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Ferrari’s Fastest Ever Convertible To Debut In Frankfurt
Italian sports car manufacturer Ferrari is to launch its new hard-top Ferrari 458 Spider – billed as the marque’s fastest ever convertible – at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany this month.
Featuring a Ferrari-patented folding aluminium roof that can be raised or lowered in 14 seconds, the new model complements Ferrari’s 458 Italia coupe, and features the same 4.5 liter V8 engine.
The new hard-top version goes from 0-to-62-mph in 3.5 seconds, and can reach a top speed of 198 mph – a tenth of a second slower than the fixed-roof model, due to the added weight created by the Spider’s extra chassis strengthening.
Accelerator pedal mapping and the damping of the multilink suspension have been calibrated to guarantee maximum performance and driving enjoyment with the top down.
Other notable features include a pair of buttresses that allow air to be channelled to the engine intakes and radiators when the hood is down. An electrically adjustable wind deflector allow occupants to hear each other talk clearly, even at high speeds.
The Ferrari 458 Spider’s cost and production date are yet to be announced.