They hang upon children’s bedroom walls. They are feverishly photographed when they make a public appearance. They are the definition of freedom and four wheels. Supercars turn the heads of all ages, interested in cars or not. Their draw to even the casual observer is the artwork that paints itself upon the skin of these machines. Pininfarina are arguably some of the best designers in the world working with manufacturers such as Bentley, Maserati, but most notably Ferrari. It was in fact the companies founder, Sergio, who personally persuaded Enzo Ferrari to produce mid-engined sports cars for the road. Sergio Pininfarina sadly passed away last year in Italy aged 85. His majesty with pen and paper is honuored in the Pininfarina Sergio.
Making its UK debut at a celebration of Pininfarina designed cars, this majestic silhouette was produced by the company as a tribute to their founder. Based upon the Ferrari 458 Spider, the raked architecture of the car promotes its performance. Beneath the windscreenless body sits a 4.5 litre V8 packing 562BHP. The Sergio can achieve a 0-62MPH time of just 3.4 seconds and will go onto a top speed of 199MPH.
Pininfarina have said that the Sergio will make up a limited production run.
Not content with trampling all over the supercar market with the mind-blowing MP4-12C, McLaren are continuing their quest for world domination at the global premiere of their brand new convertible, the MP4-12C Spider.
The second model in the 12C range has been unveiled for the first time in public at the glamorous Pebble Beach supercar extravaganza. The familiar carbon MonoCell chassis is identical to that of the 12C Coupé but the Spider now features a retractable hard top folding roof that can be lowered or raised on the go. At the back of the cockpit sits an electronically controlled windscreen which doubles up as a wind deflector with the roof down to minimise disturbance in the cabin.
Below decks, the nuts and bolts of the Spider are all carried over from the original 12C, including the staggering 616 BHP 3.8-litre V8 twin turbo engine and 7-Speed dual-clutch gearbox. This means the Spider will still do 0-62 MPH in 3.1 seconds and hit 204 MPH at top speed, just 3 MPH shy of its Coupé equivalent.
Not exactly renowned for their bargains, McLaren’s premium drop-top supercar will come with a premium price tag at £195,500. First deliveries of the new Mp4-12C Spider are planned for early 2013.
We have known for a long time that this car would be coming… These days it is inevitable that some form of roofless wonder in created for each model with a fixed roof, but even more so in this case when the competition has already done so. The rivalry between Ferrari and McLaren has burnt ferociously on the race track for decades, with the introduction of the MP4-12C a few years back, that battle came to the road. Ferrari’s latest 458 Spider now has some company.
This is the McLaren 12C Spider and the British company are adamant that cutting off its head has not had any detrimental effects. Powered by the same 3.8 litre twin-turbo V8 as the coupe, power output is identical standing at 616BHP. 0-62MPH for the Spider is also exactly the same as the coupe’s 3.1 seconds sprint. The only change in performance figures comes when comparing the two from 0-124MPH. The Spider is 0.2 seconds slower to the mark, but let’s not pretend that such a fractional amount matters. The new car can complete its transformation in 17 seconds via a metal folding roof that is stowed behind the rear seats.
Orders are being taken now for the 12C Spider at a cost of £195,000. Deliveries are expected to begin this November.
Some things are inevitable. Toast lands butter side down, The Fast and Furious series produces yet another moronic plot, and manufacturers will cut the head off just about every machine they make. McLaren has long been expected to hack the roof off of their very successful MP4-12C to compete with arch rival Ferrari. Today the speculation has turned into fact.
The McLaren MP4-12C Spider will be formally unveiled on 3rd July and will feature the same 3.8 litre twin-turbo V8 as the coupe. How does 616BHP topless sound? It is an intriguing cocktail and one that we can not wait to sample for ourselves. Though unconfirmed, it is said that the car will feature an innovative metal folding roof, but we shall have to wait for official word on just how it completes its metamorphosis.
Ferrari’s gorgeous new 458 Spider has been out giving the Italian countryside a rollicking over the past few days and are we sure glad that there was a camera about. The 4.5 litre V8 work of art not only drives like a true prancing horse but is also one of the prettiest things on wheels. Ferrari have sent us these new images of the car.
Ferrari’s new 458 Spider is as much of a looker as its coupe sibling. Here the car sheds its new retractable aluminium roof for the camera. Full details on the new car HERE.
