"The F430 is dead. Long live the 458 Italia!
Ferrari's 2009 California, with its front-mounted V8 engine and folding hardtop, excited buyers so much that it dropped sales of the superlative F430 in the toilet, as the rich and shameless were enticed by something new from the house of the Prancing Horse. The all-new 458 Italia is designed to win back the hearts and minds of those Ferrari aficionados who went elsewhere for their high-power jones.

ower, sleeker, more powerful than the California and as nimble as a gazelle, the 458 Italia is simply a spectacular supercar. And its body, which was shaped by Pininfarina, is fabulous; in fact, it's unique for a Prancing Horse and impressive from any angle. The 458 employs the same direct-injected V8 as the California, but ups the power from 460 horses to an impressive 562. And based on our driving impressions, it bests even the vaunted F430 on the track.

Inside, it also gets better instrumentation and improved ergonomics. While the cost of these upgrades won't be announced for a few months, the first 458s will arrive stateside sometime in June 2010. However, expect at least a 10 percent premium over the 430, which will probably put the cost of the 458 around $210,000.

Model Lineup
The Italia is packed full of clever, well-thought-out details, making it a very different beast than the F430 it replaces. For instance, the traditional massive air intakes behind the doors are gone, leaving an expanse of contoured bodywork in its place, which gives it a complete character makeover.

Air intakes are now hidden behind the small triangular windows and doors; additional inlets around the headlights reduce air pressure within the wheel wells. And the small winglets in the very front deform at speed to redirect air beneath the car instead of to the radiators.

The 458 also gets the Getrag double-clutch transmission (the same one found in the California and Mercedes SLS), which promises all that the paddle shift offered in the F430 F1, but with 2010 levels of sophistication.

Right off the assembly line, this is a well-equipped machine. But, as one might expect, Ferrari offers plenty of personalization options so you can mod it any way you want.

Under the Hood
It's only when you hear about the technology used to build this V8 that you realize why a Ferrari is both so desirable and so expensive to build. For example, its 562 horsepower is reached at 9000 rpm, by which time the internal stresses within the engine are simply staggering. Ferrari was able to relieve the pressure beneath the pistons through the use of a displacement pump. Nice touch.

Despite the impressive engineering, it's the crackle-red twin-cam covers that will garner the most attention. One can't help but gawk through the engine bay's slick Plexiglas cover, which is located behind the rear seats. One look and there's no doubt that this car is something special."

Full article here -->> 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia ? First Drive - MSN Autos

 

the bodywork is beautiful, the lights are still crap

 

This is perhaps the oddest signature I've seen on the Interwebz. Ever.

 

Maybe he's a Doctor who replaces parts in your body with Chevy parts. (In that case his patients are farked!! LOL)

 

In pictures I think this is one of the ugliest, behind the California, but I need to see it in person or wait for the scud, tifoso, CS whatever version

 

I can definitely appreciate the overall design of the car and the direction Ferrari seems to be going in. The one thing that does confuse me about the Italia is that they integrated the "busy" side scoops and extensions into the body work...........but then came up with a front end like that??? It just leaves me a bit

 

^ I totally agree.

"Mine" must be in black.