Video: Chevy ad compares Spark EV with Ferrari 458 Italia

Filed under: Budget, Technology, Videos, Hatchback, Chevrolet, Specialty, Electric

2014 Chevy Spark EV - front three-quarter view

Chevrolet’s new commercial for the 2014 Spark EV emphasizes the little hatchback’s performance over pretty much everything else, and it even goes as far as to compare it to a Ferrari 458 Italia. That’s right, the electric bubble is pitched in the commercial as having a higher torque figure than the Ferrari – and it does, with a massive 400 pound-feet ready to be unleashed.

That doesn’t translate into a quicker car, however, as the 458’s V8 with 570 horsepower and not-exactly-quaint 398 lb-ft gives it a 0-60 time of 3.0 seconds compared to the Spark EV’s 7.6-second run.

“We think the fun-to-drive element is an area for us to differentiate ourselves,” Sam Basile, executive chief engineer for GM’s global minicars and emerging-market vehicles, told Automotive News.

EV makers who aren’t Tesla might want to take note of the Chevrolet ad, because, as the novelty of clean electric propulsion wears off, the Spark EV has planted something else in our minds: quick electric propulsion for the masses. That is, if its sales weren’t limited to California and Oregon.

Watch Chevy’s refreshing commercial below.

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Chevy ad compares Spark EV with Ferrari 458 Italia originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Jul 2013 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari gives a lesson on driving the 458 Italia

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Technology, Videos, Ferrari, Luxury

2011 Ferrari 458 Italia controls

2011 Ferrari 458 Italia controls – Click above to view video after the jump

The 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia is magnificent. With a vast array of electronic wizardry, a glorious 570-horsepower mid-mounted V8, statuesque bodywork, the track manners of an F1 car and the street manners of sleeping kitten, it may be the finest supercar available.

There is, however, a catch. The myriad controls for all those electronics and the information output by the car is enough to give even the most ADD driver sensory overload. With that in mind, Ferrari has released a video to walk you through the 458 Italia’s controls one at a time, breaking down their use and functionality.

Study the vid carefully a couple times, and you can stop worrying about hitting the turn signal when you simply wanted to tune the radio. Tired of turning off traction control when what you wanted to do was de-couple the suspension? The electronic instruction manual has you covered. Click past the jump to get acquainted with the Italia’s controls.

[Source: YouTube via WorldCarFans]

Continue reading Ferrari gives a lesson on driving the 458 Italia

Ferrari gives a lesson on driving the 458 Italia originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 May 2011 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Shelby Cobra 427 vs Ferrari 458 Italia teased ahead of $400,000 drag fight

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Ferrari

ferrari 458 italia verse shelby cobra drag race

Ferrari 458 Italia versus Shelby Cobra with $400K on the line – Click above to watch video after the jump

Take a moment and pretend you’re a wealthy man or woman. (If you’re already wealthy, take a moment to enjoy the warm green glow from your money… otherwise, time to get back to pretending.) Would you rather spend your money on a modern Italian sportscar or a classic American muscle car?

Let’s say you pick one and your wealthy friend picks the other… you’d probably want to take both to the track and see who bought the faster machine, right? That’s just what the two folks in the following video do with a Ferrari 458 Italia and Shelby Cobra.

Not content with a basic Gentleman’s Bet, the duo decide to put serious cash on the line. The winner of the race gets $400,000. The clip, which you can see after the jump, is just a teaser, but the full video is promised soon. Which car is going to make that quarter-mile trip in less time and have its owner walk away $400,000 richer, the Cobra or the Ferrari? Sound off in the comments.

[Source: YouTube via Zer Customs]

Continue reading Video: Shelby Cobra 427 vs Ferrari 458 Italia teased ahead of $400,000 drag fight

Video: Shelby Cobra 427 vs Ferrari 458 Italia teased ahead of $400,000 drag fight originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari 458 Italia named 2011 Robb Report Car of the Year

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Ferrari, Luxury

Robb Report 2011 Car of the Year issueMotor Trend may prefer the Chevrolet Volt, but the well-heeled readers of the Robb Report have a considerably different set of priorities when it comes to picking the best of the best. That’s why the luxury magazine has decided to name the Ferrari 458 Italia as its Car of the Year.

The 458 scores high marks for its exterior design, interior materials and overall performance, and the Prancing Horse beat out thirteen other vehicles for the award. Says the magazine:

The stunning Italian sports car topped (in order of finish) the Audi R8 V10 Spyder, Porsche 911 Turbo S, Aston Martin V12 Vantage, Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG, Bentley Mulsanne, Maserati GranTurismo Convertible, Audi A8L, Aston Martin Rapide, BMW Alpina B7, Rolls-Royce Ghost, Jaguar XJ Supersport, Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, and Lotus Evora.

Click past the break for the complete press release.

Gallery: Ferrari 458 Italia

[Source: Robb Report]

Continue reading Ferrari 458 Italia named 2011 Robb Report Car of the Year

Ferrari 458 Italia named 2011 Robb Report Car of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:58:00 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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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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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: Top Gear and the Ferrari 458 Italia. What are you waiting for?

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Ferrari

Top Gear reviews the Ferrari 458 Italia – Click above to watch video after the jump

Jeremy Clarkson has got his hands on a Ferrari 458 Italia, and his particular take on the coupe involves a comparison to the venerable 308, a drag race with James May’s personal F430, Clarkson opening his heart to flappy paddles, a “humiliation” and of course, a lap with The Stig. All that and more is a click away, so follow the jump to get watching. Hat tip to Tyler!

[Source: BBC via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Top Gear and the Ferrari 458 Italia. What are you waiting for?

Video: Top Gear and the Ferrari 458 Italia. What are you waiting for? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari 458 Italia fans the flames in the City of Lights

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Europe, Ferrari, Luxury

Ferrari 458 on fireFerraris have been known to have the fire inside, and sometimes the coupes like to give their owners a baptism by fire. Literally. The gent in the photo was cruising through Paris in his new 458 Italia when he noticed that the rear fender was on fire. While he bolted from the driver’s seat and left the car burning in the middle of the street, a passerby happened to have a fire extinguisher and put the flames to rest before the 458 got an even blacker paint job.

We presume that was a different passerby than the one with the camera, who just took lots of photos of the car-b-que. Click the link for more of them, and watch out for flaming stallions in Paris.

[Source: Autogespot (translated)]

Ferrari 458 Italia fans the flames in the City of Lights originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Jul 2010 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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