Archive for the ‘Ferrari’ category

The New Ferrari 458 Italia has Innocent Performance

September 17th, 2011

Ferrari 458 ItaliaFerrari 458 Italia features the best torque in its category, an F1 type steering wheel and a backup of technology and electronic systems capable of delivering the ultimate in performance and safety. Completely new in terms of concept and design, Ferrari latest supercar combines extreme performance with great comfort. Innovation is the key element: the chassis and its components, the power unit, the aerodynamics, the ergonomics enjoyed by the driver, the electronic system capable its performance and new generation brakes are just some examples of what makes the new Ferrari 458 Italia has innocent performance.

The proportions are extremely evocative of the Enzo, and the passenger cabin has plenty of room with priority accentuated to the driver. Controls are concentrated in the steering wheel and instruments are functionally divided into operational information, rev counter and navigation screen. The steering wheel, in particular, is impressive as it has all the commands at the driver’s fingerprint, including the gearshift paddles.

The Ferrari 458 Italia is a car coming after the two most successful models in Ferrari’s history: the F430 with its outstanding performance, and the 360 that contributed in bringing the 100 per cent aluminum revolution to Maranello. The 458 Italia is a machine projected into the new decade: a completely new car in its chassis and suspension systems, the distribution of its parts and radiators, the engine, its aerodynamics and its second generation electronics systems. The Ferrari 458 Italia engine is the first engine for road usage capable of developing as much as 9,000 rpm and, together with a 120 Nm/l peak torque, guarantees top levels of sportiness and outstanding driving comfort even when used on a daily basis. Thanks to F1 experience gained, the 458 engine features a drastic reduction of friction and leaks in the mechanicals and pump action. Furthermore it uses direct double-stage injection which allows improving the peak torque but also reducing emissions, making the 458 Italia the best car in its segment. The 570 hp V8 engine is capable of performing 0-60 mph in less than 3.4 seconds. The seven-speed F1-type gearbox is coupled with a dual clutch to guarantee a smooth torque transmission. Ferrari 458 Italia embodies a dual soul: performing when required but also gentle and comfortable when driving normally. » Read more: The New Ferrari 458 Italia has Innocent Performance

Ferrari 458 Italia Sound

September 17th, 2011

To optimize efficiency, the Ferrari 458 Italia has been designed to satisfy the dual objective of providing the driver with the most complete feedback typical from a Ferrari V8 engine whilst also guaranteeing high levels of acoustic comfort. The silencers are equipped with by-pass valves that are activated at maximum performance. At lower revs, or on a partial throttle, the exhaust gases exit from a second pair of smaller diameter tubes. The result is a Ferrari 458 Italia’s engine sound not invasive at low revs but fuller and richer at increasing performance. Under low performance, the by-pass valves close, trapping the exhaust gases in the two silencers. At high performance and in particular under hard acceleration, the ECU responds by opening the valves and feeding all of the exhaust gases directly to the two outer tailpipes. The catalytic converter is attached to the central section of the exhaust by a flexible element which allows reducing the amount of vibrations transmitted to lighten the overall system. Similarly, the pre-catalytic converter has been eliminated, lowering overall weight and reducing back pressure whilst still complying with strict Euro 5 and LEV2 emissions legislation. Despite the more powerful engine of the 458 Italia compared to the one from the F430, the new Ferrari produces just 307 g/km of CO2 whether fuel consumption is 13.3 l/100 Km (combined cycle), reaching the best value in the entire segment.

Under full acceleration, the Ferrari 458 Italia sound is deeper than the F430 and it incorporates all the harmonics from 2nd to the 10th range. The predominance of these harmonics allows a full and powerful sound spectrum but also comfortable and unobtrusive. The Ferrari 458 Italia’s triple exhaust tailpipes recall those of the F40 underlining the car extreme performance and character. The ignition carries a fuel control system that uses ionization currents, first developed for the FXX and later employed on the 430 Scuderia.

One of the most innovative technologies implied in the 458 Italia is the dual-clutch gearbox which contemporaneously boosts performance and driving comfort. Mounted longitudinally in the rear, it is a seven-speed electrohydraulic gearbox without torque converter. It is capable of combining the fun driving experience of a sequential gearbox with the comfort typical of an automatic one. This dual achievement is reached thanks to the gear shifting time reduction to near zero and to the torque interruption abolition. This interaction enhances the torque delivery and the car’s sporty feeling: the response to the gear-shifting the engine acceleration are instant providing an extreme driving comfort. » Read more: Ferrari 458 Italia Sound