Ferrari is to launch a new version of the 458 at the Frankfurt motor show. The ‘Speciale’ will sit between the existing 458 Italia and 458 Spider. It will have the most powerful normally aspirated V8 engine ever fitted to one of the company’s production models.

The 4,495cc V8 is said by its maker to deliver power of 445kW/605cv at 9,000rpm and 540Nm of torque at 6,000rpm. This is claimed to be sufficient to allow the 1,290kg 458 Speciale to reach 100km/h in 3.0 seconds.

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Further distinguishing the Speciale from the Italia are front and rear “movable aerodynamics” which are said to balance downforce and cut drag, helping to make this the most aerodynamically efficient range production car yet launched by Ferrari.

Side Slip angle Control system (SSC) is another innovation. This reportedly makes is easier to achieve car control on the limit. Thanks to the development of an accurate new algorithm SSC is said to perform instant-to-instant analysis of the car’s side slip. It then compares this with a target value and optimises both torque management (via integration with F1- Trac traction control) and torque distribution between the two wheels (via integration with the E-Diff electronic differential).

Author: Glenn Brooks

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