Tag: 458

Video: Ferrari 458 Challenge caught in its natural habitat

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Ferrari, Racing

Ferrari 458 Challenge at Firoano

Ferrari 458 Challenge lapping Fiorano – Click above to watch the video after the break

Know how irritating it is when an automotive video hits the interwebs and its creator decided that the glorious music of sweet internal combustion just weren’t enough of a soundtrack? Good news: This is not one of those videos. Instead, we’re treated to a beautiful 562-horsepower swan song from 4.5 liters of undeniable Prancing Horse goodness.

Ferrari’s 458 Challenge was released last month at the Bologna Motor Show as the replacement for the outgoing F430 GT2. In other words, fans of endurance racing ought to get mighty used to hearing this particular bellow on tracks all around the world. For what it’s worth, this video was taken near the Ferrari headquarters at the Fiorano track, and the 458 Challenge did the deed in 1 minute, 16.5 seconds. Check out the video after the break. FYI, actual track footage begins around the 3:50 mark.

[Source: YouTube via World Car Fans]

Continue reading Video: Ferrari 458 Challenge caught in its natural habitat

Video: Ferrari 458 Challenge caught in its natural habitat originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Ferrari’s personalization program gives the 458 Italia endless options

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Ferrari

Ferrari 458 Configurator

Ferrari Personalisation Programme for the 458 Italia – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Given the extraordinary waiting lists, most Ferrari buyers are probably taking possession of whatever vehicle in whatever specifications they can get their hands on. But if you find someone who ordered theirs directly from the factory and waited the months it took for delivery, ask them how much they paid. Not the list price, but all-in with all the extra bits and pieces. Because anyone who’s been through the process will likely tell you that the sticker price is just the starting point.

Beyond the basic options list, Ferrari offers a Personalisation Programme (that’s “personalization program” in American) that gives buyers nearly infinite control over every minute detail. And the new 458 Italia is no exception. As you’ll see from the video after the jump, there’s a whole new range of options – on top of the usual seat belt and brake caliper color choices – that includes unique touches like two-tone paint schemes (for that 599 GTO-style look) and carbon fiber everything, made in the same kilns that bake the components for the Scuderia’s F1 racers. Just don’t expect them to throw in the extra bits for free.

Gallery: Ferrari 458 Italia

[Source: Ferrari via World Car Fans]

Continue reading Video: Ferrari’s personalization program gives the 458 Italia endless options

Video: Ferrari’s personalization program gives the 458 Italia endless options originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari lets the new 458 GTC stretch its legs in the snow

Filed under: Coupe, Ferrari, Racing

Ferrari 458 GTC undergoes winter testing at Fiorano – Click above for high-res image gallery

There’s no point, to paraphrase the old adage, in closing the door after the horses have already left the stable. The same could be said of Prancing Horses – the red variety that hail from Maranello, specifically. So after the first image of Ferrari’s latest sports racer leaked out a few days ago, the Italian automaker and racing team have now released a quartet of additional shots.

The successor to the F430 GT2, the new 458 GTC will take on all comers in sports and endurance racing series around the world – most of them with the name “Le Mans” in the title. The new challenger is currently undergoing track testing at the hands of former FIA GT class champion and two-time Le Mans class winner Jaime Melo over the course of the winter in advance of its scheduled debut at the Sebring 12 Hours race in the American Le Mans Series. So stay tuned, and in the meantime, check out the images in the gallery below and the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Ferrari 458 GTC shakedown at Fiorano

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Ferrari lets the new 458 GTC stretch its legs in the snow

Ferrari lets the new 458 GTC stretch its legs in the snow originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Ferrari 458 Challenge in its natural environment

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Ferrari, Racing

Ferrari 458 Challenge

Ferrari 458 Challenge gets hustled around the Circuit of Valencia – Click above to watch video after the jump

“Faster than the 430 Challenge… yet easier to drive at the limit,” are the words of Ferrari 458 Challenge Test Driver Raffaele De Simone. “Now, the shifting time is like zero…” states De Simone’s counterpart, Maurizio Mediani. The two recently got the change to spend some time behind the wheel of Ferrari’s latest track-focused weapon. The drivers, along with a few other Ferrari speed merchants, and the 458 Challenge took a few laps around the Circuit of Valencia.

Most of the clip, which is available after the jump, is spent praising every aspect of the new Ferrari 458 Challenge, however, there are also some great shots (and sounds) of the car in action.

