Ferrari 458 Speciale

Ferrari have been making hot versions of their V8s since the 348 GTC appeared on the scene back in 1994. It was followed by a succession of models based to some degree on the racing versions of the period. The models included the F355 Challenge, 360 Challenge Stradale, 430 Scuderia and now the 458 Speciale.

These special cars are the ultimate versions of their respective model ranges and as such hold a premium on value and collectability. Each one heralded the replacement model, which Ferrari always has the remarkable ability to improve on.

The 458 Speciale featured here has the honour of representing not just the ultimate version of the current 458 range but it also marks the end of an era. The replacement model will have the new turbocharged V8 that has already been previewed in the California T. We don’t doubt the ‘458T’ will be a magnificent machine in every respect, except perhaps in the audio department, but time will tell if the ‘musicians’ at Ferrari have something in store for us.

The opportunity to drive any car of the 458’s calibre to anything like its full potential is impossible on the public road. It is a fact that many of these masterpieces of engineering are simply garage queens or Kings Road cruisers, which is really missing the point. To own a car like this and not immerse yourself in the race derived Ferrari heritage and engineering excellence is nothing short of criminal. The 458 Speciale is a fantastic trackday weapon and I envy anyone who has been lucky
enough to take one round the Nordschleife.

Our plan was to pick up the 458 from Maranello and then run it in the splendid Silver Flag Hillclimb. I had not seen a Speciale in the flesh before and seeing the press car parked outside of reception at the factory was a feast for the senses. Bright red, NART stripe and Prova plates, “Here are your keys sir.” It’s not the first time that we have driven a Ferrari through the gates and onto Via Abetone Inferiore, but it is always a real ‘moment’. These days there is a dedicated traffic light to control the traffic. This is a good thing. Not long ago, edging a Ferrari’s nose out blind straight into traffic was never a good way to start your day. Any incident here would be career changing.

Ferrari was once a car factory in Maranello, now Maranello is attached to Ferrari. The industrial complex extends for miles and a bypass road skirts the old town. Hotels have sprung up and all having a red theme. This is Ferrari city.

The engineers have trimmed the 458 Italia down by 90kg, quite a lot of this seems to have involved slimming down the interior and fitting carbonfibre bits.

The carpets and padded trim are gone and the seats are lightweight, although without compromising comfort. Full harnesses are fitted which some drivers might find too restrictive for normal road use. Given the more spartan interior road noise does not seem to be too intrusive, all that changes of course when you stab the loud pedal. The Speciale trickles along in town with auto selected and just gets on with business. It’s only when you have an opportunity to unleash those 597
horses that you realise you are sitting on a rocket ship .

We have watched the Silver Flag hillclimb evolve over the last 12 years from a club event created by Club Piacentino Automotoveicoli d’Epoca to become a premier event of world status. The main man behind the scenes is Claudo Casali, a small quiet man filled with a huge passion for competition cars. Claudio has the task of selecting 200 cars to run up the hill and it takes him all year to do it. His efforts are well rewarded because he always has the ability to persuade owners and museum collections to release some very rare machinery, and to demonstrate the cars. I mean who has ever seen a real Lancia D50 in action?

The first cars to leave the start line at Castell’Arquato are the Apri Pista, a small group comprised of sponsors and journalists usually driving current range cars with the odd classic included for good measure. It is indeed a privilege to be part of the opening act and also to have the opportunity to drive a car like the 458 Speciale at more than four tenths of its potential.

Given the July heat outside, the sounds of cars being warmed up in the paddock, the busy PA system and crowds of spectators, it is surreal that when the car’s windows are raised the occupants feel cocooned in an oasis of calm. The sounds outside fade to a murmur and we are left with the whisper of the air-conditioning and the whirr of the V8 ticking over in the back.

We were shepherded to the start line where the compère explained to the spectators that our 458 has a stripe that is a tribute to the colours of Chinetti’s NART racing team. I selected race and made sure the manual button was on, confirmed by the read-out on the dash. This was my first run of three and, because I had not driven the 458 with determination before, I did not know what to expect from the car.

The Speciale was blisteringly quick off the line with super quick gear changes in almost continuous succession. The sound was incredible with the engine howling up to its 9000rm red line. This is nothing like a normal 458 but more like an F1 car a proper one with a V8 engine.

I knew that the Silver Flag organisers had placed a series of chicanes on the long straight section before the hill proper and I was prepared for the first one just out of sight around the first corner beyond the startline sprint. There was a much longer section before the next one and I let the 458 stretch its legs. I have driven several Ferraris and Maseratis at high speed on previous Silver Flags but this was the first time that I had to back off the accelerator because I had reached my limit of bravery had reached my limit of bravery.

The approach to the village of Lugagnano has a kink, then a straight and finally a blind 90 left between the houses close to the edge of the road. There is another chicane here but the organisers had set it up too early so that I could actually launch the Ferrari out of the exit and sprint to the corner before hitting the brakes, great for the ego and appreciative spectators.

A full bore exit from the village takes you over a long bridge hump which leads you to the foot of the hill and its series of hairpins. The 458 rocketed between corners with the brakes and gearchanges performing effortlessly, this is one quick motor car.

The grip was phenomenal with just the occasional chirp from the tyres when running over a shiny white line on the road.

All too soon we flashed past the chequered flag. We eased off the power and pulled over to park the Ferrari. We left the ticking car so that we could sit on the hillside and enjoy the sight and sounds of the other 199 cars as they made their own ascent. Given that the 458 Speciale is nearly £30k more expensive than the 458 Italia, some readers might consider this to be too high a premium to pay over a car that is already excellent. However, the driver experience is quite different and our hillclimb test
proved that the Speciale is pretty much the nearest you can get to a racing car on the road that won’t try to kill you. It’s simply magnificent.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FERRARI 458 SPECIALE

ENGINE: 90˚ V8
CAPACITY: 4497cc
BORE X STROKE: 94mm x 81mm
COMPRESSION RATIO: 14:1
POWER: 597bhp @ 9000rpm
TORQUE: 398lb ft @ 6000rpm
TRANSMISSION: 7-speed dual-clutch
WHEELS: 9J, 245/35 ZR 20 (f), 11J, 305/30 ZR20 (r)
DIMENSIONS: 4570mm (L), 1910mm (W), 1322mm (H)
DRY WEIGHT: 1395kg
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 23.9mpg (combined)
0-62MPH: 3.0sec
TOP SPEED: 203mph
PRICE: £208,000