Video: Why I Love My 458 Speciale

I like the yellow accent on your interior.

 

Car looks good!!!!

 

I could try to explain why I love my Speciale in a bunch of words but that would take pages and pages.. this sums it up pretty well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YYn9mzQMA4

btw/ I knew about the "secret" gearbox feature, it was the seat back tilt release lever that was secret until I watched you collection video

 

JW. Your video is great. That downshift "secret" is really neat.

Jasone. Your track video is awesome. Really demonstrates the power and ability of the Speciale. Love it!

Thanks to both for posting.

BTW Took the 458 out today and I have to say each time I drive it is like the first. Just great cars.

 

Just saw the video. I'm curious if the downshift feature is available in my 458 italia. Will try to see later. Great videos by the way. Thanks for sharing.

 

Hi all, great video thanks JJW! I believe the assisted downshift to 2nd gear is available in the 'standard' 458 from launch date. Always thought it would be handy on the track for approaching a hairpin. I find I use mine approaching intersections and stop signs (just for fun really) out in the back blocks of the North Island, NZ.

Question: In terms of outright acceleration in a straight line I find automatic gearbox mode is much faster, does anyone else find this?

 

The video quality is tremendous. What cam(s) are you using? Also, are you mic'ed up? If not, you might want to get a proper mic and then you won't need to shout over of the din of the road noise.

FWIW, the downshift 'trick' has been on the 458 since the very early days. To answer your somewhat rhetorical question in the video - the 'use case' is on the track plain and simple. Coming into a corner that will require more than one downshift - use the feature to help you maintain car balance on deceleration/downshifts and explode out of the corner in the optimal gear. Since the 458 and SLS share the same Getrag DCT gearbox, now I'm curious if my SLS has this feature as well.

 

You are exactly right, when breaking properly in to a corner you can be going from 6-2 in a very short distance and this feature takes one more thing off you mind. I used the auto downshift a lot in the vid I posted. I used to have to heal-toe through ~4 gears back in the manual days. Now it's a simple pull of the paddle. cool stuff!

 

Nice driving! You've got a pretty calm passenger there as well!

 

Great vid JW. I was wondering where you got you registration plate made to that size, for the life of me cant find a company that does them?

 

I've had a full Novitec system on mine for the last 6k plus miles. Loads of trackdays done in it too (over 105db). It really sounds very special. Sorry only clip I have...

https://www.instagram.com/p/-_7ewMobOc/?taken-by=woppum

 

Does the Italia work the same way on the rapid auto downshifts by holding the downshift paddle in under heavy deep braking coming into a cormer ?

 

Yes it's not a secret function, check the owner's manual

 

I enjoy your videos- keep them coming!

 

Nice video.😀

 

Great video!

 

Great Video - thanks for sharing