Ferrari 458 Speciale: Ferrari’s Peak Ferrari have made many great cars in their time, from Halo Greats like the F40 and LaFerrari to V12 Stars like the F12tdf and 250 GTO. But when it comes to Ferrari’s most beloved model, most would say the beguiling and brilliant 458 Speciale. This car is essentially a hardcore, more track-focused and stripier variant of the already legendary 458. This car saw the combination of the newest tech at Ferrari at the time such as launch control, super quick steering racks and dual-clutch gearboxes with more traditional features, such as its 4.5l naturally aspirated V8. What resulted was a car that took the sharp, tactful, and direct characteristics that Ferrari are known for to the next level. The Speciale simply tweaks these enhancements in an even sharper, more tactful, direct, and far more exciting package. Its V8 churns out nearly 30 more horsepower, and its weight is decreased by just under 200kg. What results is a car that demands to be driven, one that is direct, sharp, immediate, and exciting. Everything we know and love about Ferrari. Ferrari 488: The 458’s Underrated Successor The problem with creating a car as tremendous and perfect as the 458 is that its successor has its work cut out. When the 488 was unveiled at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, its reception was lukewarm. This was particularly because its 3.9l V8 was turbocharged and smaller than the 458's 4.5l Naturally Aspirated Masterpiece. Not to mention comparing a turbocharged unit to one of natural aspiration is a bit like comparing an orchestral score to a synthetic one. There will undoubtedly be lag, a muted soundtrack and all qualities that many would consider un-Ferrari-like. However, what most journalists seemed to forget was Ferrari’s greatest ever car, the F40 was turbocharged, as was Giles Villeneuve’s F1 champion-winning F1 racer. And Ferrari went to great lengths to reduce the turbo features of their new turbocharged unit. For instance, torque was limited in the first six gears to provide that instant response a Ferrari is known for. And there’s no getting around that the 488 was considerably more powerful producing 661 horsepower (almost 100 more than the 458). Not to mention it was more refined, better built and easier to exploit. The 488 Pista Spider: Taking Turbocharged Perfection to the Max And this gap has only widened with the car you see above. The hardcore, track-focused variant of the 488, called the Pista. Quite ironically Pista is literally Italian for Track, and this particular Pista is the Spider variant. The Pista Spider was launched in 2018, at a time when supercars were at their peak. With the likes of Lamborghini’s bombastic Huracan Performante, McLaren’s delicate 600LT and Porsche’s incredible GT2 RS. Yet somehow, the Pista managed to make all of them seem as though they were built from moss, bark and shale. It really was that great and today, I reckon still is. Lightened Construction: A Convertible Lighter than the Hardtop To make this car, Ferrari took their standard fairly incredible 488 Spider and got to work. They redesigned the entire front end, most notably fitting air ducts to the front bonnet, known as an S-Duct. This allows effective airflow over the car to the redesigned rear spoiler as well as the rear air diffuser, shared with the 488 GTE racer. All this along with the redesigned front splitter means this car generates almost 20% more downforce than the regular 488. In addition, the Pista features extensive use of carbon fibre on the bonnet and bumpers and 20-inch carbon fibre wheels, which further reduce weight by 40%. The result is this car weighs 1380kg, an astonishing 145 kg less than the 488 regular Spider. And shockingly less than the regular Pista. A surprising fact, given that most convertibles are noticeably weightier than their hardtop counterparts. This combined with the redevised 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox and revised steering rack certainly gave me quite the thrills. From corner to corner, this car dances with the grace of a Ballerina, cornering at immense speeds without even a chirp of protest from the tyres. And unlike the 296, the steering feels natural and real. The Greatest Turbo V8 In The Business: A Blaring Soundtrack of Power As well as updating the body, Ferrari have also reworked the Pista’s twin-turbo V8, using components from the 488 Challenge Racer. The V8 features new camshafts, a larger intercooler, inconel exhaust manifolds, titanium connecting rods, a lighter crankshaft, flywheel and a lighter lithium battery. The result of all these components is more power, a lot more power. It produces 710 horsepower, almost 50 more than the standard GTB. However, as before to ensure the car doesn’t feel turbocharged, Ferrari have limited the torque figure. In fact at 568 lb-ft it’s only 7 more than the regular GTB. The result being when I put my foot down, there was no wheelspin or tyre shred. Just raw, uncanny speed and acceleration. This car blitzes from 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds and keeps on going way past 211mph. All the wheel, your ears bleed from the roar of the incredible twin-turbo V8, which is further enhanced by the fact this is a convertible. It certainly sounds way more natural than the current 296, which almost sounds artificial. A Special Interior and a Future Classic But just as special as the performance, soundtrack, handling and engineering is the interior. The car features a blend of Alcantara, carbon fibre and superlight race-hugging seats. And those classic features like the enormous stop/start button and Manettino switch elevate what is already a special place to sit. It’s therefore no surprise when brand new this car costed over $380,000 when new. And unsurprising given how well Ferraris do on the second-hand market, that today it is worth over $440,000. A huge contrast to equivalent McLarens and Lamborghinis. Ferrari’s Pinnacle of Turbocharged Power: Far Superior to the Current 296 The 488 Pista Spider stands as a statement as to why change is sometimes for the better. Everyone assumed it to be a disappointment compared to the 458 Speciale. And whilst the older car may be a tad more special, the difference is so negligible that all the other qualities where the Pista outshines stand true. Not only is it superior to the Speciale, but in my opinion, it’s also way superior to Ferrari’s current mid-engine dream machine, the 296 GTB. Whilst technically speaking the new car superior from both a performance, technical and efficiency basis, somehow its need to meet requirements has somewhat neutered its soul. It no longer feels like a Ferrari. The Pista though does, it feels sharper, more delicate and light, more real and alive than the 296 ever could. It is truly a fabulous car. Ferrari’s pinnacle of Turbocharged power. F1rstMotors Facts and FiguresManufacturerFerrari S.p.AModel488 Pista SpiderYear of Release2019Engine3.9l Twin-Turbo V8Horsepower710 horsepowerTorque568 lb–ft0–62mph (100km/h)2.8 secondsTop Speed211mph (340 km/h)Weight1,380kg (1.4 tonnes)Power to Weight515 hp per tonneGearbox7-speed-dual-clutchDriven WheelsRear-Wheel-DriveRivalsLamborghini Huracan Performante Spyder, McLaren 600LT Spider, McLaren 765LT SpiderMehraj’s Score9.5/10 Source: Ferrari
