Speciale drs

Then you did not go fast enough ;-) The flaps lower at 120 kph when going straight and move up decelerating through 80... The icon shows up next to the wiper-mode-icon...

 

Can you explain a little more about this guys ?? Photo or icon etc ? We would like to learn from you ...

 

And as everyone knows the speed limit in the UK is 70 mph so OP will never have had the opportunity !!!!

 

Ha ha ha ... never noticed that, driving frequently on the UK M-ways at all Jimmie

 

and the DRS is about as functional as the flexing moustache on the front of the 458 Italia. Just marketing, doesn't really do anything.

 

About the uselessness I'm not sure... When driving the car on track it is obvious that the system behaves intelligent - in fast corners when you need downforce the DRS will not engage. The Speciale does create more downforce than the Italia, but also has more drag. The amount of drag-reduction via DRS might not be too high, but I wouldn't say it's effect is completely zero...

 

It is a short drive to Germany where you can test it out...if you do not mind driving on the right side of the road.

 

I have seen the ICON on numerous occasions ...

Someone else posted this pic a while ago.
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I see it every time I drive the car

 

Posted this last September.
Got another chance to go on the highway today and the drs lights comes on at 130 kmh and goes off at 80 kmh. Need to get someone to follow me and let me know if the back flaps open and what speed.

 

Only if you are within 1 second of the car in front of you.

 

I stumbled into this information. I don't remember seeing this before?

http://ferraridatabase.com/The_Cars/2013/458%20Speciale/1/Aerodynamics.pptx
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And this.
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I looked through the owner's manual, and I couldn't find anything about the speeds at which the DRS is activated. Maybe I missed it? I'm curious where you found the information about the flaps lowering at 120 kph. Seems like too slow a speed.

 

They will show once you hit a certain speed. It's on page 117 in the manual. Here's the paragraph that describes the system and speeds at which it's engaged. As you can imagine it's at higher speeds.
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Hi Rod,

I saw that in the manual. It gives specific speed data at which the various aero features at the FRONT of the car operate, but I can't find anything that specifies at what speed the flaps under the diffuser (the drag reduction system DRS) are deployed? Bigblock737 stated the DRS flaps deploy at 120 kph which seems too low a speed to me...but he certainly could be correct. I'm just trying to find where that information is documented

 

I just took the speed when DRS is displayed. As said before, this is when going straight, if you're on track the deployment is dependent from g-forces etc.
The part Rod took from the manual is describing the flaps in the front, which are moved by airpressure solely. That's a passive system, just like the front flaps of the Italia are...

 

Yes the manual does not specifically state the speed for reasonable reasons Andy has mentioned.

The speeds of 125km/h tri-flaps activation and 85km/h deactivation were speed visually observed and estimated during a drive on a straight road.

Below pic of comparo between Italia and Speciale...

It appears that the Speciale could be longer in length.
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Stumbled onto this today and thought I'd pass it on to those that may not be aware of it, which could explain why some may not be seeing the drs icon, esp this time of year. I received my '15 Speciale last week and of course went for a ride (temp above 50 F) and saw the drs icon come on, as expected, at about 78 mph. Went out this morning (temp 25 F) and even at 95mph, no icon. Good thing I saw it last week. Went back to the manual (page 129) and just happened to see that there was an "important note" about the drs: "The active aerodynamics are disabled in WET mode and in any driving mode when the outside temperature is below 37 F (3 C)" Was out out later today (the temp was above 40 F), and the icon came on as expected. Thought I'd pass this info on. Al

 

Good catch Al I've read the manual several times, and I missed this