if you are still mourning the end of F430 convertible, then it is time to stop. Ferrari is back in the retractable roof-over-the-engine bay game...

Ferrari 458 Spider 900x675px
(credit: Ferrari) Ferrari 458 Spider | US$tba | www.ferrari.com

if you are still mourning the end of F430 convertible, then it is time to stop. Ferrari is back in the retractable roof-over-the-engine bay game with the 458 Spider, the world’s first V8 mid-rear engine with an all-aluminum retractable hard top. i am surprised that there’s even space for a soft top, not to mention a hard one. apparently there is and it is looking real sexy. at a touch of a button, the hard top retracts and stow neatly under the rear deck lid in just 14-seconds. the new 458 Spider also benefits from class-leading levels of handling and driving dynamics, thanks to its brilliant engineering solutions that include strengthening of the sill extrusions and structural buttresses and it boast a weight distribution of 42/58.
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powered by a 4.5-liter naturally-aspirated V8 engine with direct injection, and mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch with F1 paddle shift gearbox, its 570-horsepower (425 kW) and 540-Nm (398 lbs/ft) of torque, propels it from 0-100 km/h in under 3.4-seconds and on the way to a top speed of 320 km/h (198 mph). other features include adjustable electric glass wind-stop, rear bench for stowing away your luggage (surprise, surprise), improved fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions (275 g/km), thanks to its Stop/Start function and other eco-features. the Ferrari 458 Spider will make its first public appearance at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show.

SOURCE: Ferrari [PDF]