No, I'm referring to the new video on the official website that answers several question that were asked on the 458 Italia forum. click on the link that says videos. The video seems messed up on my computer and it will only play the first 6 minutes but it shows that it's 15 minutes long. http://www.ferrari.com/English/GT_Sport%20Cars/458-Italia/Pages/458-Italia.aspx
No, the transmission itself is hugely different from a standard manual. Twin-clutch gearboxes house essentially two different sets of cogs -- one for 2-4-6 and another for 1-3-5-7. When you select third, for example, it'll "pre-select" fourth as well (via the second clutch), allowing an instantaneous shift when you click over, without any disruption of torque. F1 gearboxes are a bit more similar to standard manuals. They're 'essentially' standard 1-6 transmissions with hydraulic actuators.
For those who claim that they want the "latest and greatest" in technology & that a stick shift is antiquated.. if Ferrari sold a car that could steer itself better than any human could, would you be interested in buying that car, too? Would a steering wheel become antiquated technology, at that point?
Car manufacturers are currently working on such systems. They already have cars that can park themselves and systems that will over ride the driver when certain speeds and distances from other cars are detected. I get your point though, even though the gear selection argument thing is totally different.
Sorry, it was meant to be a joke, and besides, using the old 'car that steers itself' argument is just plain daft. Arguing that stick equals more involvement is entirely valid, even though I'm not sure I agree, but citing the car that steers itself argument is not only a silly argument but it entirely misses the point that Ferrari, whatever direction they decide to take, will always strive to put the driver at the centre of the experience.
And they'll make that profit by continuing to produce the Ferrari magic that people will pay a premium for. They have to make the driving experience something extraordinary otherwise, if they just make their cars go faster, they'll have to sell against the likes of the Nissan GT-R for a third of what they charge now.
Which is why I've driven just about every high performance car, just to be sure that what Ferrari is selling is not just smoke and mirrors. And I can tell you for a fact, they have nothing to worry about from the likes of the GT-R. And as long as they keep doing that, they'll keep making those profits.
I said Ferrari will continue to put the driver first. You said they'd put profit first. I said they'll make those profit by producing magic and being able to charge a premium for it. The magic is what they give the diver above and beyond the likes of the GT-R. I say the magic is real. The short version: Making profit is OK when you do it the Ferrari way.
The GT-R is a deeply impressive car and anyone who buys one is in for a real treat. But, having driven one, if I never drive one again it won't make much difference to me. But if I never get to drive a 430 ever again my life will be just a little poorer.
And, when you get a 458 (via dealership), you'll be even poorer! It's "the Ferrari way", as 'you' say !
Letrs not foreget the more recently made Carrera GT....6 speed stick shift in a true supercar- race car for the street.......
And everyone I know with one wishes it had a sequential ... the car is faster than anyone can shift. The 6-speed manual slows the car ... it could be driven faster with a sequential or flappy paddles. *Note - All the latest and greatest Ferrari's ... Enzo, CS, Scud ... have flappy paddles only G
Why exactly is it dumb? I just want to see how far the argument that "xxx is inferior because it's old tech" goes. Why is steering too far, and shifting not? That would be the latest & greatest in technology, wouldn't it? Yeah, hence my bringing it up. It's most likely not that far off into the future, and it's already been done as an engineering project with a Corvette at MIT (iirc).
One could just as easily say "Ferrari makes cars, not boulevard cruisers.." and so on. So why is steering too far, and shifting not? The analogies people make about turning a crank to start the engine don't apply - shifting is an active part of the driving experience, just like steering.
