Report: Ferrari 458 Spider to be a hardtop convertible

Because the Ferrari 458 has been with us for sometime, we’ve always wondered about a successor to the cabriolet version of the F430 that the 458 replaced. Just recently however, we’ve heard of a rumor that says the new 458 Spider could have a folding hardtop.

There has been much speculation about the new 458 Spider, which will be debuting at the Frankfurt Motor Show later in September of this year. But the insider source told us that because the F430 Spider wasn’t capable of donning a folding hardtop, Ferrari over time has worked out those issues with the 458. So could a folding hardtop roof be more likely, especially since the California has a folding hardtop as well?

Either way, the source also tells us that the transparent engine cover on the 458 Spider has been ditched, though the engine itself goes untouched.

Click here for more news on the Ferrari 458 Italia.

Refresher: Power for the Ferrari 458 Italia comes from a mid-rear mounted 4.5L V8 producing 570-hp at 9,000 rpm with a maximum torque of 398 lb-ft at 6,000 rpm. Mated to a dual-clutch 7-speed F1 gearbox, 0 to 62 mph comes in just 3.4 seconds with a top speed of over 202 mph.

– By: Chris Chin

Source: Piston Heads