How do Ferrari do it? Just when you thought they’ve lost the plot and given up making cars that I want to have as a poster on my wall, they come up with this. The convertible version of the already ridiculously good looking 458 Italia. Prepare to bite your knuckles.

The 458 Spyder does represent a world first (car manufacturers love world firsts more than anything I can think of other than money) in that it features the first hard-top mechanical folding roof in a rear engined sports car. Seriously. Think about the engineering challenge there: create a tin-top folding roof that stows away on top the engine. That couldn’t have been easy. Who says Italians only do aesthetics properly.

Apparently the all-aluminium roof is 25kg lighter than a comparitively-sized soft top convertible roof, which I find quite remarkable. Aluminium is very soft though when used as sheet-metal, I highly suggest not leaning on the thing when you’re trying to show off. You playboy, you.

The 458 Spyder is powered by the same 4.5litre naturally aspirated V8 as its solid-roof cousin, which means it sounds like Zeus having an argument and accelerates like a frightened meerkat. 0-100km/h is achieved in less than 3.4 seconds and top speed is quoted as “greater than” 320km/h.

But none of this really matters when you look at the thing. It is quite possibly the most beautiful motorvehicle I’ve laid eyes on.

Ciro De Siena – OverdriveTV

It is incredibly ironic, I feel, that you can buy a new Audi R8 with a good old fashioned, solid steel, open H-gate gearshift, but you cannot buy a new Ferrari with the gearshift they helped make the object of boyhood dreams. Well at least my boyhood dreams. Ferrari don’t even make a manual transmission for this car.

This driver might have been wishing they had, as he’s in reverse for the start of this race against a Dodge Viper. The Viper does start off with a massive burnout, which might have made the Ferrari driver a bit nervous, overlooking the large R on the display. Well that was embarrassing.

If both cars are stock, its likely the Ferrari would have edged the Viper over the quarter mile as it reaches 100km/h from standstill in 3.4 compared to the Viper’s 4.6. But then again, if you’re going to race an old Viper against a new 458, chances are you’ve done a little work under the bonnet. Tuning company Hennessy has been known to extract 1000hp from the old buck.

Let us know if you’ve seen the Ferrari 458 matched up against anything special lately. Post videos below!

Ciro De Siena – OverdriveTV

This high-end vehicle is made in coalition with the famous Italian competition car maker Michelotto Automobili. This all new Grand Am is apparently based on the GT3. It  completely adheres to all the necessary safety and performance regulations for this category of automobiles.

This racing bull extracts its power from the integrated 500 PS (368 kW/493 hp) V8 engine, and comes equipped with a roll bar, a 48 mm restrictor and Continental tires.

What we found missing in the vehicle are the anti-lock brakes and traction control – we guess that makes it somewhat handicapped. But, it’s a Ferrari and we would always crave to drive one.

Obviously inspired by the FF concept, the model will ride on an aluminum chassis and has a multi-link rear suspension in order to improve ride quality. Besides, it is expected to adopt composite body panels to reduce weight. The rear-axle e-diff at the rear enables the engineers to tune the handling for agility or stability further.

Powered by a 6.3-liter V12 engine that produces 700 hp (522 kW / 710 PS), Ferrari 599 successor will be connected to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. It allows the rear-wheels to receive power through an electronically locking rear differential.

The new model will also offer direct fuel injection to beat the present 599′s performance while offering substantial fuel economy gains. Gearing up for an all-new Ferrari 599?

(Via MotorTrend)

Any resemblance to P540 Superfast Aperta? It seems so. P540 Superfast Aperta was inspired by the Carrozzeria Fantuzzi-designed Ferrari, which appeared in the movie Toby Dammit.

It was also powered by a 6.0-liter V12 engine with 456 kW (620 hp) and 608 Nm of torque. Aperta has a combined fuel economy rating of 17.9L/100 km and a CO2 emissions rating of 415 g/km.

However, it is not fair to assume Ferrari Super America 45 to be purely based on Aperta model. So let’s wait till May 20, when the bespoke will be out to the world.

