Seems like they went through a lot of trouble engineering it to protrude out like that. I'm not sure I get it?? Can it be deleted along with the mounting stalk?
Once upon a time, a young waxy pointed to nearby acreage and shouted "That horse has 5 legs!" outside church.
Thinking of giving Wide World some more business? The RR 'Spirit of Ecstasy' regularly does a disappearing act. It seems the horse remains; as a temptation for all who see it. CH
A lot of people seem to have taken offense at the Nose Horsey. Concerns about its venerability aside, I think it looks rather nice. Then again, I can't understand why so many people have taken offense at three tail pies...
I think I've worked it out. For those markets where a front plate is "optional", the horse adds some interest to the black void below the bumper. For the rest of the world where no plate = instant ticket, the horse should be removed and a licence plate should take its place. Surely no designer contemplated that the plate and the horse should be jammed in together.
Good point. But in that case, bending front plates can't be easier. Will they not bend gradually in extreme speeds too??
The horse is part of the new aeroelastic package on the 458...like the wings on the front that deflect at speed to route air ...the hores deflects too...it is good for additional downforce. Not...lol
LOL! You guys crack me up. If there was no horse on the front, first you would complain that it was missing and next someone would start to add them like shields on 308's, 328's, etc. The irony is that if you look at the photos of owners in Europe, a lot of people are going through a lot of effort to keep it and mount the license plate around it instead of replacing it.
exactly!! noone is going to cover or to remove it here, trying to find a solution for the number plate..
You guys can get slimline plates can't you? It's a tight fit behind the horsey, but it's do-able if you're determined.
Jim, Looking at your second shot, from the side, the mounting reminds me of the Hollywood sign--two dimensional, like a movie set! Fred
In the '70s, Audi Foxes at dockside were often relieved of their for mascots for just such a purpose! Fred
I used to think the front bumper Cavallino on the 458 was gaudy and over the top, but after seeing the car in person, I'm starting to warm up to it. That whole black front nostril area looks kind of bad in pictures, but in real life it has a three dimensional aspect to it that is intriguing. The way the bendable winglets stick out and the way the Cavallino floats in front of the black area in the middle of the bumper looks very different IMHO in 3D than it does in 2D pictures. Much better. Having said that, I would still worry about it being stolen for belt buckles and I wouldn't hesitate to take it off if I had to install a front license plate.
Finally, a prancing horse mounted in such a way that it can be properly cleaned without scratching the surrounding paint.
