Frankfurt Motor Show: 2012 Ferrari 458 Spider Makes Debut Appearance

The 2012 Ferrari 458 Spider has been unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. Equipped with a retractable hard-top roof like the Ferrari California, the 458 Spider is differentiated by the fact that it is Ferrari's first-ever mid-engined two-seater supercar with a folding hard-top roof.

Constructed entirely from lightweight aluminium, the hard-top roof is 25 kg lighter than the Ferrari F430 Spider's soft-top roof, making the Ferrari 458 Spider about 50 kg heavier than the Ferrari 458 Italia coupe. The roof deploys in just 14 seconds and requires a relatively small space to store, freeing up room for a luggage bench behind the two seats.

The Ferrari 458 Spider is driven by the same 562 bhp, 540 Nm 4.5-litre V8 engine and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission as in the 458 Italia. The 0-100 km/h sprint for both takes an identical 3.4 seconds, though the 458 Spider's top speed is slightly lower at 319 km/h compared with the coupe's 325 km/h.

Performance wise, the accelerator pedal mapping and multi-link suspension damping have been recalibrated. Moreover, the engine soundtrack has been specially tuned for open-air driving; an adjustable electric wind stop has been installed to reduce cabin din, allowing conversations to be held at speeds over 200 km/h; and the buttresses have been designed to optimise the flow of air to the engine intakes along with the clutch and gearbox oil radiators. Enjoy the live photos of the 2012 Ferrari 458 Spider in Frankfurt!