I have recently fallen in love with an Italian red head with headlights and curves that would knock anyone's socks off! The way the light plays along body lines and reflects off perfect skin is breath-taking.
I recently made my way out to the local racetrack with my good friend Adam for an event where present would be the creme de le creme of the Italian bloodline. As we made our way up to the clubhouse at Miller Motorsports Park, I nearly knocked Adam over when I caught a glimpse of something I had only seen in magazines that I read alone in my office. There, perched alone in the corner, was the object of all men's desires. Sitting on the most incredible five spoke rims, the center of which was emblazoned with the one of the most famous insignias in all of auto making history, was the new Ferrari 458 Italia.
Now, all of my more conservative readers need to relax a bit. I know you may all have been worked up at the introduction of this story. Take it easy, will ya? I'm a HAPPILY married man. But a love affair with a car has long been acceptable for even us married men. Our wives understand that it's much like having a fascination with (fill in the ame of your favorite hollywood actress). It ain't EVER going to happen. So dream away boys!
I've been waiting for Ferrari to come out with something that looked like it was ready to eat the road it was driving along much less tear it up with raw horses. They have answered!
My oldest boy walked in as I was editing these images and said, "Geeeez! That looks devilish!" Well said. I have to admit that the latest generations of Ferrari, though marvels in engineering they surely are, have left me a little disinterested from a design standpoint. I like the 360, I like the 430 (as a spyder). But when the recent issue of my favorite car rag arrived with THIS on the cover I grunted like Tim the Tool Man Taylor. Design cues hinting on a meatier, more aggressive thought pattern brought a flutter to my heart, much like my wife gets when looking at Hugh Jackman as Wolverine.
Weighing in dry at 3042 lbs, this sculpted beauty is pushed along by a 4.5 liter 90 degree opposed V-8 with a compression ratio of 12.5:1. It's output is 562 horses at 9000 rpm. 9000 RPM!! The power plant is backed by a dual clutch seven speed Formula One influenced transmission. Topping it all off is a reported top end of 202 mph. For you Mopar guys that's a 274.5 cubic inch V-8 that isn't even breathing by the time you're struggling for third gear and hoping you haven't already bent a rod or blown a head gasket. God bless America, but we can't hold ALL of the talent!
Ferrari nailed it in my mind! This car will go down in my book as one of the best all around cars ever to emerge from the folks in Maranello, Italy. There's a few more of these aces in the hole that Ferrari will bring to the table in the near future, including the new 599 GTO. I can't wait!
