Ferrari 458 Spider FIRST PICS

I'm not sure either. They do look very Photoshopped. But then again, Ferrari do go overboard with their 'shopping. Not really loving it all that much, either.

 

My feelings exactly. I love the lines on this rendering but just HATE that the glass cover is gone. HATE it.

Being 6'7" I am always worried what going from a coupe to a spider is going to take away from legroom in the cabin (both the 360 and 430' coupes have greater leg and headroom than the spider, but I can still comfortably fit in my 360 spider) but with this new hardtop folding mechanism, I'll have to wait and see until I drive one.

And I drive my 360 spider (soft top and glass cover every day, to ever place and every weather condition and the glass cover has held up just fine (the soft top will go to crap after a while) so if only they'd have been able to do THIS car with the glass engine display window in place, it would have been the best spider they'd have ever built.

Perceptions change in person, but that lack of a glass engine cover may be a deal killer for me (and I'm a HUGE spider guy!) consider just how beautiful the coupe is.

Does anyone with connections hear the story WHY they were unable to do a glass engine cover? Or was this a conscious CHOICE on Ferrari’s part to not put it on the spider? If so, it was/is a HUGE mistake.

Otherwise, this car is just stunning!

 

I think it's because the roof is stored there. How much do you want to bet the say it's to save weight?

It doesn't bother me. It gives me an excuse to pop the rear and show off the engine when people ask to see it. My 246 Dino GT didn't have a glass cover over the engine and it looked great.

Like I said earlier, if there is a way to add some glass back, someone in the aftermarket will figure out a way to do it. Or, it may become an option. But to me, I'm sure its for a technical reason rather than marketing.

 

LOL! I bet you are right! But I could give a rat's a** about weight savings in a spider.

And my 328 doesn't have a glass deck either, but that engine (or the dino) isn't really laid out as a work of art TO be on display like the 360 on up are. And if you are correct that an aftermarket supplier can come up with a glass cover, then Ferrari could have done it as well and chose not to for whatever reason. To quote that knight from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade; "They chose poorly"

 

Looks like my impression of spiders just changed....this is one sexy beast!

 

Just not feeling the warmth here. When I first saw the 458 I yelped "WOW".

When I saw these photos, I thought "eeww". Just doesn't flow like the coupe.

 

+1

 

Love it; can't wait to see it in person!

-G.B.

 

I think those pictures show the real thing, they look very much like the usual official ones, even in all their over-photoshopping. Plus, the roof(less) and rear deck area looks like a plausible real possibility, not like one more theory -and we've seen very fine ones. I admit that leaks are not very common for Ferraris lately, but I'm convinced this is it.

That said, I agree with bdelp that the side view looks too targa. On the other hand, I don't mind at all that the glass engine cover is gone: hey, it was a nice touch in past models, but does it mean that it has to stay forever? No, please... let's give designs freedom and not restrictions.

Bottom line is I'd still take a coupe. Original idea vs. afterthought

 

Well said, that's my feeling too.

Onno

 

True of almost any automobile...

Coupes just have the lines intact, literally.

 

In my complete opinion they should perhaps ditched the convertible model and kept it strictly coupe they already have the California for that.

But clearly there are people who like and want it there is money to be made.

I do look forward to seeing it with my own eyes though.

 

50% of all F430's and 360's were convertibles and resale values of convertibles is always higher. You can buy a Scud for just about the same price as an F430 spider. You bet there's a market for them.

 

Didn't know that about the resale, it was just an opinion clearly wrong.

I do have a question though, I remember reading somewhere/something about the exhaust being quieter on the spider model due to I believe EU regulations and hearing damage was this Ferrari or another marque?

 

What I heard is that it's too noisy for passengers with the roof down. I haven't heard about regulations as a reason. I think we will know these details this week.

 

The California is a GT for a different market segment. Most markets sell the spyder very well and they also command great resale value. All major car brands offer both coupe and spyder models with the spyder model usually introduced after 1 to 2 yrs after the introduction of the coupe.

 

I guess everything will all be exposed on the 23rd. Majority of our questions will be answered by that time, can't wait for that. Something tells me that these may be the official pictures but a part of me is not convinced so let's all wait until Tuesday =)

 

I am betting that some owners of spiders end up fitting coupe exhaust systems, too loud, there is not such thing when it comes to Ferrari!

 

You can absolutely get hearing damage from any convertible that tops 180 km/h. Nothing to do with exhausts. Smart people get some ear plugs made.


Onno

 

I 100% love it!!!

 

I like the targa look but miss the exposed engine cover.

 

Biggest red flag I see comparing coupe vs. Spyder pics is where does the engine get its airflow intake?

The coupe, the rear windows curve in with twin engine bay air intakes. On the spyder, they appear to be gone. That plus the lack of the clear engine window lead me to believe these are fake.

Jury is out for me...

 

Not really, the people that were invited to view it last month at the factory all said the clear window is gone.

 

Anyone interested in a 2012 coupe that was put on the boat July 29th?? I need to switch my deposit to another 2 year wait list..... Oh never mind, I'm a coupe guy but this does look nice....... Need to see it with the top up.....

Tony...............

 

The only thing I find curious about the photos is why they don't show the car with the top up. For most of us that is the real mystery.

Top down photos have been photoshopped for months and for my money a convertible is a convertible, but what it looks like with the roof closed is what makes the car for me and I am sure others that live in a climate that requires a top up car for a good part of the driving season........oh yeah some of us live in a climate where there is a driving season and in some locals it ain't much longer than baseball season, if that