The Ferrari 458 Italia made its public debut on the Ferrari stand at the 63rd Frankfurt IAA today in the presence of Chairman Luca di Montezemolo and former F1 world champion Michael Schumacher with the new model set to be one of the biggest stars of the German Motor Show.

The Ferrari 458 Italia made its public debut on the Ferrari stand at the 63rd Frankfurt IAA today in the presence of Chairman Luca di Montezemolo and former F1 world champion Michael Schumacher with the new model set to be one of the biggest stars of the German Motor Show.

Ferrari arrived in Frankfurt today after a strong first half of the year having delivered a total of 3,226 cars to end clients (-8 per cent compared with the same period of 2008). A positive result, given the particularly negative conditions currently on the world markets, which compares well with the first half of 2008, financially the most successful year in the Prancing Horse’s entire history. Ferrari’s market share increased by over 10 points to 32.8 per cent. Revenues of 891 million were recorded, 8 per cent down on the same period last year. News on the product line-up included the first sales of the Ferrari California and the presentation of the new Handling GTE package for the 599 GTB Fiorano.

The new 458 Italia represents a genuine evolution of Maranello’s mid-rear engined V8 sports cars and the public will be able to admire two examples on the stand – in Rosso Corsa and Giallo Modena Tristrato. As with every new Ferrari the 458 Italia is a concentration of innovation thanks, in no small part, to the company’s racing expertise. Employing exactly the same techniques and methods used to develop the Scuderia’s F1 cars, Ferrari’s engineers concentrated their efforts on obtaining the maximum in terms of efficiency in every aspect of the car, and their commitment was repaid with levels of fuel consumption and C02 emissions that set the benchmark in this market segment – 13.3 l/100 km and 307 g/km respectively in the combined cycle (ECE+EUDC).

This achievement is the direct result of the reduction of internal friction losses inside the engine as well as significant aerodynamics development on the exterior design, including innovative solutions such as the aeroelastic winglets at the front that generate downforce and, as speed rises, deform to reduce the section of the radiator inlets and cut drag.

The new 4,499 cc V8 engine is a veritable powerhouse, punching out 570 CV, and, combined with the 7-speed F1 dual-clutch gearbox and a dry weight of just 1380 kg, the 458 Italia boasts a weight-power ratio of 2.42 kg (a power-weight ratio of 413 CV per ton), and can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in under 3.4 seconds and hit a maximum speed of over 325 km/h.

The driver-car interface has been revolutionised and the engineers, working closely with the Ferrari Styling Centre, have reinterpreted the ergonomics, grouping all the major commands on the steering wheel, and the secondary functions on two satellite pods that just out from the dash on either side of the wheel. This solution, together with the immediate visibility of all the car’s settings on dedicated screens ahead of the driver, ensures maximum control of the car at all times, an important safety factor.

Another announcement at Frankfurt from Ferrari is the extension of the Atelier One-to-One personalisation programme to the California which thus joins the 612 Scaglietti and the 599 GTB Fiorano. The California is the first car in Ferrari’s V8 line-up to be included in this exclusive service, and clients may now personalise their car directly at Maranello, benefiting not just from a vast range of special contents to choose from, but also the support of one of the factory’s expert specialists.

As well as the F2008, the Scuderia’s F1 World Championship-winning car from last season, the Ferrari stand features the flagship 2+2, the 612 Scaglietti, in Grigio Ferro Met. with Nero interior, and a 599 GTB Fiorano in Nero Setoso and Nero. The latter is equipped with the optional Handling GTE package launched at Geneva this year which now accounts for 70 per cent of all orders. Joining the 458 Italia, and completing the V8 line-up, are two examples of the Ferrari California, the first in Nero Setoso and Cuoio interior and the second, Grigio Titanio with Bordeaux interior.

The Ferrari 458 was developed with the support of the following Supplier Partners: Alcoa - Aluminium spaceframe ; Brembo - Carbon-ceramic braking system; Bridgestone - Tyres; Delphi - HVAC, MagneRide™ suspension & wiring loom; Fontana Pietro - Aluminium bodywork; Getrag - F1 Dual-Clutch gearbox; Harman International - Infotainment & High Power Hi-Fi system; Magneti Marelli - Instrument cluster, front lift & LED rear lights; Michelin - Tyres; OMR - Engine casting components; Robert Bosch - Engine management & ESP; Shell Lubricants & fuel; and Valeo Bi-xenon head lamps & Human-Machine Interface.