Test drive Ferrari 458 Italia: Red Devil
Content
The Scuderia, the sporty version of the F430's predecessor, is one of the main culprits behind even higher expectations from the future successor. However, the Ferrari 458 Italia needs more than just an improved version of the previous model – a mid-engine supersport with 570 horsepower opens the door to a whole new dimension…
We are in the same endless tangle of rolling hills above Maranello. Only the asphalt is slippery compared to our previous visit to the area when we were driving the 430 Scuderia. If then we were really excited, then this time we just lost our minds and words. Only we and 458 Italia are on these godforsaken hills. It is clear that Ferrari's new center-engined two-seat model intends to teach us a visual lesson on lateral acceleration.
He stood firmly on the ground
With each turn I gain more and more courage, and it seems clear that the likelihood of the car going like an avalanche increases with speed on a difficult route. However, oddly enough, this does not happen. Even when all 540 Nm of torque falls to the rear wheels, which do not easily balance on the smooth asphalt strewn with autumn leaves. Subconsciously, I prepare my hands to resort to lightning-fast steering resistance when necessary with the first symptoms of a butt swing. But I never had to resort to my natural reflexes. Obviously, my brain has not yet internalized this thought ...
There is no doubt that the new rear axle design is the best way to fight for its reputation. A pair of crossbars on each wheel is history, now it's time for an even better solution at Ferrari, which first found serial use in California - it's a multi-link suspension. For now, Maranello is tactfully reticent about more interesting details on the matter, but one thing is clear: in terms of how he is treated, Italy has become, so to speak, the Scuderian version of the Scuderia itself. And yet it rides even better than the F430.
The dampers are very similar to those used in the 599 GTB Fiorano. This time, Delphi's suppliers' efforts have resulted in something phenomenal, which can literally be called a parallel reality - Italia is able to assess the condition of the road faster than the driver himself, creating a truly new dimension in the relationship between man and machine. This Ferrari literally reads the thoughts of the person behind the wheel and does everything possible to be in harmony with them. Being in this car, you soon get a crazy feeling that there is telepathy between you. And at a later stage, you will find that you probably have the right to think so ...
In another world
As a rule, for a mythical stable, each subsequent stallion, according to certain indicators, performs even better than its predecessors. For, to put it mildly, the impressive € 194 base price allows for something that not only costs money, but also raises some pretty provocative questions: Who is this car that can overcome Italy's amazing driving behavior? Who will face this eight-cylinder volcano of emotions?
This engine is the next step in the development of the F430-V8 and now has a displacement of 4,5 liters. When the three throttle valves open, direct injection directs fuel into the chambers, and the control valves do their job with perfect precision until they reach a top speed of 9000 rpm, the car enthusiast cannot help but remain silent. Despite his demeanor, the top 458 professional racer can move around town smoothly, fluidly, and most interestingly, surprisingly quietly. Thanks to the successful distribution of torque in various modes of operation, starting from medium speed, the drive begins to demonstrate the lubricity of the sumo champion. Added to all this is the fact that the new engine is even more melodic than the F430. From a purely emotional point of view, the place of this V8 is the absolute pinnacle of the automotive Olympus.
Like the F430, the steering wheel switch (Manettino) offers a choice of different control modes for the engine, transmission, dampers, electronic differential, ABS, traction control and ESP. Particularly impressive are the two possible positions of the “tap” in question: CT off and Race. The latter can easily serve as a virtuoso teacher of racing driving and send as much power to the rear axle as is the absolutely achievable (but not risky) maximum in any given situation. If you don't feel constrained or doubt your ability to take advantage of this opportunity, you'd better forget about it. Another particularly interesting mode is CT off, which completely deactivates the traction control system and forces the ESP system to work in drift mode - then the electronic cerberus stabilizes the car in a moment before the rear end finally comes in front of the front. The 458 Italia lets him hit with the kind of kicks that would make most classic mid-engined cars look helpless from where they ended up after taking off from a corner. Violent reactions with a sharp change in load? There is no such thing. Did the driver overdo it with the steering wheel? This? Full throttle on entering selected turn path? This, too, cannot but strain the Italian car, it even helps the driver in his hellish intentions. Only when doing the last of the mentioned exercises with the traction control completely off, the Italia sometimes shows signs of nervousness. Then you need to be careful with the accelerator pedal, as 570 horsepower is no joke.
One less pedal
To ensure that the driver's hands are completely focused on driving the vehicle, a combination of basic commands was developed, as in Formula 1; Functions such as turn signals, horn, wipers, damper control and all vehicle settings are within the driver's reach. In this case, it is even more important that fine sense is a prerequisite for correct driving. Apparently, for the Italian company, the times when mastering a real sports car was a real test of the pilot's physical endurance are gone - today everything is getting very thin, but you need to get used to it. The first turns seem a bit odd to me because the usual steering wheel work is too much and I actually turn more than I should. The same applies, among other things, to the reflex that meets the steering wheel when turning, which can play a bad joke. The good thing is that the power steering works entirely on the principle of hydraulics and the steering wheel feel remains very precise and clear.
The Getrag transmission is also controlled from the steering wheel. Back in California, it turned out that the direct transmission goes through its seven gears with lightning speed and without noticeable interruption in traction. Of course, in principle, a regular VW Golf with a DSG gearbox can do this. However, Italia doesn't quite do it that way... Ferrari has played a lot to recreate the feeling of shifting the F1 Scuderia sequential gearbox - the thunderous sound that occurs when shifting from one stage to another in the exhaust, the manifold receives a minimum amount of unburned fuel mixture and ignites, here too is present. A small acoustic trick, which, however, tickles the senses every time.
Unfortunately for the Puritans, it will be impossible to engage the clutch in any new Ferrari in the future. A decision has already been made to completely abandon classic manual transmissions with pedal single-disc clutch for future models of the brand. According to engineers from Maranello, the introduction of direct transmissions with two clutches turns into an anachronism, and the classic gear shifting with a lever that moves along the cut paths. A display of composure that we did not expect from them.
Hot passions
This time, the designers looked at the heat from a new angle. Another idea borrowed from Formula 1 is to control the temperature in various car systems, which is called Monitoring. On the left display of the information system developed by Harman, the driver sees a sketch of the car, which, depending on the color of the corresponding parts, shows whether the engine, brakes and tires are at the optimum temperature for sports driving. Green signifies ideal conditions and definitely has a calming effect on more extreme experiments.
For November weather on serpentines over Maranello, this option turned out to be useful and really managed to instill confidence in us. Despite our sometimes frankly rude attempts to annoy the Italian car, it got stuck in the asphalt with thorns all the time and, despite its two-meter width, skillfully managed not to leave the narrow road every time.
458 Italia managed to warm us up. We are not to him. Obviously, we will have to get used to the fact that this car is capable of something that 99% of the drivers on this planet cannot do ...
text: Marcus peters
a photo: Rosen Gargolov
technical details
| 458 Ferrari Italy | |
|---|---|
| Working volume | - |
| Power | 570 k. From. at 9000 rpm |
| Maximum torque | - |
| Acceleration 0-100 km / h | 3,4 with |
| Braking distances at a speed of 100 km / h | - |
| full speed | 325 km / h |
| Average consumption fuel in the test | 13,7 |
| Base Price | 194 euros (for Germany) |
