FERRARI 458 SPECIALE
Both engine and car are one of Maranello’s best ever
A
ssociate editor Newman
tumbles out of the Speciale
looking like he’s just
won lotto and got Scarlett
Johansson’s phone number in the last 15
minutes. He says nothing, just laughs.
“It’s the best car I’ve ever driven,” he
finally stutters. I know, I say – I was
similarly speechless and fawning not 30
minutes earlier.
Dare dispute it, but for nearly 70
years Ferrari has made the world’s
best naturally-aspirated engines. Only
recently, as emission regulations tighten,
Ferrari has reluctantly turned back to
turbos. Last year an anonymous Ferrari
executive confessed to US mag Car and
Driver, “we don’t like the turbo. But it’s
the right way to reduce emissions without
sacrificing performance.”When the California T arrived last year
it had been 27 years since the last turbo
Ferrari. This year, Ferrari will insert
turbos between the 458’s airboxes and
throttle bodies, quietly ending a dynasty
of small, NA mid-engine sports cars
spanning back to the 1970s – and making
the naturally-aspirated Speciale the last of
its breed. It’s why it’s here.
Looking like a bright yellow shoe, the
Speciale is low and heavy to the earth;
like it’s just driven off some kid’s wall.
You tumble into the thinly-padded seat,
the low roof having contorted you into a
hunch. Inky carbonfibre is everywhere,
interrupted by yellow stitching and
Alcantara. Underfoot, the floor is naked
metal. It all helps save 90kg over the
regular 458, weight now 1320kg.
Visibility is generous through the bigwindscreen and you can’t help but laugh
excitedly as you spot the giant yellow
tacho with a “10” on it.
Having thumbed the Speciale’s steering
wheel starter button, a rev solicits an
angry blip like there’s no flywheel. The
noise is rich, distinctive and angry. And
loud. Very loud.
First arrives with a pull of the ‘up’
paddle, electric handbrake off, the
automatic clutch engages with a jerk.
Assuming the Speciale is warm, the
bitumen dry, the road empty – and, err,
closed – boot it.
2000rpm, full throttle. The kick is
instant – none of this waiting around for
turbos to spool up. As the 4.5-litre V8
summons its 445kW, the rear 305-section
Pilot Super Sport Cups wriggle in
wheelspin, but are neatly contained by the70 march 2015 motormag.com.auBEST OF NA: V8