Great rear end! And nice to see that the back of the 458 also looks better than some had feared. Probably the nicest Ferrari design since the 355 IMHO - and on a par with it.
sorry for the crap iphone quality but here is a video I took of the launch film [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMUb4_rtoEU[/ame]
I love the Spider but, to be honest, I prefer the coupé. The Spider feels compromised in terms of design (ie. the glass deck lid had to be sacrificed in order to accommodate the folding hard-top). I, for one, can't really see the appeal of a folding hard-top over a soft-top on a car like the 458 Spider. What's wrong with the R8 Spyder or Gallardo Spyder? I know Ferrari wanted to make the Spider look as close to the coupé as possible when the roof is up but, IMO, there is no comparison - when it comes to looks, the coupé wins hands down.
Back a few years ago when there was a poll about what people wanted in the new 458, I said I thought removing the "glass engine cover" would be a good thing. It was great in the 360/F430 but even the Corvette was copying the idea. It was becoming a design gimmick. People think the 355 is such a beautiful car and it doesn't have a glass cover. It looks like Ferrari turned the 458's rear deck into a flying buttress that blends into the rear wing. Then, the topped it with very cool looking 246 Dino-like grill cut outs. I think it's way better than a class cover that even the McLaren copied (poorly).
Actually they said the opposite - they said they wanted to design to spider so that it was distinctly different from the coupe. btw the interiod also has a few changes - the most obvious being that the speakers are now located just behind your arms The new custom program stuff had loads of new options on colors / materials / stitching etc The black one they had on show with the red interior had a new carbon fibre option where you have a solid red through - I'll dig out a picture later but I thought it looked rather good
Tending to like Coupés always more then the matching Spiders (hence not talking about the real Cabriolets). But I always liked the 355 Spider, because it still had a similar silouette than the Coupé. On 360 and 430 I always liked the look with and through the glas window 'hatchback'. But with the Spiders the whole look changed, I never liked the glass cover and I really didn't like the look with the top on. Yes, the 458 Spider is more a Targa than a Spider, but it really has it's own look and I tend to like it... already.
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/08/ferrari-458-spider-goes-topless-in-italy/ I don't know... I am not feeling it. I think the Coupe looks better!
It looks so bland at this angle.... just like a Tesla (see below). My 355 looks way more exotic. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I think the Spider is the epitome of everything I have dreamed Ferrari would build! I absolutely love its styling, its performance will, of course, be outstanding, and I believe, like its coupe sibling, it captures that heart-breakingly beautiful look that a Ferrari should exude...and it's open-topped!!!!!! My favorite way of motoring!!! AWESOME!!!!!
Comparing one view of it to the Tesla is like comparing it to this other yellow vehicle. Image Unavailable, Please Login
To be honest, I think this will be a car that I have to see in person to tell whether I really like it or not; I've never been this "unsure" before about whether or not I like a car's design. I see the resemblance... -G.B.
