I agree. I stayed away from most of the CF but I wish they offered the new Challenge rear section when I ordered it. I would have gotten that. Those come out next spring.
You're not crazy - the similarity to the F50 has already been discussed by others in this thread, including me (I agree, BTW). Love the official shots with the closed top - they really worked hard to put in a lot of nice details, like the scalloped section n the roof. Also, the attention to details on how all the various hardtop bits go together is pretty impressive. Overall, it's very nice and clean. The simplicity of the design, including the unadorned buttresses, is really a throwback to the 60's. How's this for crazy - it reminds me of this (the roof area anyway): Image Unavailable, Please Login
With all due respect,i'm really at a loss to understand the "connection/lineage" from the 40 yr old Boxer & the 458 Italia. Yes they are both Pininfarina designs,and yes both mid engine albeit 8 cyl V 12cyl.The Boxer has a very long front overhang (some would say excessive) and a modest rear overhang.The 458 has much less front overhang,and a truncated rear.The windshield touchdown on the 458 is almost over the front axle whereas the Boxer has a windshield that is further rearward.The DLO's are completely different from one another.The sail/buttress on the Boxer reaches almost to the rear,where the 458 sail ends much sooner.The design vocabulary of the Boxer is a simple cylinder/tube intersected with wheel lips,the 458 is a series of complex forms with a bone rising and falling between the wheels. Strong lineage?
I'm not liking the new shape of the windscreen very much. It's been already discussed: the part where it meets the roof is different from the coupé, surely due to retractable top requirements. In the spider the line is straight when viewed from above, curved when viewed from the front. In the coupé is the opposite: pretty straight from front, curved from above. Might seem a tiny detail, but I can't help noticing it all the time and I don't like the new shape, makes the car look taller and less aggresive with that big rounded windscreen.
Lets face it if you were going to be aggresive with a 458 you would buy the coupe, ie. racing, etc. The Spider is for cruising and looking cool in . Pete
Just attending the Frankfurt motorshow. Besides the 458 spider on show to the public there is also a beauty in the VIP area to show the 'Taylor Made and Atelier' services. Absolutely amazing. They will stop at nothing with this new taylor made thing. Saw a beautiful paint job on the 458 spider - flamed black they called it with hint of red in the black. metallic paint. new fabrics for seats etc and literally everything can be tailored to the buyers demands. Image Unavailable, Please Login
More photos from the Taylor Made 458 spider at the Frankfurt motor show Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
WOW, I wonder if that color is similar to the Mac's fire red which had red flakes in the black metallic....I love that color and would definitely get a spider in that color.
Forgot to tell you, they told me the cost of this paint is near enough £20-22k. The 'Taylor Made' costings on this car were near £40k. I know I can't justify that much on taylor made, maybe some day though. plus i still need to think about resale. good luck to those who can afford this kind of individuality - get the perfect car for themselves Sunny
my big gallery form IAA Frankfurt: http://www.czechferrari.cz/clanek/ferrari-458-spider-iaa-frankfurt/26604/ Ferrari 458 Spider ♥
Wow there are some great new shots here. How do you guys do this???? I think working on the engine is going to cost a little more than the coupe! Image Unavailable, Please Login
Agreed. With the top on that thing is not pretty from 3/4 standing up behind. As someone said - looks like a Lotus. Looks good with top off - not so much with it on.
this is the best picture i can get of that paintwork at the minute going thru my photos and attempting to photoshop them so that the lighting is ok. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Got a claustrophobic feeling just looking at that picture. Good luck DIY Ferrari buyers 20-30 years from now...
Keep in mind the Porsche Boxster has an engine that is very unaccessable and it hasnt been a major problem to owners for many years. And lets not forget the engine out service that most Ferraris need prior to the 360.
Looking at the pictures I can see how the folding portion could be moved to reveal more of the engine for maintenance. I guess those details remain to be seen though.