The Ferrari 458 Italia is a masterclass in engineering the perfect supercar. It is beautiful, it is powerful and it handles better than just about anything else on wheels. The prancing horse in the 458 has produced yet another jewel for their crown. But when are Ferrari going to take a tin-opener to the 4.5 litre V8? Well now is as good a time as any.
This is the much anticipated Ferrari 458 Spider and boy, it looks every bit as good as its hard-top counterpart. Armed with a metal folding roof, this drop-top can complete its metamorphosis in 14 seconds bringing the sunshine to that Italian cockpit. Interestingly the metal roof is 25KG lighter than a fabric top would have been due to its aluminium construction. The overall weight is only 50KG heavier than the Italia.
Powered by the same 4.5 litre V8 with 562BHP this car will still do 0-62MPH in 3.4 seconds.
These days it seems every manufacturer is taking the tin opener to their cars. Be it a Nissan Micra or Pagani Zonda today you can buy most things in both hard and soft-top flavours. Thinking about it this is hardly surprising especially in the UK as we are one of the largest markets for alfresco motoring. Ironic really is the fact that water falls from the sky over here more than Amy Winehouse falls to the floor on the way to rehab. Now cutting the head off a model is not only in breach of the law but is also a cruel and vicious act against humanity, however in terms cars it tends to result in a sales boost. The problem comes when people such as us have to drive them and find that thanks to the lack of a roof, structural integrity has been breached. The knock on effect results in poorer handling, ride quality and it being just generally worse than the original car in every way. But what happens when the original car was a bit of dissatisfaction and then you behead it? Well that is what we intend to find out with this Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione Spider.
The coupe variant of this Italian work of art was a stunning piece of design and could produce an engine note so pure itwould make Jesus look like a sinner. The problem was that the car was much more style over sustenance and though we hate to say it, the 8C just wasn’t up to standard. But then we fell under the rose-tinted spell of Alfa Romeo looking over all its faults, forgave it and even justified our actions. This time around, after some unsympathetic comments from Alfa immune readers, we shall treat this 8C with no bias.
Starting with the exterior we are graced with the same fantastic architecture as the coupe with sweeping curves and Italian attention to detail. Its carbon fibre body glazed in a sumptuous cherry red that really showed the car at its best. In my personal opinion I would have to say that this Spider is just a little more attractive than the already gorgeous coupe. I don’t know why, maybe it’s something to do with the rear proportions being more defined in this model. This car really is some of the best design work in the industry and is clear evidence that nobody puts pen to paper like the Italians!
Inside the cabin it is identical to that of the coupe and continues to treat your eyes to a feast of visual splendour. Everything appears millimetre perfect and is arranged in a manner that somehow engages you with the 8C on a more emotional level. Now I don’t think anyone has ever said that about the interior of a car before so I had better explain myself. Each item only requires you to look at it for a few seconds in order to appreciate its intricacy’s. The struts that arch down the centre console for example are so perfectly sculpted that you know that they have had allot of time spent on them, and when you know that so much effort has gone into such an insignificant part of that car you tend to appreciate the entire object more. The 8C Spider is even signed like a fine painting stating that much like the coupe it is one of only 500 examples. With the roof down the interior also feels much more spacious and less claustrophobic than its carbon roofed brother.
Under the sloping bonnet is a 4.7 litre V8 that produces 450 perfectly formed stallions, and this is where the Spider really comes into its own. When the roof is down that wonderful symphony that Alfa’s are blessed with is more audible than ever and is the perfect encouragement to push the car a bit harder. Now Alfa Romeo have done much more to this car than remove the roof as the struts, springs and roll bars are all bespoke to the Spider. The result is that this car is so much better to pilot that the coupe. It is responsive, not sedated. It is refined, not boorish. But more importantly you can enjoy it without your spine disintegrating. I was surprised by this outcome but it is clear that the Italian company has not only tried to reduce the effects of creating convertible but also went about perfecting the product at the same time. Yes the roof may be primitive and manual but the outcome is that the Spider weighs in at just 90KG more than the coupe.
At £174,000 there is no getting away from how expensive the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider is but think about how much people pay for art. Driving this car should be a public service in the same way that the masterstrokes of Rembrandt are displayed every day. The only real issue with the 8C Spider is that the gearbox isn’t as quick as what I would like but other than that this is one of the ultimate drivers cars on offer, and if that’s the case I think we can overlook that foible regardless of being an Alfa Romeo or not. As a car this is a magnificent machine, but as an Alfa Romeo it is perfection.
