The very special Ferrari 458 Speciale

     

What draws us people towards feeling attracted to a car? Hmm...definitely looks, powertrain, functionality, and I think heritage as well. Unveiled at the recent Frankfut Motor Show is the astoundingly eye-catching Ferrari 458 Speciale. This car ticks up all the boxes to what attracts us to a car (Except maybe functionality, probably because its not exactly practical but well, it functions alright). It is a new car but then again, it isn’t. Its based on, yes you guessed it right, a 458 Italia. The 458 Italia is an amazing car in every way; stunningly beautiful, sounds fantastic and its a Ferrari, so yeah its really fast. As it is, the 458 Italia simply looks absolutely amazing, one of the best looking supercars out there. And this Speciale version looks much more beefed up, sharper; like its been working out in the gym for a bit. The black stripe sandwiched in between two white stripes that runs over the car just adds to the occasion.

      The 458 Speciale houses the same 4.5litre V8 from the Italia but now it pushes out 597hp @ 9000rpm and 540Nm @ 6000rpm which showcases almost 35 more horsepower than the Italia. Ferrari engineers carried out specified refinements to the V8 engine to maximise its output as well as improvised mechanical efficiency. The engine now has an increased compression ratio of 14:1, optimised combustion chamber fluid-dynamics, new materials for some of the engine components, revised crankshaft geometry and intake system as well as a new cam profile. There’s a new algorithmic system named the Side Slip Angle Control (SSC) which calculates the amount of slide slip angle of the car to optimise the torque management in order to minimize oversteer and maximize cornering grip.  Changes are not just to its power station but there are lots of new trick stuff going on in terms of active aerodynamics for the 458 Speciale. There are lots of flaps, both vertical and horizontal in the front bumper that functions differently according to the speed the car is travelling to minimize drag coefficiency on the straights and maximize downforce in cornering. A new rear diffuser which also has an active aerodynamic is fitted and above the diffuser is one of my favourite changes to from the Italia, the tail-pipes!!! It now has a dual tail-pipe which looks absolutely magnificent compared to the 458 Italia. All those new changes has to have a better output. 0 to 100km/h now just take 3 seconds dead, 0 to 200km/h takes just 9.1 seconds and the Speciale tops up at 325km/h.

      There’s a solution if you don’t find this car interesting and want something else in its class. Ferrari’s counterpart, Lamborghini has made a limited edition of the Gallardo LP570-4 called the Gallardo Squardo Corse which is just another souped up version of the Gallardo. They’ve been making like millions different versions of the Gallardo already and Lambo need to make a freaking new Gallardo for god’s sake! The Squadro Corse has also been revealed in the Frankfurt Motor Show and its out in 2014. I suspect it to be very stripped out and just raw power just like in most special edition Lamborghinis. I reckon the 458 Speciale would be a very much better car to own and to look at actually. Beauty on the outside and an absolute beast lurking beneath it.

                                      

The 1140hp Swedish Mafia, The Koenigsegg Agera R

     Present days, car manufacturers are moving towards precision engineering, making cars faster, comfortable, techy and easier to drive. Take for example, the insanely well engineered and the wildly powered Bugatti Veyron with its 16 cylindered 8 litre engine alongside its 4 turbos. Looking at all the details on this car, it is just amazing how someone can come up with such an idea and actually make such a machine. In fact, they made it, and made it rather well. The Veyron is an icon for speed, making a record of 431km/h with the Veyron Supersport edition. Incredible numbers, incredible speed. Sounds like a car that is made for professional race drivers?  No actually, it isnt as wild of a car you might think it is. Its tame, it has an automatic gearbox even for daily driving. When driven around town normally, it is just a normal car, with a comfortable ride; even a grandma can drive it without a problem. It is like a normal Audi A6; comfortable, quiet, practical, except it is a bit big and fast......really really fast. 

          Somehow rather, I wouldn’t get one even if I had the money to buy it, aside from the fact that the 400+km/h speed isn’t quite accessible on our roads. What I’d get if I had a bank full of gold is a Swedish born Koenigsegg instead, the Agera R to be specific. Coming from a small car company in Sweden (when I say small, I mean compared to other car manufacturers out there) which was established just under 20 years ago. This company was started by Christian Von Koenigsegg, an optimistic man with a mission in mind. All the cars made by Koenigsegg were on the high power scale, trying to get on the top speed records. Their most recent model, the Agera R is just a giant leap forward. A fully Koenigsegg turbocharged 5 litre V8 engine that produces 1140hp and 1200Nm of torque, and has a new paddle shift operated gearbox that is a single clutch unit but has a new system that allows it to have an almost seamless shift times. The handling of this car is also said to be incredibly good thanks to its new triplex suspension that was designed by Christian Von Koenigsegg himself. According to car reviewers that tested the car, it seems the stability of the Agera R is amazing as it can accelerate up to well over 300km/h+ easily and brake in record time without the car wobbling around thanks to its massive carbon brakes (Record acceleration and braking : 0-300-0km/h =21.19s). The whole car is made from the best quality of carbon fibre called the prepreg with the chassis made from aluminium honeycomb which is both aluminium and carbon elements making the base structure incredibly stiff, strong and very crash absorbent. The uniquely mad doors that open vertically from previous Koenigsegg models also feature in the Agera R. Maybe it doesn’t sound as interesting or that the specifications aren’t that amazing. Well, you should watch how they hand build the cars and then you’ll get the sense that it isn’t just a powerful and cool looking hypercar they are making, there’s more to that ; in my words, a masterpiece. Most car manufacturers set a target for the car they would build, for example a targeted 700hp. But things are different at Koenigsegg, they take the car and push it beyond its limit, see what breaks down, fix it, and raise the bar higher and then fine tune it till its about just right. 

            Mr Koenigsegg himself said that they do not mass produce these cars. They take their time and build them in a way that can be described in two words, exclusive and exquisite.