Two of the five Ferrari 458 Italia supercars that caught fire worldwide—of which there were five—did so in China, underscoring the extent to which Chinese buyers will spend $550,000 on a vehicle.
On April 23 in Beijing, China, a Ferrari is on exhibit at the Beijing Auto Show. Ferrari has this week recalled every 458 Italia because five of them have lately caught fire.
You might have missed this week’s news that Ferrari has recalled every 458 Italia supercar after five of them caught fire recently.
You probably weren’t directly concerned about this because just 1,248 of these cars were produced by the Italian manufacturer, who sold them to musicians like Eric Clapton.
The fact that two of the five Ferraris that were on fire around the world caught fire in China attracted my attention in the narrative.
That kind of information gives context to the sometimes startling statistics about Chinese incomes that one comes across, like the fact that China has 64 billionaires, more than any other nation besides the United States (according to Forbes’ 2010 rich list), or that China has one of the highest Gini coefficients globally (0.47), which measures income inequality (according to the World Bank.)
212 cars were sold in China in 2008, according to Ferrari, whose slick showroom in the heart of Beijing draws a lot of curious onlookers snapping pictures through the window on their cell phones. Within a few years, the company claims, it will rank China among its top six markets.
Due to taxes, the 458 Italia, which reportedly has explosive glue issues, costs $550,000 in China, more than twice as much as it does in the US. The typical urban Chinese person would need 152 years to earn that much money.
However, the official statistics may understate the number of Chinese who are actually interested in purchasing a vehicle of this type, or the Lamborghinis and Maseratis that occasionally can be seen roaring magnificently outside Beijing’s most upscale hotels.
According to a research on unreported and frequently illegal “gray income” that was published last month by a local independent economic think tank, China’s wealthy may be concealing up to $1.4 trillion, or one-third of the nation’s GDP.
According to a study by the China Reform Foundation, the wealthiest 10% of Chinese citizens hold around 62 percent of such hidden income. According to the analysis commissioned by Credit Suisse, those same 10 percent have an average per capita income that is 65 times greater than the bottom 10 percent of society. Officially, there is a 23 to 1 difference.
The two unfortunate Chinese Ferrari owners, whose prized possession was destroyed in flames, presumably had the money to shrug and purchase another one. They won’t have to, though. They will receive free replacements, according to Ferrari.
In This Article...
458 Speciale Ferrari
The Ferrari 458 Speciale A’s “A” stands for “Aperta,” which is Italian for “open,” not “amazing,” as some Americans may assume. With all the bells, whistles, and unique enhancements that have made it such a major hit with fast car aficionados, this particular 458 Italia is a very special exclusive version of the 458 Spider. This translates to a 4.5-liter V-8 engine producing 398 lb-ft of torque and 597 horsepower, making the Ferrari 458 Speciale A the most stunning spider to ever leave Maranello. A new carbon fiber airbox and manifold, increased lift for the intake and exhaust valves, a 14:1 compression ratio, and new pistons are just a few of the elements that contributed to the increase in power. Additionally, the transmission is a seven-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox that shifts incredibly quickly.
What’s not to like about the Ferrari 458 Speciale A with an aluminum foldable lid that lifts and retracts in just 14 seconds? It will accelerate from zero to 62 mph in only three seconds flat, according to company estimations. A few other features from the Speciale with a fixed top have been carried over, such as Side Slip Angle Control, which measures the slip angle in real-time and modifies the stability control and the electronic rear differential accordingly. A variety of chassis, steering, suspension, and other improvements are also readily available.
The 458 Speciale’s advanced aerodynamic characteristics, which include a flap in front of the Ferrari logo on the front of the car’s fascia that flows air under the vehicle to increase rear downforce when moving at high speed, are also present in the A model. Additionally, when the vehicle is moving over 105 mph, spring-loaded doors in the front will open to direct air from the radiators to vanes that are placed in the corners of the car. The Spider’s standard three-tip central exhaust has been changed to two wider-set cannons to accommodate a motor-operated drag-reduction arrangement and a sizable rear diffuser, both of which will be dropping from the bottom of the rear end to help achieve Vmax. The Ferrari 458 Speciale A coupe has a top speed of 202 miles per hour. Only 499 of them were made, making each and every one of them extremely unique. It made its debut in 2014 at the Paris auto show.
When did Ferrari start producing the 458?
The Ferrari 458 cost is probably an investment rather than a sunk expenditure because this Ferrari model has won numerous honors across the world. Between 2009 and 2015, Ferrari produced the 458 Italia, with a new 2015 model costing $239,340. One of the final Ferrari models to be created by the internal Ferrari Styling Center and Italian design firm Pininfarina. It is simple to locate a fantastic 458 for under $200,000 now that they have some mileage on the odometer. The main factor is service. The automobile will be extremely dependable as long as the engine and transmission have received routine fluid changes. It is possible to save money up front only to end up spending a lot when it comes time to refurbish the drivetrain if the owner didn’t follow break-in procedures or used less oil than suggested.
What number of Ferrari 458s exist?