Gallery: Ferrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut at the Bologna Motor Show

Ferrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut at the Bologna Motor ShowFerrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut at the Bologna Motor ShowFerrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut at the Bologna Motor ShowFerrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut at the Bologna Motor ShowFerrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut at the Bologna Motor Show

[Source: FerrariWorld via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Ferrari 458 Challenge in its natural environment

Video: Ferrari 458 Challenge in its natural environment originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari 458 GT2 looks ready to swallow the competition whole

Filed under: Motorsports, Spy Photos, Coupe, Ferrari, Racing

Ferrari 458 GT2

Ferrari 458 GT2 – Click above for high-res image

As impressive as it may be in its own right, when Ferrari introduces a new V8 supercar, you know there’s more to come. A Spider version. A Challenge racer. Probably a CS/Scuderia-style hardcore street version somewhere down the line. And yes, a GT2 racing version. That appears to be what we’re looking at right here.

Once a top-tier Le Mans contender, Ferrari’s sportscar racing program is largely limited these days to the GT2 category, leaving the likes of Peugeot and Audi to compete for top honors in the LMP1 category and its own sister-company Maserati to fight for GT1 victory.

Itself a replacement for the 360 GTC that came before, the F430 GT2 has been a wildly successful racer, winning its class in both the American Le Mans Series and the FIA GT Championship. But its days are numbered as Maranello has been working on its replacement based on the new 458 Italia. And this is our first proper look at it.

As it stands now, the 458 GT2 has a face that looks something like a jack-o-lantern, but some simple black trim around the maw will surely go great lengths towards rectifying that. And besides, if this machine proves to be as giant a leap forward over the one it replaces as the 458 Italia street car is over the F430, its rivals will only be seeing the back end of it, anyway. Top tip, Alex!

[Source: Axis of Oversteer]

Ferrari 458 GT2 looks ready to swallow the competition whole originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari 458 Challenge debuts at 2010 Bologna Motor Show

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Ferrari, Racing

Ferrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut

Ferrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut at the Bologna Motor Show – Click above for high-res image gallery
Everyone loves a special-edition, track-focused Ferrari and the time has come for the 458 to get a taste of the Maranello magic. At this week’s 2010 Bologna Motor Show, Ferrari has devoted its stand to serve as storyboard showcasing the automaker’s racing heritage. The newest piece of that history takes the form of the Ferrari 458 Challenge, which is finally making its world debut.

The 458 Challenge is the fifth model to get placed into a single-series racing program. The standard 458 Italia is already such a potent beast that the Challenge keeps the changes away from the engine bay leaving it with the same 570 horsepower as the standard 458 Italia. That said, the gear ratios and calibration of the dual-clutch transmission have been adjusted so that the Challenge generates more torque at lower revs.

Stiffer springs and a lower ride height help keep the body planted around the large Pirelli tires. That rubber hugs 19-inch forged alloys with a central locking nut. The brakes are upgraded to the newest setup that Brembo offers, and the system is paired with the ABS that debuted on the wild-child Ferrari 599XX.

Ferrari 458 ChallengeBoth the suspension and braking get a helping hand from something that has been reduced: weight. Ferrari has focused on reducing the thickness of the body panels, as well as introducing materials such as carbon fiber and Lexan.

All of the upgrades found on the Ferrari 458 Challenge result in a potent, track-ready machine that is faster than the 458 Italia it’s based on. The 458 Challenge hit Ferrari’s home Fiorano race track for numerous test sessions, and during the course of development, it was able to post lap times two seconds faster than the Italia. During testing, the 458 Challenge also pulled lateral grip numbers in the neighborhood of 1.6 g’s. Giggity.

Gallery: Ferrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut at the Bologna Motor Show

Ferrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut at the Bologna Motor ShowFerrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut at the Bologna Motor ShowFerrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut at the Bologna Motor ShowFerrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut at the Bologna Motor ShowFerrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut at the Bologna Motor Show

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Ferrari 458 Challenge debuts at 2010 Bologna Motor Show

Ferrari 458 Challenge debuts at 2010 Bologna Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Motor Trend pits Ferrari 458 Italia against Ducati 1198S

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Ferrari, Motorcycle

Ferrari 458 Italia vs Ducati 1198S

Ferrari 458 Italia vs Ducati 1198S – Click above to watch video after the jump

Italy produces machines that look good rolling slow or screaming towards the ever evasive horizon, so it’s no surprise that Motor Trend decided to pit two of the boot country’s finest against each other: the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Ducati 1198S. Both are exotic machines with a laser-focus purpose crafted into each example built: Be. Fast.

