Ferrari has taken the habit of morphing each of its V8 sports cars into more radical versions. The Ferrari 458 is no exception to the rule, after the 360 Challenge Stradale and the 430 Scuderia, the 458 appeared in a "Speciale" version. It is a road car, very similar to the racing version 458 Italia entered at the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 2011.

It was during the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show that the Speciale made its appearance. In terms of aesthetics, the F458 Italia Speciale (its full name) adopts a revised front bumber, a sizable rear spoiler, with highly visible and round exhausts. For those who find the Ferrari 458 Italia too calm, it's a great alternative. The aerodynamics are well-treated, with moving parts in the front and rear, and the downforce and drag are regulated in real time. The 458 Speciale was distinctly developed from the original 458 Italia, hence its radicalism. 

A few numbers: the 458 Speciale gained an additional 35 hp and lost 90 kg. That is 605 hp to a total weight of 1,290 kg which goes from 0 to 100 km/h in only three short seconds. The 200 km/h falls in less than 10 seconds (9.1). To reach these numbers, the Italian car is equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, specially designed for it.

Though the wheel trains and transmission of the competition version are quite different, and the chassis is more streamlined and minimized, this F458 Italia Speciale's lines definitely evoke its sister entered in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans...a circuit beast that is a great ambassador for endurance (among others) Ferrari style.

Geoffroy Barre - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

Photo: The Ferrari 458 Speciale is distinguishable by its red livery with a blue and white center stripe inspired by the historic NART (North America Racing Team) livery.