The 4RM system could be defined as a 50 percent lighter than a standard all-wheel drive system. The mechanism goes as such: The PTU (power transfer unit) takes its torque directly from the crankshaft. At the same time, the two separate multi-plate clutches drive the front wheels independently.

The FF concept incorporates a four seated luxury interior and has a small trunk placed in the rear. The manufacturer has loaded it with 2 golf bags to demonstrate its capacity.

The power is attained from the mid-front mounted 6.3 liter V12 engine that churns out 660 PS (485 kW / 651 bhp) and 683 Nm (504 lb-ft) of torque mated to a seven-speed double-clutch gearbox. The car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 335 km/h (208 mph).

Check out the video for more details.

(Via WCF)

The Ferrari Four (FF) features an aggressive front fascia as well as an expressive rear part. It is said to have got a California-inspired profile. The vehicle exhibits a shooting brake design. It can hold 450 liters (15.9 cubic feet) of luggage with the rear seats up and 800 liters (28.3 cubic feet) with the rear seats down.

The auto is likely to come equipped with a 6.3-liter V12 engine that develops 660 PS (485 kW / 651 hp) that churns out 683 Nm (504 lb-ft) of torque under the hood. It is connected to a seven-speed double-clutch transmission.

It sends power to an advanced Ruote Motrici (4RM) four-wheel drive system incorporated within. This makes the vehicle capable of accelerating from 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds and hit a top speed 335 km/h (208 mph).

Pininfarina designed the concept car and Ferrari says the car is a revolution and less of an evolution. This is the first model from Maranello to have four wheel drive (4RM) and the most powerful four seater ever. The new FF features a shooting brake design with the 458 Italia borrowed front and a rear hatch underneath which there is 450 liters of boot space, up to 800 when rear  are seats down. Ferrari claims that the car can comfortably seat four owing to best cabin space.

The 4RM weighs 50% less than a conventional four-wheel drive system, maintaining perfect weight distribution (53% over the rear axle). Completely integrated with the car’s electronic dynamic control systems, the four-wheel drive technology performs on all terrains and in all conditions via continuous and intelligent predictive torque distribution to all four wheels. The FF is also equipped with the latest magnetorheological damping system (SCM3), as well as carbon-ceramic brakes from Brembo.

The new FF is run by a 6.3 liter direct injection V12 engine that delivers 660 HP at 8,000 rpm and a peak torque of 503 lbs-ft 6,000 rpm. With the car just weighing 1790 kg (3946 lb), 0-100 Km/h takes just 3.7 seconds and reaches 335 km/h (208 mph). Combined fuel consumption is 15.4 L/100 km (15.3 mpg US) and CO2 emissions are 360 g/km.

Although depicted there’s nothing creative in this, as the model was created by simply getting rid of the ‘shooting-break-style’ roof of the standard FF model and adding some touches to the rear quarter If you thought that the car is a look-alike of the Ferrari California and has got a much needed cleaner deck-lid, well you aren’t the first.

The FF gets a 6.3 Liter (6,262 cc) engine with 12 cylinders in ‘V’ and develops 660 PS (485 kW / 651 hp) and 683 Nm (504 lb-ft) of torque. The power is handled by a twin-clutch transmission system which thrusts the 1790 kg (3946 lb) car from 0-100 Km/h in a whopping 3.7 seconds, that’s some acceleration! The concept can reach 335 Km/h (208 mph).

(Via Autoboost)

The company will bring this model with a 6.3-liter (6,262 cc) V12 engine that offers an output of 660 PS (485 kW / 651 hp) and 683 Nm (504 lb-ft) of torque. This engine can accelerate the vehicle to achieve a speed of 0-100kmph in just 3.7 seconds. The top speed is claimed to be 335kmph (208mph).

The Ferrari Four concept will feature a double-clutch transmission and combined fuel consumption of 15.4 L/100 km (15.3 mpg US) and CO2 emissions of 360 g/km. It will also come with impressive cargo capacity of 450 liters with the rear seats up and 800 liters with the rear seats down.

The all new advanced Ruote Motrici (4RM) four-wheel drive system will enable the car to deliver optimum performance on all terrains and in all conditions via continuous and intelligent predictive torque distribution to all four wheels.

Watch a video of the car here: