Ferrari 458 Speciale revealed ahead of Frankfurt Motor Show debut

The Ferrari 458 Speciale (pictured) has been revealed ahead of a Frankfurt debut

It’s always been a given that Ferrari would make a 458 in the mould of the 430 Scuderia – a more focused and more powerful version of the stock model – and here it is. The Ferrari 458 Speciale. Revealed ahead of a public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month, the 458 Speciale gets modifications to its aerodynamics and its powertrain and previews the direction of future Ferraris in the process.

The 458′s V8 now puts out 597bhp and 398lb/ft of torque in the Speciale – making it the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 ever in a Ferrari – which will take the Speciale to 62mph in just 3.0 seconds and 124mph in 9.1 seconds, and is 1.5 seconds quicker round the Fiorano track than the standard 458 and just 0.5s behind the awesome F12.

Pininfarina was involved in the final styling of the Speciale, but most of the changes were determined by aerodynamic needs, with moveable aero flaps at the front and back offering greater control at high speed and more responsive handling.

To make the 458 Speciale more dynamic to drive, and to get the most out of the aerodynamic changes, Ferrari has fitted it with something they’re calling SSC (Side Slip Angle Control) which analyses slip and optimises the torque management between the back wheels.

It’s an impressive makeover of the 458 and will debut at Frankfurt next month. The 458 Speciale is expected to go on sale in 2014 and, although Ferrari hasn’t given us a price for the 458 Speciale yet, we expect it will be in excess of £200k.

By Cars UK