I8ABMR

http://www.motorauthority.com/blog/1...olding-hardtop


The Ferrari 458 Italia Spider is not yet reality, but it has been confirmed by Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo, and already it's the subject of speculation on fan forums. The topic of conversation? The possibility of a folding hardtop roof.
The Ferrari California was the first Prancing Horse to sport a folding hard top. A soft top was chosen for the F430 Spider and its high-performance Scuderia 16M variant to save weight and stow compactly in order to keep the engine visible at all times, top up or down. Adding a hardtop to the 458 Italia could frustrate those goals.
On the other hand, a folding hardtop adds a level of security and comfort a soft top can't deliver. A hardtop can also better preserve the lines of a car when it's up--no small consideration for an image-obsessed marque like Ferrari. It would also make sense of the images spied back in 2008 of a hardtop-equipped F430 Spider. In the past, a folding hardtop hasn't been a primary concern for its performance-focused models, instead favoring the space and weight savings of the soft top.
The California's decidedly more relaxed demeanor wears the hardtop well, however, and Ferrari could always skip the folding hardtop in favor of a soft top for a Scuderia version of the 458 Italia Spider.
As for us, we'd be fine with a hardtop, provided it stows away without significantly compromising space and without obscuring the gorgeous 4.5-liter, 570-horsepower V-8 in the middle. What do you think? Will Ferrari give the Italia Spider a hardtop? Or should it stick with the soft top? Let us know in the comments below.

TXSTYLE

iTrader: (1)

Now THAT is gonna be insanely desirable!

Do want bad...

JessePS

Few hundred pounds of added weight... sure why not lol

Mbenz528i

I love convertible sports cars and anyone who buys one will take the added weight too...within reason of course. It is a small price to pay for open air driving and speed, all be it with some loss to the lighter coupe.

I hard top is no exception, giving you coupe lines with added utility.

Oleg400

iTrader: (7)

10 char

TXSTYLE

iTrader: (1)

That car is so sexy... it hurts.

I8ABMR

Just think of how awesome it would be to hear that motor right behind you screaming through the exhaust while the car just pushes you into the seat. The sun shining and the weathers great........man what more do you need for an auto fantasy.

I love the way the new 458 looks.

knihc2008

iTrader: (1)

Just wondering how they're gonna fit a stacked hard top into the MIDDLE of the car without it looking absolutely terrible AND without covering the engine. As far as weight goes, I can imagine Ferrari fitting a carbon fiber top and not increasing weight too much...

GS wanted

iTrader: (9)

That car is BEAUTIFUL but it seems a tuck-away targa top would be more practical. Leave it to Ferrari to figure out how the hardtop vert will work and still look stunning though.

QuachmanES

iTrader: (4)

It's not so much the top that adds weight, it's party because of the motors to raise/lower it. But most of the weight gain from chopping off the roof is from strengthening the chassis because of the loss of structure with the roof gone, so the floor of the car has to support more of the weight.

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

I know it's odd, but I think a manually removable hardtop would be more beneficial than a motorized folding hardtop (or ragtop).

That way, you can remove the top and leave it in the garage. Drive with less weight and a lower center of gravity. Rudimentary, but appropriate for Ferrari...