The 458 Speciale, a high-performance version of the 458 Italia, was debuted in 2013 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Speciale differs from the ordinary 458 Italia in that it has forged wheels, a vented bonnet, finned side sills, a larger rear spoiler, and reworked bumpers with active aerodynamics; front and rear adjustable flaps balance downforce and reduce drag at high speeds. With the engine’s revision, the power and torque were boosted to 605 PS (445 kW; 597 hp) at 9,000 rpm and 540 Nm (398 lbft), respectively. In order to increase car control at the limit, side slip angle control (SSC) was added to the electronic systems. SSC analyzes the side-slip of the vehicle instantly, compares it to the desired value, and then optimizes torque distribution between the two wheels as well as torque management (via integration with F1-Trac traction control) (via integration with the E-Diff electronic differential]). The Speciale can reach speeds of 200 km/h (120 mph) in 9.1 seconds after accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.0 seconds. Ferrari reported a lap time on the Fiorano test circuit of 1:23.5, which is just 0.5 seconds slower than the F12 berlinetta. Now, lateral acceleration is 1.33 g. Just 3,000 were produced.
Does Ferrari still make the 458 Italia?
In 2015, Ferrari formally ceased manufacture of the Ferrari 458 and replaced it with the fantastic Ferrari 488 GTB. However, that hasn’t deterred potential buyers from inquiring about the current price of a Ferrari 458.
It depends, really. The year of the vehicle, the enhancements made, and the degree of distinctiveness the Ferrari 458 offers beyond its standard features all have an impact on the price. For a car that hasn’t been produced since 2015, a quick scan of Ferrari’s pre-owned ads for 458s yields prices ranging from the low $100,000s to POA (price on application).
Some of the premium editions are priced in the millions if you really want to splash out. Yes, you did read that right.
Is the Ferrari 458 Italia a wise purchase?
Specifically, the 458 Speciale and Speciale Aperta are both limited-edition Ferraris. However, unlike the Speciale coupe, only 499 of the Aperta are available. This makes it a more compelling investment overall. However, that doesn’t mean the Speciale coupe isn’t. When purchased new, the Speciale Aperta cost $403,000 whereas the 458 Speciale cost $288,000 without extras. Now, if you look at the classified ads, well-equipped Speciale coupes sell for roughly $400,000. On the other side, the Speciale Aperta is getting close to the $700,000 level. That represents an over 80% growth over MSRP in just 6 years, making the investment a true blue-chip one, or even better.
There is a good likelihood that the 458 Speciale won’t be getting a discount very soon if we speculate on whether it will rise or fall. Ferrari has already switched to turbocharging and hybridization, thus there is very little chance that the company will ever produce a normally aspirated V8 Ferrari. Prices of the 458 Speciale will decrease if they do (very improbable), but that just won’t happen given how obstinate Ferrari is and how strict the pollution regulations are becoming with each new year. According to the internet, there are about 3000 Speciale coupes sold with 499 Apertas, making the 458 Speciale unquestionably an investment. The Speciale Aperta is a greater investment than the coupe because of how uncommon it is.
The Ferrari 458 is called the 458 for a reason.
When the 355—the 348’s replacement—arrived, a new system was also introduced: the first two digits refer to the engine’s cubic capacity (3500 cc), but the second number, 5, refers to the number of valves per cylinder.
Its successors, the 360 and 430, received their names by dividing their capacity by 10. The 458’s name was derived from the engine’s capacity plus the number of cylinders, and the 488’s name came from the cylinder’s capacity (488 cc).
A supercar, is the Ferrari 458?
Example of a Personal Contract Purchase at a Representative APR of 7.4%: Cash Price PS10,000.00, Deposit PS1500.00, and Borrowing PS8,500.00 over 4 Years (fixed). A total of PS4127.50 will be paid after 47 instalments of PS132.04. PS1833.38 is the total cost of credit. Payable in total is PS11,833.38. 8,000 miles per year as a base. If excess miles is used, there are fees. Finance subject to status; only those 18+.
In 2009, the Ferrari 458 was released to replace the Ferrari 430, and it immediately rose to the top of the supercar heap.
The mid-engined Ferrari 458 Italia, which competes with the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Porsche 911, and McLaren 650S, comes as a coupe and a convertible version called the Spider. The 4.5-liter V8 in the coupe and the 4.4-liter V8 in the Spider give both vehicles breath-taking levels of performance.
The Ferrari 458 fulfills all the requirements for a supercar in terms of appearance thanks to a stunning, aerodynamically-influenced body that commands attention from a great distance away. With a steering wheel that takes inspiration from Formula 1, the high-end interior is centered on the business of driving.
The 458 is as impressive when driving. The seven-speed dual-clutch Ferrari transmission changes instantly, and the factory-installed ceramic brakes have a powerful stopping effect.
The 458 is amazing when combined with scorching performance, incredibly engaging handling, and some vintage Ferrari magic. Ferrari also produces a more extreme 458 Speciale version that amps up the visceral enjoyment if the normal vehicle isn’t thrilling enough for you.
What is the price of a Ferrari 458 engine?
Recall the Toyota GT4586 Ryan Tuerck created for SEMA 2016? Yes, that is the vehicle that is powered by a Ferrari 458. I wonder what he paid for the Ferrari 458 engine. Find out by reading on.
A dream undertaking, Ryan Tuerck’s Toyota GT4586 was completed in time for the 2016 SEMA display. The Ferrari 458 engine, which is situated up front, is the vehicle’s centerpiece. The GT4586 was prepared for the bid day after a lot of complicated fabrication effort and many late hours.
The one query that was on everyone’s mind was asked of Ryan Tuerck by Vibrant Performance TV. What is the price of a Ferrari 458 engine?
The engine is from a damaged Ferrari 458 and was obtained in California. After some haggling, he paid $42,000 for the engine. Nevertheless, the GT4586 includes a lot of hand-made components, notably the gorgeous headers.