Ferrari Spider Revealed
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 8:04 pm
Ferrari has unveiled the 458 Spider, claiming it to be the first series-production, mid-rear-engine car to be equipped with a folding hardtop roof.
Set to make its public debut at next month's Frankfurt motor show, the 458 Spider forgoes the traditional fabric hood used by the earlier 430 Spider for a newly developed, Ferrari-patented hardtop claimed to automatically fold back and stow ahead of the engine bay in 14 seconds at the press of a dashboard-mounted button.
The aluminum structure, which Ferrari describes as being fully integrated into the styling of the 458, is claimed to weigh 55 pounds, less than the fabric roof arrangement of the 430. It is also said to have been engineered without compromising aerodynamics or performance--although the official photographs released by Ferrari only show the 458 Spider with its roof stowed.
Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/2011082 ... z1VtsPbD43