458 Spyder International Media Test Drives

Mike430 · 09-29-2011, 11:50 AM

Three days ago Ferrari started an international Media Test Drive project that will go on untill 17th October. Journalists from all over the world and from the most prestigious news outlets will come to Italy to test-drive the new exclusive eight-cylinder from Ferrari. During the official tests the drivers will take the 458 Spyder over the legendary route of the “Parma – Poggio di Berceto” hill climb, the place where Enzo Ferrari participated in his first race as a driver back in 1919.

Mike430 · 09-29-2011, 11:55 AM

more pics....

Killer58 · 09-29-2011, 10:06 PM

What happens to those cars when they're finished with the tour??

Night Life · 09-29-2011, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killer58

What happens to those cars when they're finished with the tour??

They get detuned back to original lol or disappear all together.

Ferrari is famous for handing out these "road cars" for test run but they are tweaked to perform a little better than stock, with a few tricks up their sleeves like tires, suspension HP tweaks. More than likely you wont see these cars again after the testing is over.

lawrence-lugar · 09-30-2011, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Night Life

They get detuned back to original lol or disappear all together.

Ferrari is famous for handing out these "road cars" for test run but they are tweaked to perform a little better than stock, with a few tricks up their sleeves like tires, suspension HP tweaks. More than likely you wont see these cars again after the testing is over.

Isn't that illegal or immoral...for 'test driving' something that's not real, or stock. Doesn't the press drivers know about this, if this is indeed such...and why bother writing about it

a1exander · 09-30-2011, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lawrence-lugar

Isn't that illegal

.....as is exceeding the speed limit.

a1exander · 09-30-2011, 03:15 AM

The interiors are greatly improved, I find them most appealing. As to the rest it does not do much for me. I prefer the berlineta version of the car.

wetpet · 09-30-2011, 08:06 AM

yes, the press knows about it. they have written and complained about it for years. Pretty sure every manufacturer does it. One of the reasons given is they don't want the car to break down during the test, possibly giving it a bad rep for nothing.

BTW it looks great with the top up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lawrence-lugar

Isn't that illegal or immoral...for 'test driving' something that's not real, or stock. Doesn't the press drivers know about this, if this is indeed such...and why bother writing about it

tazandjan · 09-30-2011, 08:27 AM

Ed- Easiest to document case of that is the California Road and Track used in their "Tested in Europe" road test. Ferrari actually gave them the ratios in the 7 speed box. The gearing was way lower than what actually was used for production. With a DCT, especially, low gearing has a huge benefit on acceleration. May have hurt gas mileage, but what Ferrari buyer really cares about that?

viscount aero · 09-30-2011, 08:51 AM

I can nearly smell the new car interiors on these. And great credit to the designers who engineered a beautiful retractable hardtop in lieu of the often afterthought baby-carriage/pram kind of eyesore roof that soft tops often resemble. This is excellent, looking great up or down.

09-29-2011, 11:50 AM	#1
Mike430 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: South Africa Ferrari Life Posts: 1,068	458 Spyder International Media Test Drives Three days ago Ferrari started an international Media Test Drive project that will go on untill 17th October. Journalists from all over the world and from the most prestigious news outlets will come to Italy to test-drive the new exclusive eight-cylinder from Ferrari. During the official tests the drivers will take the 458 Spyder over the legendary route of the “Parma – Poggio di Berceto” hill climb, the place where Enzo Ferrari participated in his first race as a driver back in 1919. Attached Images

09-29-2011, 11:55 AM	#2
Mike430 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: South Africa Ferrari Life Posts: 1,068	more pics.... Attached Images

09-30-2011, 08:27 AM	#9
tazandjan Owner Elite Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Ferrari Life Posts: 3,586 Name: Terry H Phillips	Ed- Easiest to document case of that is the California Road and Track used in their "Tested in Europe" road test. Ferrari actually gave them the ratios in the 7 speed box. The gearing was way lower than what actually was used for production. With a DCT, especially, low gearing has a huge benefit on acceleration. May have hurt gas mileage, but what Ferrari buyer really cares about that? Taz Terry Phillips Present: 575M 135171 Past: Dino 246 GT 02984, 365 GTB/4 14009, 308 GTS 25125 Every day I look around, and if nobody is shooting at me, it is a pretty good day.

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09-29-2011, 10:06 PM	#3
Killer58 Owner Elite Member Join Date: May 2010 Ferrari Life Posts: 1,418 Name: David	What happens to those cars when they're finished with the tour??

09-30-2011, 03:15 AM	#7
a1exander Owner Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Johannesburg RSA Ferrari Life Posts: 768 Name: Peter	The interiors are greatly improved, I find them most appealing. As to the rest it does not do much for me. I prefer the berlineta version of the car.

09-30-2011, 08:51 AM	#10
viscount aero Owner Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Los Angeles, Ca Ferrari Life Posts: 390	I can nearly smell the new car interiors on these. And great credit to the designers who engineered a beautiful retractable hardtop in lieu of the often afterthought baby-carriage/pram kind of eyesore roof that soft tops often resemble. This is excellent, looking great up or down.