2011 Ferrari 458 Italia 4499 cc V8 is the first Ferrari direct injection engine
2011 Ferrari 458 ItaliaMaranello, July 28th 2009 – While it’s true that every Ferrari is innovative by definition, it’s equally true that in the course of the Prancing Horse’s history, certain cars have marked a genuine departure from the current range. This is very much the case with the Ferrari 458 Italia, which is a massive leap forward from the company’s previous mid-rear engined sports cars.
The
Ferrari 458 Italia is a completely new car from every point of view:
engine, design, aerodynamics, handling, instrumentation and ergonomics,
just to name a few.
2011 Ferrari 458 Italia
The new 4499 cc V8
is the first Ferrari direct injection engine to be mid-rear mounted. It
has a very low piston compression height typical of racing engines
which contributed to achieving its compression ratio of 12.5:1. Equipped
with the traditional flat-plane crankshaft, the engine delivers 570 CV
at 9000 rpm and, with an outstanding power output of 127 CV/litre, sets a
new benchmark not only for the whole Ferrari range and the history of
company, but also for the entire market segment. Maximum torque is 540
Nm at 6000 rpm, over 80 per cent of which is available from 3250 rpm.
Specific torque is a record 120 Nm/litre. However, what is truly
extraordinary is the amount of torque available while still maintaining
high levels of power at low revs.
2011 Ferrari 458 Italia
The
Ferrari 458 Italia is equipped with the seven-speed dual-clutch
transmission which increases performance whilst providing very smooth
shifts even at full throttle. The engineers have developed specific,
sportier gear ratios to match the power and torque curves of the new V8,
guaranteeing high torque even at lower engine speeds and allowing the
car to reach its maximum speed in top gear.
2011 Ferrari 458 Italia
A
two-seater berlinetta, the Ferrari 458 Italia, as is now traditional
for all Ferrari's road-going cars, benefits hugely from the company's Formula 1
experience. This is particularly evident in the speed and precision
with which the car responds to driver inputs and in the attention
focused on reducing internal friction in the engine for lower fuel
consumption than the Ferrari F430,
despite the fact that both overall displacement and power have
increased. However, Ferrari's track experience makes its presence felt
in the Ferrari 458 Italia not only in terms of pure technological
transfer but also on a more emotional level, because of the strong
emphasis on creating an almost symbiotic relationship between driver and
car. The Ferrari 458 Italia
features an innovative driving environment with a new kind of steering
wheel and dashboard that is the direct result of racing practice. Once
agThe Ferrari 458 Italia's Pininfarina design provides further evidence of the complete departure from the past that this new car hails.
2011 Ferrari 458 Italia
2011 Ferrari 458 ItaliaWith the Ferrari 458 Italia, Maranello has brought a highly distinctive new car to its 8-cylinder range. The company now offers two models that share a common, race-derived DNA, both exceptionally sporty and fun to drive in true Ferrari tradition, but aimed at two very different kinds of client. While the Ferrari California was created for owners requiring a more versatile sports car with a practical edge, the 458 Italia is designed for owners for whom the priority is uncompromising on-road performance with occasional track day capability, but who still demand a car that is useable in day-to-day driving like all Ferrari’s recent models.
