There"s heavy cladding...
There"s heavy cladding at the rear to hide its identity, but the bonnet reveals this is no ordinary prototype. With a sporty bulge and an air intake similar to that of the Cooper S hatch, there"s a rather special powerplant under the hood.
Pretty Ferraris are...
Pretty Ferraris are back in fashion! The Italian supercar
maker debuted its 458 Italia in Frankfurt, and it aims to put young upstarts
like the Audi R8 V10 firmly in their place.
With a mid-mounted 4.5-litre V8 engine producing 562bhp and
a dual-clutch seven-ratio gearbox, the 458 Italia blasts from 0-62mph in 3.4
seconds and can hit a top speed in excess of 200mph.
Neat features include a pair of clever winglets mounted in
the front air intakes. They maximise down force and deform at high speeds to
reduce drag. Inside, traditional stalks for the indicators and wipers have been replaced by
an array of Formula One-inspired buttons on the steering wheel.
The newcomer will hit UK dealers in time for next summer and, while prices are yet to be confirmed, buyers should expect little
change from ÷£175,000.