458 Italia - Differences in Model Years

If I'm not wrong, the 2010-2011 458's have a more aggressive gearbox and the exhaust note is slightly different (there are more audible pops and burbles). For those reasons, I chose to buy a 2011 Italia. But there is a HUGE benefit of buying a 2012-2015, and that is you get the 7 year warranty.

 

How will you feel if you try to claim and the dealer reminds you its actually only seven year's free routine servicing ?

 

Minor correction, it's not a 7 year warranty but is 7 years of covered annual service.

 

If you look for the sound then the above statement is true. The 2010 models have the good software. You will most likely not find a car that has this though since dealers automatically update now. I agree on the 7 year maintenence plan. Its transferable to the new owner. there are plenty of threads if you are looking for the must have options. Good luck! The 458 is an amazing car

 

made me chuckle this reply!

 

Got a 2012 SPIDER. First year for the spider and first year for 7 year free maintenance.

Glad i did not wait. Over 20k sMiles.

 

There has been an upgrade on the 458 2012 coupe which has been mentioned on various posts. The 2012 Italia is therefore 1 sec faster on the Fiorano test track as reported by Forza on their February issue. Of course this is expected and believable.

Here are software and hardware (accelerometers) changes as per the Bulletin from Ferrari SpA:

"New control software for the magnetorheological dampers was developed
to improve body control and boost tire performance for an even sportier feel.
The new control software is active in all of the manettino settings with specific
calibrations.

The F1 dual-clutch transmission control software has been evolved and now
delivers more emphatic gear-shifts when the manettino is in the RACE, CT
OFF and ESC OFF settings. The new software features a strategy that utilizes
the energy built up during gearshifts by the twin clutches to provide positive
acceleration when the next gear engages. The extra acceleration is felt only on
up-shifts and is not available in the AUTO mode.

The F1-Trac has also been recalibrated to guarantee that the 458 Italia is
faster coming out of corners when the manettino is in RACE. In the power-on
phase coming out of bends, the new calibration ensures more accurate control
of the torque being delivered to the rear wheels. The aim in this instance is to
achieve and maintain the maximum performance possible from the tires in the
available grip conditions. Smoother, more fluid torque delivery on the very limit
of road-holding guarantees that the car is faster coming out of bends.

 

If I recall correctly there was a major upgrade with modelyear 2012. (mid 2011). The instruments changed (i.e. the speedo can be displayed on the left screen). The gearbox-software as well as the suspension was changed (esp. the damper-control was improved), what made the car even quicker. Plus - as already mentioned - the exhaust-pops vanished.

Damn, somebody was quicker ;-)

 

Yeah, I'm a new owner of a 2014, and I have noticed that on "Race" setting, under hard acceleration, I can feel a thump in my seat from each gear change up. And, with the downshifts, minimal popping from the exhaust.

 

2012's and newer have the gearboxes with more "emotion" -- except for the Spider.

10's and some 11's had the most gearbox problems. So did 09-10 California's which used the same box.

 

^^ this is what changed in 2012, plus the addition of the 7 year MAINTENANCE (not warranty) coverage

to potentially offend my friend 458Trofeo, additional changes (updates) were made to the engine mapping. This, in effect, is what reduced the "crackle, pop, burble" effect on over-run.

When the car is in race mode and being driven "hard" (i.e. hard acceleration, hard braking), a number of things happen. When you lift off the throttle, the car actually starts braking via the Pre-fill logic. It's anticipating you braking. Also, if you go to the brake hard enough and downshift, it amplifies the blip to match revs. It's amazing. Those blips are positive revs. If you brake gently, you'll notice the blips are much lazier.

A lot (most) of the "pop and crackle" is from when people are hard on the throttle, and lift off (i.e. gas it off a stoplight, get going, and coast...it's classic over-run; excess and unburned fuel passes into the exhaust and ignites there (vs. inside the cylinder). Audi in the R8/10 and BMW in the M cars does this a bit on purpose to add to the "emotion" (plus BMW has speakers to amplify it). If you ever drove an older Porsche, especially a Turbo, it was even pronounced.

In reality, you can like the sound and if so, that's great, but it's actually not the best for the exhaust and doesn't do much other than make cool sounds. The way the car is tuned post-2012 actually makes it perform better (plus it reduces emissions by eliminating the over-run). If everyone recalls, one grip about 2010-11 458's was the DCT was too smooth, so they "Scud-ified" the gearbox logic in Race mode and above to increase the "kick" on upshifts.

( I interrogated a factory engineer at a Mugello race in 2013 since I was asking the same questions). Say what you will about Ferrari, they are VERY good at developing control software for their cars - chassis, engine, gearbox.

 

So the question needs to be asked if the '10s and '11s CAN be upgraded to the 2012+ software versions? My dealer said there are no updates available for my 2011, and it definitly has the old engine mapping based on the sound.

 

Yes, it was was offered as an upgrade kit. Can't recall price but it was $5K+. Some of the mods and updates were hardware related IIRC for the suspension. Your parts guy probably needs to look deeper, though I'd imagine there were few takers.

SAFE4NOW (Steve is the Service Mgr at Boardwalk) can probably give you the full scoop.

On the engine mapping, I believe that was a campaign applied to all 458's - unless, like 458Trofeo, you forbid your dealer from doing it. I also do not believe they will reverse the update (i.e. they don't have an easy "uninstall" program).

 

Wow, you're the American DK308!

I don't even read car magazines anymore.

The real life experience from drivers posted here is insightful. Thanks.

 

so is there no way to get both the popping sounds AND the more aggressive shifts?

 

There's a whole thread on this one...not today.

 

The cost was 5-10K with parts depending on dealers...some body parts had to be removed to install the accelerometers.

 

here you go...

Genuine Accessories & Spare Parts: enter the world dedicated to Ferrari car services.

this is the 2012 "handling kit upgrade"

 

So the posts above highlight the changes post 2011, which is very informative

My question is, how do all these upgrades translate to someone not tracking the car, but using it more for daily tasks sometimes plus runs on lovely twisty roads every now and again

In that sense is a post 2011 worth the extra ?

Thanks

 

bump..I have the same question as well. Thanks

 

Bump is a post 2011 worth the extra cash?

 

For mindset: yes. For free maintenance: yes. For better value in resale: yes

For technique: don't know, maybe. Bye the best you can .... or don't buy one at all ...

 

my understanding is all the changes were software and not hardware - so a 2010 with all the updates is the same as a 2012+