In house tuning

When we hear in house tuning we usually think of AMG, SRT or Nismo. But there's one manufacturer who has a nameless in house tuning business. It's all very sneaky and mysterious. 

The company in question is Ferrari. They've been doing this sneaky car tuning since the 512 Testarossa if I'm anywhere close. But it really started with the Ferrari 360 which then later got the Challenge Stradale treatment. And now the new mainstream Ferrari, the 458 Italia, has been tuned up by the ninja wing of Ferrari. It's called the 458 Speciale.

It has as near as makes no difference 600 horsepower and weighs 90 kg less than the standard model. It also has many other numbers that are supposed to impress me and you, but i don't care about those. What I care about is that the exotic three exhaust pipe design is now a more traditional two pipe set up. But at least those silly whiskers are gone. I think it looks great! Better than the F430 Scuderia. I like the stripe too. 

So Ferrari did it again with this one. They made the best handling sports car that every filthy rich bought. But four years later they release the same car with essentially an in house tuning package. So now everyone with a standard 458 are dreading the day when a Speciale shows up at their cocktail party. 

That stripe is really the nightmare of the owner of standard 458

And yes it's going around the famous hairpin in Monaco.

I do miss the three pipe arrangement, but it does look racier like that. 

  

The posterior is real

When a car is described as good looking or even pretty, it's the front of the car that then usually is the defining characteristic. But there is one car in my opinion where the prettiness comes from the... behind.

The rear of the Ferrari 458 Italia is so exotic and fantastically proportioned that i'd like to sleep on the rear window. I think it's the Ferrari F40 inspired tailpipes that get my attention most of all. I'm less of a fan of the convertible rear end though. It lacks the smoothness of the roof and the hips are more well defined.

The car all in all looks obviously excellent, but what gives it the look of a future Ferrari classic is the memorable round taillights combined with the operatic V8 echo.

Oh My God! It's like the best angle ever! And that roof!

It's a bit too pointy for my taste. 

Mind you, the Ferrari 458 Speciale around the Monaco hairpin ain't bad either. 

A white and black 458 is a nice change to the Rosso Corsa.