The Ferrari 458 Italia has quickly become a very popular super-car to own! A 2013 Ferrari 458 Italia will cost $233,509 and carries a 4.5L V8 engine that powers out 570hp. But hey, it’s a Ferrari, so of course engineers went to the drawing board and made something a bit more extreme. The result is the 2014 Ferrari 458 Italia Speciale!
The new exotic cranks out a huge 597hp and is a full 200lbs lighter than the regular 458. For $298,000 the Speciale will launch to 60mph in a swift 2.8 seconds and will max out at a mere 202mph. Of course with all this power comes poor gas mileage, the vehicle gets just 13mph city and 17mpg highway. The exhaust note is louder and the car even shifts faster than the base 458.
Styling wise the car features a unique air intake right above the Ferrari badge on the hood of the car. Also, above the headlights, the exotic has numerous small air intakes, adding a good flair to the vehicle. The most notable added touch is the white and blue stripe that runs down the center of the car. I find that this gives the vehicle a more sexy, sleek and fast look.The exhaust pipes have gone from three down to two and are now spread farther apart.
The interior of the car is just as beautiful as the exterior. To help shave off some weight, pure racing seats were inserted into the car which really gives the driver and passenger a true race car feel. To hold the the riders in place, the car is equipped with a 4-point harness seatbelt. The interior is stripped out of most common amenities giving it more of a super-car feel. I had the rare opportunity to sit inside the exclusive vehicle. The bucket seats, known to be uncomfortable in other cars, were shockingly not too bad. Of course I would not recommend very long drives, but for short drives the riders won’t be sore when they get out.
The dashboard was clean and just screamed “drive me”. The steering wheel was a piece of art, with numerous options like start engine and race mode. The paddle shifters sat tucked in behind the steering wheel allowing the driver good maneuverability. Sitting out in front, the yellow tachometer clearly shows the insane rev’s of the car. Two beautifully crafted electronic screens sit on either side of the tachometer that display all of sorts of information, like speed, to the driver. Most of the interior is made from carbon-fiber, offering not only sexy styling but weight reduction.
In summary, Ferrari has done it again. They have continued the legacy of the Challenge Stradale and Scuderia series vehicles with this Speciale edition 458!
A big thank you goes out to Ferrari-Maserati Long Island, a division of Experience Auto Group. Located in Plainview, New York, they give customers a superb buying experience and offer the most beautiful cars on the market. They host great events and are always supportive of my passion for exotic vehicles. Be sure to stop by to check out their cars, and follow them on Twitter @FerMasLI!
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