458 [2009-2015] Sport Auto Supertest - Ferrari 458 Italia

[DeDe]

also a bit disappointed.

btw, anyone know how much faster the 458 is around Fiorano compared to the scuderia?

With the tracktimes? If so, keep in mind that the Italia's running on normal, Michelin Pilot Sport tyres. No such semi-slick like on 911 GT's or BMW M's...

 

[Guibo]

Not sure how much faster the 458 will be with a bonafide cup-type tire. Already it's 3.5s slower than the Scuderia (for sure on cup-type R-compounds) on the wet handling course, and over 2s slower than the SLS.
Also interesting are the aero numbers:
Front - 32kg of lift
Rear - 31kg of downforce
Not only is that far short of Ferrari's claim, but the imbalance is a little worrying. I'd imagine it would be at some of the high-speed crests of the Nordschleife.

 

[DeDe]

Also interesting are the aero numbers:
Front - 32kg of lift
Rear - 31kg of downforce
Not only is that far short of Ferrari's claim, but the imbalance is a little worrying. I'd imagine it would be at some of the high-speed crests of the Nordschleife.

They say there's nothing to worry about the car's stability, even in speed-regions over 300 km/h.

 

[Mr Robert]

That seems like a good enough time on non-R tires.

 

[Monster]

Front - 32kg of lift
Rear - 31kg of downforce
Not only is that far short of Ferrari's claim, but the imbalance is a little worrying. I'd imagine it would be at some of the high-speed crests of the Nordschleife.

Ferrari's claim was recorded at the car's maximum speed, so the level of down force will be greater than those measured at wind speed of 200km/h, plus to get a more accurate measure of the drag and down force, you need a wind tunnel with a rolling floor.

 

[DeDe]

Video - Supertest-Italia in action on the Ring

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[Guibo]

Ferrari's claim was recorded at the car's maximum speed, so the level of down force will be greater than those measured at wind speed of 200km/h, plus to get a more accurate measure of the drag and down force, you need a wind tunnel with a rolling floor.

Ferrari claims two figures, one for top speed and one for 200km/h (140kg).

The 458 is slower at Galgenkopf leading up to the straight than the ZR1 and about the same at Flugplatz. And this is a car that was shown to have poor downforce figures in the windtunnel, with HvS also making comments about instability on the Nordschleife (also at Flugplatz).