Ferrari unveiled the 458 Challenge to the public at the Bologna Motor Show in Italy. The 458 Challenge’s engine hasn’t been touched; it is the same 4.5 liter V8 engine producing 570 horsepower at 9,000 rpm that is found in the 458 Italia.
The Ferrari 458 Challenge is a race only car, so you won’t see one of these wrapped around a pole because some rich idiot couldn’t drive but that doesn’t mean you won’t see crashed ones at the track.
The 458 Italia has been put on a diet, you can be assured luxury amenities like sound dampening and carpets won’t be found in this car. The 458 Challenge laps around the Fiarano track two seconds faster than its predecessor, with a new record time of 1 minute and 16.5 seconds, very impressive stuff. Ferrari hasn’t released details on how much weight the 458 Challenge has lost but it is achieved by using carbon fiber and Lexan pieces, and reducing the thickness of the body panels. I can only image how loud it will be on the inside but it will be a magical sound for sure.
The F1-styled dual-clutch transmission has been tweaked to deliver more torque at lower revs. The 458 Challenge also gets the street car’s E-Diff and “F1-Trac”, the traction control is a first on a Ferrari track car. The car also features a tweaked suspension with stiffer springs and single-rate alloy dampers, making the 458 Challenge 50 mm lower. For brakes, the car uses Brembo CCM2 carbon-ceramic system, the same brakes used on the 599XX. The Ferrari 458 Challenge rides on a set of center-nut 19 inch forged wheels with Pirelli racing slick tires.
Ferrari 458 Italia Challenge Picture Gallery:
