The Good Oil: Ferrari 458 gets folding hard top

Ferrari 458 Italia. Photo / Supplied

The convertible version of the 458 Italia (pictured) that Ferrari has just released fills the space left by the F430 Spider and the 360, 355 and 348 Spiders before it.

But whereas those went with cloth roofs, the newest variation on the theme uses instead a folding hard panel.

The mechanism is similar to the one on the Superamerica, but whereas that model's roof panel simply rests under the open sky on the rear deck, the 458 stows under the deck lid.

Ferrari says the function is simpler than most folding contraptions.

But the one disadvantage is that the car's 4.5-litre direct-injection V8 is now hidden below decks instead of openly displayed as on the 458 Italia coupe.

Superstar gets a taste of super speed

Hollywood actor Tom Cruise has driven all sorts of vehicles on the silver screen. He even briefly held a lap record of sorts around the Top Gear track in Britain. But how good a driver is he? Not too bad, say the Red Bull demonstration team. Driver David Coulthard let Cruise get behind the wheel of a Formula One car at California's Willow Springs circuit. Cruise completed 24 laps of the 4km track, recording a top speed of 293km/h and scrubbing 11 seconds off his first lap. Coulthard said he was impressed with Cruise's skills.

Swift highways

Forbes.com lists the fastest United States roads:

5. Arizona State Route 77 - 7.7km long, average speed of fastest 5 per cent of cars is 131km/h.
4. Eastbound MI-5 Michigan Highway - 7.9km long, fastest 5 per cent 131km/h.
3. California State Route 73 - 24km long, average speed of fastest 5 per cent 131km/h.
2. Oklahoma State Highway 33 - 38.8km long, average speed of fastest 5 per cent 134km/h.
1. Northbound Arizona State Route 79 - 28.5km long, average speed of fastest 5 per cent 142km/h.

Three turbos

A BMW X6 M pictured testing at Germany's Nurburgring circuit is believed to have a tri-turbo diesel engine. The same engine is expected to find its way into the X5 SUV range. The tri-turbo works thus: two turbos use exhaust gases and the third electricity. In another world the third unit could be called a supercharger. BMW is expected to equip the next-generation M3 with a tri-turbo petrol straight-six. Total output could be around 335kW, or 27kW more than the 4.4-litre V8 in the current M3. The new 3-Series range goes on sale in here next year with tri-turbo M3 due in 2013-14.

Skoda sets world speed record

A Skoda Octavia RS has set a world 2-litre speed record of 367.8km/h on the Bonneville Salt Flats. It marked the 10th anniversary of its RS performance brand with an initial run of 327.4km/h before blasting past the old mark of 349.9.4km/h. The bodyshell of the go-fast Octavia RS was changed to minimise wind resistance, the tyres were special and the 447kW engine picked up a larger turbocharger and intercooler.

Other than that, the RS was pretty much an off-the-shelf model.

Revised, rediscovered and returned to glory

Edsel Bryant Ford's restored 1934 Model 40 Special Speedster has been on show at the Monterey Concours d'Elegance.

Inspired by a visit to Europe in 1932 and penned by Ford design chief E.T. Gregorie, the Speedster began life as a 1934 Model 40 frame before going under the knife for revisions. Stretched 2.5cm over factory dimensions and saddled lower to the ground, the vehicle boasts a rear-pitched cockpit, long nose and custom aluminum bodywork. A 3.9-litre flathead Ford V8 powers the rear wheels. After Edsel Ford died in 1943, the vehicle made a few appearances around the US before vanishing. It resurfaced at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in 1999 and sold to a collector for US$1.76 million. When the collector died, the car was returned to the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House before receiving a full restoration to return it to its former glory.