Ferrari: Faster, harder, firmer

The sleek Ferrari 458 makes even the outgoing 430 look bulbous. Photo / Supplied

The arrival of Ferrari's California allows the 430 replacement to get far racier.

What's new
Pretty much everything. Certainly the 458's the breathtakingly pretty Pininfarina-penned body. Its sculpted lines make even the outgoing 430 look bulbous. It's longer and wider than its predecessor, with a longer wheelbase and shorter overhangs, plus a wider front track.

Plentiful attention has been paid to aerodynamics. Take the front winglets, which move up to 2cm as you accelerate to deflect air to where it's most needed. Overall the 458 creates more downforce at 325km/h than the harder-core Enzo.

Otherwise the 458 borrows California's modular chassis format, further develops the direct injection 4499cc V8 for greater power and efficiency, tweaks the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with different gearing to suit this car's rampant character and added power, and even employs purpose-designed tyres.

The 458 uses the same basic suspension set-up as California, but with altered suspension bushings and fresh hardware and software for the Magnetorheological magnetic suspension - Ferrari claims better roll stiffness.

The company line
Fuel efficiency seems a red herring for a Ferrari, but the company claims more power with less fuel used and carbon emitted. The 1995 F355 F1 discharged 470g/100km of C02; the 458, 307.

Ferrari promises the 458 delivers more power, more efficiency. It's faster, harder, firmer - yet more easily driveable in the real world. And it's available from June at about $580,000.

What we say
Putting the indicators, lights and wipers on the steering wheel may take getting used to, but works better than expected given how little wheel movement is needed to steer. And having stuff like satnav makes this car surprisingly real-world useful, though you always know you're in something extreme. For a start, the view out encompasses little more than the wings, the haunches and the horizon.

On the road
Drive at double New Zealand's open-road limit on Italian roads in the snow? I must have been mad. But that's what this car does to you. Even in "sport" mode it sounds fantastic - select "race" to firm the shocks, hone the gearing, switch the electronics to race mode and open the exhaust bypass flaps for an outrageous soundtrack and acceleration to match.

The most radical settings cut or kill the stability and traction aids and I wasn't game to try them given the icy conditions. Mind you, neither did I need the "low grip" option, given how responsive the car is and how well it signals what's going on.

At this level of performance that's impressive. You expect zero to 100 in 3.4 seconds when there's 419kW and 540Nm propelling a 1380kg car. You expect toupe-shredding thrust. You don't expect to pilot her easily - or even comfortably - in freezing conditions.

Particularly impressive was the on-demand suspension "decoupling" which softens damping response - but nothing else - to keep rubber to road and fillings intact over rougher road surfaces.

Why you'll buy one
It's gorgeous, it's heart-stoppingly quick yet it can be driven on real-world roads - as well as at track days.

Why you won't
Your lotto number hasn't come up; your lumbago makes accessing the seat tricky; you're an automotive wowser.