further separating the front from the rear. Notice the three tail pipes, another odd choice from Ferrari.
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In typical Ferrari fashion, the engine is mounted under glass, with its red cylinder heads visible. Rather than boring out the engine from the F430, Ferrari developed this new direct injection 4.5-liter V-8. It makes 570 horsepower while getting better fuel economy than the F430.
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Ferrari adds more controls to the steering wheel, beyond the Manettino, as a means of helping the driver stay focused.
