Please understand before reading the rant below, that I consider the Ferrari nameplate to be the finest road-going automobiles ever made and for the most part (348 Mondial excepted) are without flaw, they just have unique character traits.

My eager anticipation of finally seeing the production version of the new 458 Italia, has turned into sheer astonishment as to how they could let this car out of the shop looking like this, and I'm convinced that Enzo is spinning in his grave over this one.

http://www.ferrari.com/English/GT_Sport%20Cars/458-Italia/Pages/458-Italia.aspx

I've been following the 458 Italia for a while, and loved all of the concept drawings, and workhorse prototype shots that I was able to find, however, I must say I'm rather disappointed with  the final design of the car.

The front fascia is horrendous, and if not for the prancing horse, one would never guess this is a Ferrari.

The rear fascia looks like a cobbled together mess of pieces from all of their current production models.

The one saving grace of the exterior design is the carry over of the glass engine compartment access from the 360/430.

With the exception of the front fascia, it looks like Ferrari didn't know where to draw inspiration from, so they just took bits from everything they've got at the moment and threw it in there.

Whomever styled the  front fascia, needs canned. It looks like a Lambo or a Lotus.


It's been a while since the 348.

Now we have a 458.

I LOVE it.

The HUGE brake discs, racing rear diffuser... who cares what the grill looks like? When you're driving you can't see it!

I want one.

   

Why complain about things you can not afford anyhow? I think it's a nice looking car, its red, it has nice lines and it's probably very expensive...

Crash

TSC. wrote on Aug 29^th, 2009 at 4:15pm:



That could be, I felt that way about the Enzo at first, but it was much  more pleasing in person.

  I was kind of hoping for more of an evolution of the 599 design philosophy.

Ferrari has always been about the total package for me, and strong emotion, and this one has certainly sparked some within me, so I guess they succeeded there, but the body looks too disconnected within itself. The front of the car and the rear of the car don't belong with the middle of the car.

@Rob & Craig: Really?!   I thought of all people you two wouldn't have cared for the styling of this one.
The California was a sales gimmick IMO. 
I've no doubt this will be a performer, there's just something about that face I can't fall in love with.   Maybe some future evolutions of it will grow on me.

Craig. wrote on Aug 30^th, 2009 at 5:05am:



They do seem to be ditching the sexy 'feminized' styling of the past for more of that Lamborghini 'tech & science' look. I hope they just don't go very extreme with it.

I love the 612 and liked the way they evolved it into the 599, I just wish the had stayed with a quad tail lamp set up, and not added those flying buttresses at the C-pillars.

If you look at the 599, the 2008 Corvette, and the Dodge Viper, they almost look as though they were made from the same mold.

If you pull the flying buttresses from the Ferrrari, it almost becomes a twin to the Vette.