I love the colors. Obviously, there is some kind of new process going on here. The interior needs to be CF and I'm sure Ferrari will make a lot of money selling CF interior parts. One thing I really like about the interior is the elimination of the center screen and radio. It looks much simpler and more purposeful. It says: I'm a drivers car and perhaps is actually more functional this way. Let's give them credit for rethinking the entertainment stack (although forget putting and aftermarket system in a 458. I'm not crazy about the design of the AC ducts but the overall cockpit looks different and interesting.
Without the benefit of a test drive it's hard too say, but I do prefer the CS over the Scud, simply because it feels "edgier". I know the Scud will outperform the CS head to head, but at the capability level of these cars feel is way more important than absolute numbers. I'm pretty sure the 458 will drive beautifully and be very civilized, but for that kind of feel I prefer a GT like the 599 and even, dare I say it on FChat, the California. I'd really like to see a 458 in the CS mode - stripped down to minimum weight, optimized for razor sharp response in braking, turn-in and lateral acceleration, a narrow torque band so you have to keep the revs up and running on barely legal tires shaved to within an 1/8 of an inch of being slicks. That is a sportscar I would buy from Ferrari.
Basically the Scuderia seat with some craft stitching. Actually reminds me a lot of the Lamborghini seats with central Alcantara and quilted stitching. Hope they've softened it from the Scud - hard to get more than 2 hours in those!
There's an excellent set of pics and vids at the site where that seat pic originated from... http://www.autogespot.com/nl/item/4991/verwennerij-video-en-meer-fotos-onthulling-458-italia.html Make sure you click on the picks to scroll through them all at full size.
I still think the 360 is more beautiful... I dunno about this thing.. I had to admit seeing the california in person left a better taste in my mouth.. I liked it a lot in person.. here's hoping I feel the same way about the 458
I'm really starting to like this one, the front end is coming around for me. The yellow and black cars look unbelievable!!!!
Looks like it might be similar to the fantastic metallic yellows they use on the Lambos. And that's a good thing if it is. Needs to be seen in the flesh to be appreciated.
Great pictures! Do you have this one in a higher resolution that you can e-mail to me...? [email protected] Image Unavailable, Please Login
I must say the black one left me a little bit weak at my knees. Always dreamed that my first Ferrari would have to be red but this really got me (wishfully) thinking! It really looks amazing. I'm not so keen on the interior, doesn't the plastic surrounding the instrument binnacle, lower part of steering wheel look a bit low rent? Also not keen on the light/camel interior, it further gives me the feel of more a GT car than a sports car. The black seats look awesome though, maybe playing with the options list can tilt the car more to the sports side.
Exactly the way I ordered my 430, ie, alcantera center inserts in doors which wrap around on back shelf contrasting smooth leather on top of shelf. Add the roof in alcantera (and in mine, inserts on daytonas), the standard dark carbon on dash and the effect of the two "finish" leather throughout the cabin is perfect. Glad they took my design in consideration--think I'll get credit on from the design guys?
Thanks for the link. Some great pix there. One thing I for some reason had not noticed before was how the Cavallino Rampante was displayed. I had obviously seen it, but not the details of how it was stuck on this protuding little piece. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Oh please don't go there...its one thing to have a "cali cruiser" thread, yet another to pollute the purity of a red blooded Ferrari with such a fantasy. Seriously, I absolutely agree that a stripped down, razor sharp, tightly wound Italia would be as near as possible to perfect!
The stereo is now contained in the media screen to the right of the tachometer in the main instrument display. There is a rotary control in the pod to the right of the sterring wheel which you use to access it in presumably a similar way to BMW's i-drive or Audi's MMI systems. The same screen is also used for the phone, navigation and speedometer displays.
The cavallino mount is definately not the intended mounting point for a front licence plate as some had speculated. It is sloped at an angle to support the emblem. I've no idea how they intend to mount a front plate. The only option I can think of is an ugly plate mounting kit fixed to the lowest edge of the bumper. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Aha! Now I get the 3rd exhaust! Sorry if I'm late but didn't find an explanation for the assimetrical split in any other post. So the middle gets 2 exhausts crammed into one pipe. http://log.autogespot.com/09-2009/458ital/26.jpg Image Unavailable, Please Login
Those front LEDs look like railroad signals; horrible and ostentatious. The more I compare this thing to the new McLaren, I realize that the MP4-12C is going to handily trump the F458.
