As one of the world’s biggest motor related gatherings, the Frankfurt Motor Show usually has a few exciting surprises for car lovers of all kinds. This year, one of them is likely to be the Ferrari 458 Spider, the main feature of which is a retractable roof that can be deployed in less than 14 seconds.
For those who are concerned about the car’s body stiffness when such a feature is in use, don’t worry, those clever Italians have ensured that it remains the same whether the roof is up or down. Another fancy addition to the Spider is an adjustable electric wind deflector which, according to Ferrari, makes having a conversation at 120mph the same as having one at 20mph – by diffusing the air around the cockpit.
And for those who really need to know, this devilish looking motor is driven by a 562bhp 4.5 litre V8 engine, connected to a 7 speed dual clutch gearbox. Weighing 50kg more than the coupe version, it doesn’t go quite as fast – merely 198mph (a reduction of about 3mph) – which should still get you home for tea time. It can reach 62 mph in 3.5 seconds – around a tenth slower than its predecessor.
So, with a price tag many are guessing will be about £17,000 more than the coupe, at £190,000, what do you get for your money? Well, fuel economy and emissions are a little better, and Ferrari say there is ‘generous’ space behind the seats on the rear bench. Oh yes, and it has a really cool retractable roof.
As one of the world’s most reliable and well built cars, most Ferrari owners never need to dig their breakdown cover policies out. The incidences of them doing so are usually caused by the speed their cars can reach, rather than problems under the bonnet.
Breakdown Cover from 
