Weekend Drive, The Most Popular Ferrari In Nigeria, Which Ferrari?

A car has always been a means of self expression, often reflecting its owners taste, style and even social status. These days, car buyers use their choice of vehicle to make even bigger statements. And when it comes to showing off, Naija people no dey carry last when it comes to cars. Which car person never see for this Lagos? Rolls-Royce, Bentley, SLR, Ferrari, Lamborghini etc. When you see the price tags of these vehicles, you can help but wonder where these people get money from and you'll think there's something you're not doing right.

Many sports cars have been spotted in Lagos especially weekends, Lamborghinis, Ferraris etc but we'll be talking about a Ferrari today. Ferrari has different models, the F12 Berlinetta, the Enzo, the LaFerrari, the 599 GTB Fiorano, the 488GTB, the California etc.

But if you're familiar with super cars, you go know say na one kind of Ferrari na him we dey see pass for Nigeria, although the other models have been spotted couple of times but the one I'm talking about is the beautiful and expensive 458 Line Up (Italia, Spider and Speciale).

Ferrari 458 Italia

As instruments of pure speed, few cars can touch the 458 Italia and its convertible counterpart, the 458 Spider. Powered by a 562-hp V-8 mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and riding on an F1-inspired suspension, the mid-engined 458 is as pure a sports car as anything on the road.

Both the coupe and convertible models of the 458 share a low, aggressive front end with futuristic-looking headlights, a tall, flared rear end that gives the car a muscular stance, and clean, mid-engined proportions that distill the essence of a modern Ferrari performance car. The 458 Italia's interior is modern and luxurious in its look, but not avant garde or striking.

Sitting just behind occupants' heads, the 458's 4.5-liter V-8 engine is rated at 562 horsepower in standard form, and it'll rev all the way up to a 9,000-rpm redline. It makes 80 percent of its peak 400 lb-ft of torque from 3,250 rpm. But the numbers don't tell the full story of the Italia's V-8. It emits a soundtrack that will delight even those who typically shake their head at noisy sports cars.
In sight and sound, and in poise—as well as performance numbers—the 458 Spider is unparalleled among top-down cars. It’s sexy beyond all the usual cliches, yet it’ll be happy to oblige all of them; it looks technical and racing-influenced in all the right ways; with the F1-derived gearbox snapping off clap-shifts when pressed to duty. It's activated by steering-wheel paddle-shifters, and can get a little tricky when parking on inclines—but we think most owners are willing to live with that compromise. What Ferrari 458 Spider owner is parallel-parking themselves, anyway?

And then there's the Ferrari 458 Speciale Spider—officially called the Speciale A (for Aperta, roughly meaning 'open'). As the eagerly anticipated variant that combines the Speciale's higher-output V-8 (597 hp), with the Spider's surprisingly well executed retractable hardtop, it looks like one that will appeal even to those with multiple prancing horses in the garage. The Speciale A has a limited production run of just 499 units.
The 458 Speciale emphasizes the importance of performance by trimming weight and tweaking the exterior for greater aerodynamic efficiency, while tuning up the suspension, control electronics, and tire grip for even more impressive track-day ability.

I have seen the 458 many times in Lagos and we can say it looks like a Lamborghini, but if you know cars well, youll know the difference, and if I was asked to choose one, na Ferrari I go choose o.

More photos after the cut....

458 Speciale