They modified the headlights.
Here's a comparison of their quarter angle...still not feelin' the Specialé: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7335/9557194708_50c802da80_h.jpg
605hp.... Most tuners can put in a regular 458 609hp at 9100, one of them even sponsors this forum. And I'm glad most of you find it strange, ugly in fact. I was thinking it was only me
I didn't know there was a Michelin Sport Cup 2? There previous Sport Cup tire was pushed into the dark when the Pirelli P Zero TROFEO R tire came out last year. I used the TROFEO R for track days and it's AMAZING! The best that I am aware of for a Semi Slick on the Ferrari platform. Michelin is a Sponsor for Ferrari. P ZERO TROFEO R, Motorsport Tires - PIRELLI US The Ferrari 430 to 430 Scuderia was a 2 second gain on Fiorano and we all know how fast those cars were! They did the same thing, street tires on the 430 and semi slicks on the Scuderia. Faster car and lap times, now I would be courious to see what is in store for the Nurburgring lap time. Same goes for the new Porsche 991 GT3. Ciao, SRR
BTW, the car has a moveable rear spoiler. Looks similar to that of the LaFerrari - it moves up and back. Jon
Overall I'm not that impressed, but as with nearly every other new car it will probably grow on me. The stripe, the hood and the passenger knee bumps are horrible. The stripe can be changed and I guess the hood can be played down if you choose a dark color. But it's no instant love and massive improvement imo as there was with the CS, Scud and 599GTO...
Love the front end, not digging the sunglass rear end. Some nice aero touches. Probably ridiculously overpriced. Would I buy one? No.
Where is that moveable rear spoiler? Can't see it clear on the 3D pics. EDIT: I found them. But where are the fronts ones?
The side slip angle feature is a brilliant idea. Think about the ability to control the car while at a sideways angle through corners: talk about exciting. This feature, unavailable on any other car right now, should make for an incredible, Stig like, hardcore driving experience. Love or hate the looks, I think the performance is going to rock!
Porsche new GT3 / Mercedes SLS BS and now 458S use the new Sport Cup 2 Tire and in 2014 its available on the aftermarket (michelin said this tire is 1 sec faster in hockenheim then Sport cup 1) with this tire the SLS BS was 0,5 s faster on a racetrack in germany then the Mclaren MP4 Thats the reason that i expected Fiorano laptime below 1,22 with 458s with Sport Cup
The front looks like the graft that it is. The base 458 is basically a round car with creases and flowing curves. Grafting on this angular front module doesn't work, though the hood ductwork is OK. The rear replaces the creased and curved elements with a large flat surface. There is now much more linear black plastic surface rather than the intricate interplay of paintwork and black edges in the base 458. The large central black plastic pod lacks the interest of the F1 light on the f12 and LaFerrari and so ends up being just plain ugly. The side view is minimally changed, with the removal of the lower sill being a slight positive. Overall one gets the impression of an attempt to migrate the basic rounded, flowing, creased design toward more of the angular slab sided look, ending up with a mix of both that is not pleasing to the eye.
I really doubt if any 458 owners will be adding those winglets in front of the rear wheels (contrary to 360 owners who put CS front spoilers on their cars). Is there ANY new 458S design feature which will be desired and upgraded by 458 Italia and Spider owners? BTW I believe my diamond polished two tone wheels look better than the 458S wheels. Many 360 owners upgraded to the CS wheels.
Can someone please explain what the hell those winglets in front of the rear wheels do?!!? Looks ridiculous like an add on kit component. Can't see the function in those....no vents in front of the rear wheels for any cooling.... Overall, looks more aggressive, which I like...though stripe seems too wide I don't think the "16M" version will be much different since it will look the same other than when the hard top convertible is down. I kind of like the "openness" of the soft top in the 16M.... I will keep my 16M for now
The Mac P1 has the exact same winglets. I'm assuming it's to cut drag by directing the airflow away from the rear wheels.
best explanation so far. my guess would have been an effort to divert attention away from the fact that there is no Pinanfarina badge there.
It's actually to smooth out the turbulent air heading towards the rear i.e. guide it over the wheel arches to help speed up the hot air coming out from the rear.
The 991 GT3 looks amazing compared to it's 997 predecessor. That's what the Specialé fails miserably in understanding; that the subtleties of proportion and clean lines can have such a tremendously positive visual impact...instead they chose to put wings and hood scoops.
Maybe I am jumping the gun and it's too early to pass a verdict but I am very disappointed with this update as well as the new Maseratis. Pininfarinas absence can definitely be felt. The new designs just do not flow as well.
I expected a little more racing type mirrors. That's one of the cool CS feautures... Very few successfully pull of mirrors like that... Stock exhaust look is cool but I love the racing style in-bumper dual exhaust!
