Launch Control in US 458s?

Not 100% sure, but I think I read from somewhere that it is the same as launch control but is replaced by the letters "PS". Think it stands for performance start or something like that. No guarantee though. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

The PS button is the launch control. You need to take the car out of automatic and turn off traction control. Then it will only operate on a flat road surface. With the car in first gear put your left foot on the brake and rev the engine. The car will hold till 4k RPM and then you are off. No wheel spin or tire smoking just an incredible acceleration .

 

PS for Power Start. No idea why they had to change it for US.

 

I think NASA already trademarked Launch Control

 

only because David Bowie trademarked "Ground Control to Maj Tom....."

 

Was told it was for legal reasons; Launch Control is just too "strong of a term" considering our legal system.

 

Yes, I heard something like that too.

 

based on http://www.autoweek.com/article/20091104/carreviews/911049988

"Launch control is included too, though “control” is a bit deceiving. Push the “Launch” button, hold the brake and stomp the gas. Revs climb to 3,000 before you release the brake and go. However, at that point your right foot controls everything, and mashing it to the floor smokes the tires until the engine hits the limiter; you still need to have some skill to achieve ultimate acceleration times."

i was wondering, how do you stomp the gas and bring it up to 3000rpm and not "mashing it to the floor" ? does it mean that the one has to bring the revs up to 3000rpm and once the car launches, the driver then has to release the accelerator and control the acceleration ?

someone kindly correct me, or correct autoweek. also, does using launch control in "sports, race, CST off" have any difference ?

 

has anyone been able to get the PS to work correctly? seemed rather anticlimactic compared to the stradale's launch control.

 

So has anyone actially used PS or is everyone just looking at their car in the garage. It doesn't seem any different than just a normal start.

 

My Australian spec car has the PS button too, so it isn't just for US.

I've never been tempted to use it.

 

I was out last night and used it, I left the car in Race, did not turn off the Traction Control, put the car in first gear, push PS, left foot on brake, right foot on gas, revs up to 3000 rpms, let foot off brake and it goes, traction control keeps the wheels from breaking loose. Pretty impressive to me, but I have never used launch control in another Ferrari. I will try next time with Traction Control off and see what happens.

 

Thanks Joeyung. I thought mine was not working right, but it worked just as you described. With the stradale, there is a lot of smoke/noise/wheelspin/drama etc. But the revs on the stradale are 7,000 rpm. Not so with the 458. It just takes off like a normal car.

edit: Here's a stradale launch for comparison (not me) http://www.autoclips.net/en/videos/F/ferrari/360_modena?3F8be6C0032

 

I thought it meant "Push Start".


Onno

 

Launch, or PS, definitely gives an amateur a faster start. I have used it a number of times in appropriate places and it was fully explained to me by a ferrari demo driver on the 1 mile straight at Millbrook in the uk. From memory I thought it was nearer 4000rpm before you release the brakes but might be wrong. I am sure my cali was just under 3000rpm.

The demo driver, and the handbook, explained that the system learns the amount of grip available on the first attempt and so subsequent uses should be faster - not sure about the length of the 'gap' between uses on the same surface now I am writing this though.

Spinning the wheels and sliding are not the fastest way to take off or do bends as you are losing traction - the system keeps the maximum amount of torque at the wheels without allowing slip and I think you would need to be a very handy driver to duplicate this without the assistance. Not as much fun though but increases tyre life! I got to 175.4mph on the mile straight using PS but did not time it using my own limited skills.

With no PS and a full on start in race or above you will be doing a bit of corrective steering, maybe even battling to stop a spin!

From memory I think the topgear USA trip with 458, SLS and GT3RS doing starts with PS on at a drag strip with a very damp track (snow and ice visible I think) showed that although starts looked slow they were better than could be achieved without PS (with those drivers anyway).

 

Well no doubt its faster I'm just sayin its pretty anticlimatic compared to the stradale. just a little chirp and thats it. My Cayenne can make a chrip.