The buff book boys were kind enough to have their cameras rolling as the 458 and 1198S faced off in two competitions. First up is a head-to-head race followed by a lap around the Streets of Willow. The result? While the Ferrari is an amazing machine, the Duc’s power-to-weight simply laughs in the face of the V8-powered Prancing Horse. See for yourself by watching the video after the jump, then check out the accompanying article in the link below. Grazie per la punta, Steve!

[Source: Motor Trend]

Continue reading Video: Motor Trend pits Ferrari 458 Italia against Ducati 1198S

Video: Motor Trend pits Ferrari 458 Italia against Ducati 1198S originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Four minutes of Ferrari 458 Challenge testing at Monza

Filed under: Videos, Ferrari


Ferrari 458 Challenge testing at Monza – Click above to watch the video

The curves. The Power. The… Ferrariness. It’s hard to get too much of the 458 Italia Challenge, and, luckily, we’ve come across some video of the race-ready Ferrari testing at Monza. The four-minute flick only shows a few angles of the pride of Maranello, but what we can guarantee is crisp images, ridiculously perfect exhaust melodies and a powerful desire to drive a 458 on track. At a few points it looks like the 458 Challenge isn’t being pushed too hard, but every now and again we would catch a glimpse of the glowing red front brake rotors, assuring us that the driver is giving the lighter, lower 458 a considerable workout. Hit the jump to enjoy the video for yourself, if only to hear just how wonderful the Challenge sounds.

Gallery: Ferrari 458 Challenge racer

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Four minutes of Ferrari 458 Challenge testing at Monza

Video: Four minutes of Ferrari 458 Challenge testing at Monza originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari reportedly investigating 458 Italia fire risk [w/video]

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Safety, Ferrari

Ferrari 458 Italia – Click above for high-res image gallery

That Ferrari 458 Italia… it’s so hot right now. Nobody but the sickest of pyromaniacs wants to see Ferrari’s exquisite new 458 Italia go down in flames (if that’s you, you’ll want to click on past the break…). Sadly, though, the case of Ferraris on flambé is spreading like.. ahem, wildfire. So problematic is the issue that the Italian automaker itself is now investigating the cause of the conflagrations.

According to various reports, there have been at least three separate instances where Ferrari 458 Italias have burst into flames without being involved in an accident. At this time, Ferrari is assuming that these three cases are unrelated, and it’s not willing at this time to rule out driver error.

Interestingly enough, though, at least one of these flame-broiled Ferraris caught ablaze in transport to London in a Heathrow warehouse, meaning it was not being driven at the time of the fire. Here’s hoping that Ferrari’s investigation doesn’t turn up any major design flaws. In the meantime, perhaps 458 owners should keep an extinguisher handy… just in case.

Gallery: Ferrari 458 Italia

[Source: Daily Mail]

Continue reading Ferrari reportedly investigating 458 Italia fire risk [w/video]

Ferrari reportedly investigating 458 Italia fire risk [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Ferrari 458 Challenge wrung out at Fiorano

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Videos, Ferrari, Racing

Ferrari 458 Italia caught testing – Click above to watch video after the jump

A video camera can do strange things to reality. While we’ve always heard that training a lens on a person can add 10 pounds to their figure, it’s also true that focusing on a moving car can subtract 20 mph. Watching a car scoot around a track on screen and seeing the same action in real life, or even worse, from the cockpit, are two entirely different things. At some point during the migration from the real world to digital representation, things just seem to slow down, which is exactly why this video of the Ferrari 458 Italia Challenge after the jump is so impressive. The beast looks down right fast on film, so we can only imagine the kind of tear in the space-time continuum it could develop here in the real world.

Ferrari has pulled something special with its newest track bully. While the car still breathes through the same 570-horsepower 4.5-liter V8 as its more civil sibling, the company shaved a considerable amount of weight and fitted it with the same globe-crushing brakes as the 599XX. The changes have been enough to give the 458 Italia Challenge the guts to lap the Fiorano circuit in a blistering 1:16.5. That’s a mere two-tenths of a second off of the lap time of the marginally more loco FXX.

That puddle on the floor? Yeah, that’s from our mouths watering. We’ll get someone on that.

[Source: Axis of Oversteer]

Continue reading Video: Ferrari 458 Challenge wrung out at Fiorano

Video: Ferrari 458 Challenge wrung out at Fiorano originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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