The Ferrari 458 Speciale A

Table of Contents:

Ferrari 458 Speciale A – Key Details

The Ultimate Guide to the Ferrari 458 Speciale A

FERRARI 458 SPECIALE A: THE TOP-DOWN TRACK SPECIALIST

Welcome to the Ferrari 458 Speciale A, what could be considered as the pinnacle of the 458 line. Not only is this the stripped down, high-performance version of the mid-engine supercar, but you can take the top down and hear that naturally-aspirated V8 wail as you carve the B roads. Of course, A stands for Aperta, Italian for “open” and Ferrari-speak for “convertible.” Just like the coupe version, the convertible weighs about 90 kgs less than the Italia, thanks to extensive use of carbon fibre and only a bare minimum of interior niceties (that’s right, there are no floor mats or sound insulation here; those details simply add too much weight). Instead of a cloth top, Ferrari went with a power retractable hardtop, which, besides a weight penalty, offers the best of both the coupe and convertible world.

Ferrari upgraded the Italia’s 4.5 litre V8 to produce 605 cv at 9000 rpm, while torque remains the same.  The power increase was enough to propel the 458 Speciale A to a top speed of 199 mph, while the dash to 62 mph takes a nice round (and insanely fast) 3.0 seconds. In fact, the Speciale A held the distinction of being the most powerful naturally-aspirated convertible Ferrari ever built, a record that the LaFerarri Aperta would steal away from the Speciale in 2017. Translating all of that power to the road is a 7-speed twin-clutch transmission with paddle shifters. Shifts are lightning quick, seeming to occur the same instant the paddle is pulled back.The ever-enjoyable SSC (side slip angle control) system is standard on the 458 Speciale A. In order to make this glorious car even more enjoyable to drive, this system manages the slip angle in real time using sophisticated sensors able to adjust the angle using the torque distribution between the wheels. SSC is also capable of reducing power to prevent the car from sliding out, making even average drivers look like professionals. Ferrari made only 499 Speciale As, and that limited production run means that values shot up soon after all of the new models were sold out.

ANDY’S THOUGHTS

It’s no secret that the Ferrari 488 Speciale is one of my all-time favourite Ferraris, so it’s a hard car to beat. It’s looks everything that a Ferrari should look like, with the bonus of having the last naturally aspirated V8 engines that Ferrari made. The whole experience continues on to the inside too, with a stripped out interior to prove that you are a real driver, even if you are a novice.

So, the question is how can this cocktail be improved? Well in the only way possible, by peeling back the roof and letting the glorious engine note and sunshine in. We recently interviewed a Ferrari owner for our Podcast who owned two 458 Italia Spiders, before moving on to a 488 GTB, and he said the biggest thing he missed from the Spider was the ability to lower the rear window with the roof up. That noise would just add to the experience whatever the weather. You can listen to that Podcast here: Podcast.

When people look back at cars through the Ferrari back catalogue there are certain models that stand out. The 250 GTO, 250 GT Spider California, Testarossa, and F40 are a few to name. The Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta will go down in history as one of those greats. Limited production, hardtop convertible, track focused, and of course the last ever naturally aspirated V8 Ferrari ever to leave Maranello. I feel a tinge of sadness when I think about it, but know that Ferrari nailed this one. Hard.

Ferrari 458 Speciale A – Photo Gallery

Ferrari 458 Speciale A – Technical Specifications

Ferrari 458 Speciale A – Registry & Videos

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