Ferrari 458 Speciale dubbed Top Gear Supercar of the year for 2013

Ferrari has been honoured once again to receive two coveted awards from BBC Top Gear Magazine, one of the world’s most influential automotive magazines, this time for the 458 Speciale which has been crowned “Supercar of the Year 2013” and James May’s “Car of the Year”. This brings Ferrari’s tally of Top Gear Magazine Awards to the astonishing figure of 13 in 11 years, and it is the fourth time Ferrari has taken the “Supercar of the Year” award, the previous winners being the F430 in 2005, the 458 Italia in 2009 and the F12berlinetta in 2012.

Commenting on the latest addition to the Ferrari range, James May commented: “I loved it, and what I loved was that I was still driving a 458, which is already my favourite car. But it was as if someone had gone over my sensory receptors with a whetstone and sharpened them up a bit.” As a previous owner of a F430 coupé and a current owner of a 458 Italia, James May is well placed to understand the technical innovations introduced on the 458 Speciale – including the unique Side Slip Control system which makes it easier to achieve car control on the limit, thereby greatly improving driving emotions.

With 605 HP at 9000 rpm, the Ferrari 458 Speciale is the most powerful naturally-aspirated Ferrari V8 ever produced. Combined with its extremely light kerb weight of only 1290 kg – 90kg less than the 458 Italia – the 458 Speciale has record-breaking performance: 0-100 km/h acceleration in only 3.0 seconds and a Fiorano lap time of just 1’23”5. The 458 Speciale is also the first production series Ferrari to introduce active aerodynamics, with mobile devices at the front and rear of the car, designed to improve handling, performance, driver confidence and enjoyment.