The performance of the Ferrari Enzo remain etched in our memories: 3.65 s from 0 to 100 km / h and 350 km / h in a point. To afford this supercar produced only 399 copies of 2002 to 2004, it cost no less than $212,000! No wonder we find most of the Enzo barricaded in private collections. To take advantage of potential mechanical equivalent today, we can move towards the 458 Italia, which shows almost the same performance as the grandmother for Pricing … three times less!

This model, in fact the entry level of the manufacturer from Maranello with the cabrio California, the successor to the F430 since late 2009 and uses the same logic of numbers: 45 for 4.5 liter displacement and eight cylinders to eight.

Of course, as the Enzo, the 458 may also captive in a garage conditioning. But it was still more likely to cross a road as it is produced at 3000 units a year. Of the great series! As collectors and speculators, they are waiting out a priori imminent execution of a special type ‘Stradale’. But on our side, the already very strong heart beat at the sight of the 458 standard, all dressed in yellow. It said it would be the original color of Ferrari.
Study it!

Since there are more Ferrari entity Switzerland since 2010, we went back to our Italian central “Central Europe and the East” in Wiesbaden, Germany. We imagine through the air already on the highway without limitation. Cruel disappointment: we need more than five hours to get to Basel! We take our troubles patiently along many sites at low speeds, the opportunity to familiarize ourselves with the controls, particularly those of eleven multifunction steering wheel buttons, palettes and other switches.

Looking for clignos? They are on the branches. The start button? On the hub, with the voice command key and the “manettino”. This little switch has five different setups, “normal” to “race.” Each step makes the settings of the most radical sports car, including shock absorbers, steering or the throttle response.
Look before you!

Stuck in the great accordion car, we study our horse but we have little opportunity to play with the settings. And then we must also face the eyes of other drivers and all those eyes of children. Intimidated, they still make them smile. When the luscious blonde from the column next to glue his mobile number against the glass. . . it turns squarely in crimson, like the figures drawn with lipstick! To believe that the power of seduction of Italian sports has never been stronger …

The slowdown has stopped, we can finally move on to phase firing. But not before a coffee break. It restarts twenty minutes later, the 8-cylinder immediately spitting his “vroam” angry. Next option, it would have been worse by prolonging the stop. For when it is cold, the engine roars louder at low revs.

The meter reads 62 dB at idle, a small record in itself (as 44 dB for a good diesel sedan). If the noise is still tolerable up to 3000 rev / min, beyond the atmospheric engine with direct injection monopolizes the whole universe of sound. The atmosphere becomes downright cataclysmic once passed the 6000 r / min. I must say that our copy was particularly vocal cords trained, understand an exhaust Italian “freer” than that provided for Switzerland.

In order to fill their ears – and nose – it has even chosen to open the windows in the tunnels. To experience the thrill, there will be a Spider version announced for the end of the year …
You tame …

Plotted in the studio Pininfarina, the curves of the 458 make their effect. Alchemy learned of sportiness and elegance, this dress mold as close as the mechanics of the car, without artifice or free flap disproportionate. And yet, there is indeed support: at 200 km / h, there has been additional 140 kg on the rear.

The Getrag dual-clutch gearbox seems to guess the intentions of the driver. Soft “Auto” mode, it becomes sharp mode “Race”, noting each crossing over a big slap on the back. As a corollary, the depreciation is strengthened almost comfortable in the extreme. After gentle and reassuring, the other wild and brutal, the 458 Italia has many faces. Riveted to the cap or through expert, it meets the mood of his rider.

The performances deserve an article on their own. In short: this touches the top of the hierarchy automobile. And if our car is at 0.2 s time factory on the 0 to 100 km / h, the difference is explained by the presence of two people on board according to our measurement protocol. Undaunted up to 300 km / h, the fireball remains sensitive to crosswinds and rough coating. In fact, very high speed, all-wheel drive would probably not redundant.
… But respect it!

The fact remains that the handling of a Ferrari has never been easier. Even access to superb leather seats proves easy. The excellent chassis reassuring, as well as the presence of the stability program (off). The hard-driving, is to curb his enthusiasm, because they tend to drive too fast to take advantage of the incredible power. Not too heavy (1.6 tonnes) and perfectly balanced, the 458 seems Italia attached to the road and untouched by the law of gravity. The brake system is just as evil, but sometimes in the rain, the platelets do not bite immediately carbon with large disks.
Does not compute!

If the buyer of a Ferrari does not usually stop at low cost considerations, it can still rejoice in the new maintenance policy under Maranello. His car benefits in effect a program of free services spanning seven years, and which also includes the fluids!

In this context, even the oil consumption becomes anecdotal. Good, because the level control is tedious with dry sump lubrication. Anyway, to cut short the discussion, the plant said that “the engine of 2011″ (in the category of more than 4 liters of displacement) does not burn a drop of oil! 458 This definitely Italia frieze perfection!