12c free power upgrade

458 will be just fine with the upcoming 2014 Scuderia version, which will have at least another 25 hp and be even lighter. 2015 458 replacement will be due so I don't anticipate any changes until then.

 

2013 458 scuderia end 2014 new 458

 

So soon?

 

Seems logical and follows the mid-engine V8 lifespan of 5 years. But it will probably be a mild facelift with power upgrade and mechanical tweaks....a la 360 Modena to F430 Berlinetta.

 

458 debuted in 2009 and yes, time flies!

 

Its sooooooo much easier to give a 50 hp mapping upgrade to a Turbo car

 

+1. Just dial in the boost, remap, and make sure the cooling prevents it from going volcanic. Forget about yet more lag in a car that has too much of it already.

 

There's only one reason someone does an upgrade "for free".

They need to.

 

It think with 12MY cars (after 2011 sept. built), Ferrari did its mid-life-cycle improvements under the skin which can be fitted to all 458s as "handling pack" kit. This upgrade both improved suspension and transmission of the car as well as engine ECU. There can be also a slight power increase which will explain better/faster 0-200 km/h and quarter mile times from latest cars than launch cars.

Also, EVO Magazine lapped 2012 458 Italia 1 sec faster than first press car they used at Bedford (1:20.3 vs 1:19.3)

So, maybe there can also be some other slight improvements on 13MY cars just before Ferrari announces 458 Scuderia version. At least, this is my prediction with a slight hope. That's why I insisted on sept. build Italia and decided to wait for another 2 months.

 

My guess is the Scud version will have a turbo V8...

 

Not true. I met with the MaLaren guys. They're doing it because they really want customers to be happy with their cars. They encourage people to test drive them and have they have a HUGE commitment to customer service.

They're a lot different than Ferrari.

 

Fair enough....but that's also because at the moment they need to IMO. They are a "new" car manufacturer getting into a very competitive segment and they have to do something special to attract new customers.

Let's not forget that Siris or whatever they decided to call they navigation, bluetooth, etc package is still not working months after the first cars have been delivered.

They will most probably be losing money for quite a while until their set-up is perfect and if sales keep going well.

So with all this in mind I agree even more that for now they need to do all this to keep customers happy so only time will tell if they are really different from Ferrari and the others or this customer happiness thing was only to get things going.

 

Yah... right. I'm sure it has nothing to do with getting increased sales or getting some who are on the fence about keeping their order in line.

They are just being "nice".

I haven't seen a business EVER where the company gives away free stuff unless the absolutely need to. Nothing is free. Someone has to pay.

CEO's don't get bonus' for being nice. They get them to make their companies grow.

If being nice makes a company grow, great. But don't tell me Ron woke up one night and said -- Hey, let's give everyone a freebee "just because".

If they wanted to be nice, they should just drop the price 50 grand and give a 50 grand rebate to every one who bought one already. They would make their customers very happy.

 

You're wrong about them. They are nice. They are trying to make customers happy and it's working. My local dealer has sold 34 so far and invited any interested person to test drive one. When was the last time Ferrari invited every one at their event to test drive one?

Thirty four sales so far in this area is very good and when Frank makes them a little more wow which he will, they will be serious competition to Ferrari. Their new SuperCar will be very cool and their last one is much more valuable than any Ferrari SuperCar including the FXX.
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Wow...talk about seeing things through "rose colored glasses". The truth and reality is the 12 C is unattractive, has bugs in production and while a good car is hardly the "end all be all"....LOL.

 

All true but they're addressing all of the above.

Once again when was the last time Ferrari invited enveryone in the room to test drive their latest?

Never.

As an aside this dealer is also a Ferrari dealer.

 

Jim: When you're number 2, you have to try harder.

When you're number 3, you have to try a lot harder.

 

I agree with Jim, McLaren are really putting an effort in which is good to see. Last time I was up in Chicago, the McLaren service guy took me out in the car, walked me through the whole thing, answered all my questions and made me feel really happy about it. Such dedication is quite swaying to me, best, 2nd best, whatever.... As long as they answer the phone and address my complaints they will have customers all day long.

 

You mean like Ferrari in F1?

1 Red Bull-Renault
2 McLaren-Mercedes
3 Ferrari

 

Well yes!

But I mean they are behind F cars and L cars. What they are trying to do is very difficult. I said at the beginning the chances of making money on this venture was slim. I also said that the US market would be their most difficult, least profitable, and most expensive investment to enter. IMO, they should have waited and focused on getting the cars perfect and successful in Europe first.

The 12c may be a great car but companies who make great products don't necessarily succeed.

I hope they succeed but giving away free stuff this early isn't a good sign.

 

They're way ahead of Lambo already and upgrading existing Customers cars for free is a great idea. Porsche has been doing it for years and they're way more profitable than Ferrari.

In GT racing they're way outselling Ferrari. The GT3 McLaren was much faster than the Ferrari GT3 at the Ring and in GT1 the McLaren's won the last race.

 

Well, we can recall this thread 5 years from now and see who was right!