Ferrari 458 Speciale A Spider Unleashed

Ferrari 458 Speciale A (Speciale Spider) offers 597bhp and assured future classic status as Ferrari’s final non-turbo V8.

Ferrari has completed the 458 supercar range with a spider version of the lightweight 458 Speciale called the Speciale A. The A stands for Aperta – Italian for ‘open’, and the badge will only be worn by 499 cars, making the Speciale A as rare as the LaFerrari hybrid flagship.

Mechanically, the 458 Speciale A is identical to the 458 Speciale. The 4.5-litre V8 develops 597bhp, up from 562bhp in the 458 Spider, and drives the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox that’s even faster through the ratios than a standard 458’s transmission.

Weight-saving measures from the Speciale, like forged wheels and a new exhaust system, mean the Speciale A weighs in at 1,340kg when without fuel or fluids – a 1,445kg kerb weight. That’s 50kg more than the hard-top 458 Speciale, due to the folding roof mechanism and stiffening measures – but 90kg lighter than a regular 458 Spider. The aerodynamic features from the 458 Speciale are also carried over to the cabrio, like the revised front apron with active flaps, and taller rear diffuser.

Ferrari claims the Speciale A will sprint from 0-62mph in 3.0 seconds – 0.4 seconds faster than a 458 Spider – and lap the Fiorano test circuit in an Enzo-busting 1 minute 23.5 seconds. The top speed is unquoted, but sure to be north of 200mph. Meanwhile, the roof take 14 seconds to fold into a covered recess in front of the mid-mounted engine.

As seen in these official pictures, the 458 Speciale A is available with a unique design of racing livery with Pagani-style blue-tinted carbon fibre highlights. These finishes have not been seen on the hard-top 458, likewise the new Alcantara seats.

Official pricing for the Ferrari 458 Speciale A has yet to be announced, but it’s guaranteed to be the priciest 458 yet, likely to cost around £220,000. That’s unlikely to put off canny investors, however, who’ll eye the Speciale A as a future classic. With Ferrari reportedly eyeing a switch to twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8 power for the 458’s successor, this open-top Speciale could go down in history as the last-ever naturally aspirated V8-powered Ferrari road car.

Source: www.autoexpress.co.uk