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What is it?

The 458 Italia is the replacement for the F430. Although the basic configuration sticks to established principles i.e an aluminium space-frame and mid mounted V8 powering the rear wheels, much of the 458 is entirely new.

For starters, the engine is a 4.5-litre direct injection V8, related to that in California, but larger, producing much more power (562bhp) and revving higher (9000rpm).

And like the California the power is channeled to the road through a...Read the full article

Sounds pretty amazing...

Stupid question no.1 - where's the speedo? Seriously... does it take the place of the gear selection digital whatsit?

Silly comment no.1 - Terrible build quality, look at the panel gap on the bonnet! I could fit my entire hand in there...

 I wonder if the wipers and indicators being on the steering wheel really is innovation, or just the roadtester getting carried away? Are they a switch like a motorbikes? Those are very easy to forget... Are they "self cancelling" in the way the Vectra's were, but actually a right pain in the arse?

This looks pretty impressive.Gotta say its the first Ferarri in a long time thats really caught my attention.Looks good on the outside and in and thats before you get to all the geeky techy stuff.

fuzzybear:

This looks pretty impressive.Gotta say its the first Ferarri in a long time thats really caught my attention

theonlydt:

Stupid question no.1 - where's the speedo? Seriously... does it take the place of the gear selection digital whatsit?

I think it's digito only now

theonlydt:

Silly comment no.1 - Terrible build quality, look at the panel gap on the bonnet! I could fit my entire hand in there...

Are you referring to the gap next to the lights? I believe those are air intakes, not panel gap.

 I love this car, it is just about the perfect sports car with plenty of performance, style, handling, design, eveyrthing really. Also the first beautiful Ferrari in a long long time.

Either it's me, but i get the feeling that the article wasn't totally bowled over by the 458 - completely missing the expected superlatives that were used to described the Merc SLS earlier in the week.

Either way i think the 458 is every inch as stunning as it looks and no doubt as good as the Merc. Thing is you know that somehow Autocar will prefer the new McLaren - even if it turns out not be as good as the Fezza!

Lanehogger:

Lanehogger wrote the following post at Thu, Nov 05 2009 7:27 AM:

Either it's me, but i get the feeling that the article wasn't totally bowled over by the 458 - completely missing the expected superlatives that were used to described the Merc SLS earlier in the week.

Either way i think the 458 is every inch as stunning as it looks and no doubt as good as the Merc. Thing is you know that somehow Autocar will prefer the new McLaren - even if it turns out not be as good as the Fezza!

Yeah you get that impression.

 Jamie is probably still on a downer and flat as after having been forceably removed out of the car :)

Guys - Jamie has asked me to clear up a few of the points raised here:

****** 

To answer a few questions.

Firstly the gaps in the bonnet next to the lights are inlets which channel air back out over the front wings to reduce the drag.

Secondly there are two speedos. A digital representation of an analogue one - this is contained in right hand TFT screen (but can't be viewed at the same time as the sat nav).
There's also a second small digital readout permanently displayed in the left screen.

Finally if the review came over a bit luke warm it wasn't meant to - just trying to get over as my info as possible. I absolulety loved it.

Really sensenationally good car.

Jamie. 

******

Hope that clears things up.

To an extent it is a personal choice, and depends on whether you feel the jolt you get with a super-fast single clutch transmission - such as that fitted to the 430 Scuderia - to be a highlight or deficiency.

- Personally I do worry about the new gearbox, the pleasure for me is not in the jolt of the single clutch, and is certainly not in the smoothness of the double clutch. It is in having the input from the right foot to iron out the jolt, that is where the skill comes in and therefore the pleasure in getting it right. Personally I hate the artificial jolt that happens in the california on a quick upchange as it just seems artificial. 

 impressive

watch-out LF-A...

I don't care for tests that wax lyrical with superlatives but tell you nothing, the fact of the matter is that this is the first Ferrari in years that I ache to see in the metal.

Sublime.

I want one . Now where do I get 159 999 from ? Seriously, a really beautiful car and the design flows together well for me.