The Ferrari 458 Speciale
In short, it is the hardcore version of the 458 Italia. An improved, lighter, sharper handling version of the 458 Italia with its naturally aspirated V8 that can convert air and fuel quickly enough to reach an output of 605 hp at 9000 rpm. Torque is 540 Nm and is delivered at 6000 rpm, so it is not very turbodiesel like. Thanks to these figures, the 458 Speciale accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in an asphalt shredding 3.0 seconds. From 0 to 200 km/h takes 9.5 seconds. The top speed is 325 km/h. The 458 Speciale weighs no less than 90 kg less than the standard 458 Italia.
This weight reduction is the result of an almost obsessive attention to detail, a long list of deletions and savings. The engine received new camshafts, increased valve lift, redesigned shorter intake manifolds and different pistons to cope with the 14:1 compression ratio, an impressive number for a road car, and different materials were used to make it eight kilos lighter than the standard engine. The Speciale has lighter forged wheels which save 12 kilos, a newly designed lighter body and less glass which saves 16 kilos, and a stripped interior that sheds another 20 kilos. Together with other modifications, you are looking at the weight of a fairly heavy passenger.
The statistics do not do the car justice. To be honest, the theoretical weight savings compared to the standard 458 may not seem entirely worth it. Yet the Speciale feels very different from the standard Italia. Immediately. You might suspect the extra performance from the additional vents and stripes on the exterior, but only once you drive it do you realise how special the Speciale really is. Yes, the car is docile enough for city use. If you had seen something like this in the seventies, you would have literally fallen over at the fact that a car with such performance was so easy to drive. But the moment you press the throttle on a good road, you laugh.
First the obvious things. With the reduced insulation, sound can penetrate your eardrums unimpeded, and it is loud. Far removed from the explosive power of a turbo engine that launches you toward the horizon in a series of dull surges, this engine with its 9000 rpm seems to enjoy every revolution, every stroke of every cylinder, every gear feels like one long sweet spot. Gently pull the large carbon paddle on the right side of the steering wheel and the car immediately selects a new gear and repeats the process until the road or your courage runs out. The seven speed dual clutch F1 gearbox seems to give even faster throttle blips during downshifts than before, but in reality you mainly feel that the downshift is slightly more aggressive.
Find a corner and you can downshift with a hard crack from the exhaust, stamp firmly on the brake and you travel back in time. The brakes were developed together with Brembo and apparently derived from lessons learned with the LaFerrari. Smaller front brake calipers made from hybrid HY material that grip HT2 discs with a higher percentage of silicon than before. According to Ferrari, the Speciale comes to a stop eight percent faster than the 458 Italia.
There are other things. On the worst roads, the 458 should be bouncing all over the place, but the chassis remains virtually unflappable. That is undoubtedly thanks to the special SCM E dampers, this time equipped with two coils and new software that changes the magnetic field in the magnetorheological dampers every millisecond. Incredibly clever technology that translates into impressive handling, and in combination with the Michelin tyres developed specifically for this car, the grip is enormous, allowing you to push even harder. Grip is present to such an extent that you can summon eardrum shattering noises from the epic engine even in corners. Select Race or CT Off with the manettino dial and Ferrari’s Side Slip Angle Control determines how much sideways force you can handle and makes it happen. What actually happens is that the system monitors what you do, compares it with its own reference data and then applies torque vectoring through the e diff on the driven wheels to ensure that things go more or less as you intended. The system turns average drivers into heroes and heroes into legends. The best part is the feeling that you are doing it all under your own power. The car keeps giving feedback, so it does not feel artificial or isolated. The system does not feel like an electronic barrier, but more like performance enhancing technology.
On a series of beautiful wide second gear Italian hairpins or on a dry road with long third gear stretches in between, the Speciale howls as if it is being launched toward the top of a hill. Accelerating, braking, steering, sliding. It becomes rhythmic and the changing LEDs on the top edge of the steering wheel become the only disco lights you will ever want to see again. Again, there is a sense of balance and harmony between all elements of this machine. Everything fits together on a very fundamental level, allowing you to fully enjoy the experience.
The Speciale is a 458, but certainly much more than that. The steering is so finely tuned that the nose never dips toward an apex, but naturally follows your line of sight into the corner. The car settles and then you can add power and feel the g forces build until you exit the corner on the other side with a slight counter steer reaction. Only when the system is fully switched off do you realise how hard the bytes have been working. The rear comes around much faster and will keep going if you give it the room. Thanks to the electronics, the whole experience feels less violent. It is wonderful to feel this technology in a mid engined supercar. The beauty of all this, more than anything else, is that the Speciale feels as if the car genuinely enjoys what it is doing. Revving the engine, braking hard, steering in and bracing your neck against the g force attack, that is what this car is built for. The world becomes a green grey blur and your entire focus lies on scanning the road ahead. It is no wonder the Speciale looks a bit like a bird of prey. When you get into the flow, the road becomes the prey.
The example we are offering is a special Speciale finished in classic Rosso with Blu Nart and Bianco striping. It comes from the second owner and is equipped with every option that could be ticked at the time of ordering, such as a lift system, cruise control, rear view camera, telemetry kit, four point racing harnesses and all possible carbon options. The Speciale is in absolute mint condition and still wears its original paint. To protect this, the front end has always been covered with stone chip protection film. In terms of quality, it is an excellent example. Furthermore, this Speciale has always been serviced according to schedule at the dealer and has had many services at Kroymans Ferrari in the Netherlands.
Factory options:
INTC ALCANTARA NERA
EXTC ROSSO CORSA
CRPT EXTRACAMPIONARIO-NOT STANDARD
AFS1 AFS SYSTEM
CALR RED BRAKE CALIPERS
CEL2 ENGINE COVERS IN CARBON FIBRE
CRS1 CRUISE CONTROL
CUPC CARBON FIBRE WHEELS CUP
DEPK FERRARI TELEMETRY
ELEV SUSPENSION LIFTER
HAW1 HEAT INSULATING WINDSCREEN
LOGO 'SCUDERIA FERRARI' SHIELDS
MIR2 INT/EXT ELECTROCHROMIC MIRRORS
NAVC RADIONAVI SYSTEM + BLUETOOTH
NDSP INTERNAL USE
PAC1 PARKING CAMERA
PAR2 FRONT AND REAR PARKING SENSORS
PNT4 NART RACING STRIPE BLU NART
RPMR RED REV. COUNTER
RSCH CARBON FIBRE RACING SEATS SEDILI TAGLIA LARGE
RSFT DRIVER SEAT ADJUSTMENT DEVICE
SND2 INTEGRATED AUDIO SYSTEM
SPB1 SPORT BAG
TRCA TRACK INNER CAMS KIT
T3D1 INTERIOR 3D FABRIC COLOUR TESSUTO T3D1 ROSSO
4HAR 4 POINT SAFETY HARNESSES CINTURE 4 PUNTI NERO
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