Once again the My Daily Drive crew had an invitation to attend another premier for a brand new car. This time it was the official South Florida launch party for the new Ferrari 458 Italia. 
We did check it out a few days earlier at The Collection in Miami (check out Jesse’s coverage and mega gallery here), but this party was the real deal. Hosted by Ferrari Maserati of Fort Lauderdale, we got to check out the new supercar and spend some time with good friends, good drinks, good music, and a few beautiful swimsuit models. And needless to say, the new car is gorgeous. It’s just so captivating. I’ve seen some pretty exclusive cars in the past as you know, but this one is different. The lines, the wheels, the F40 sourced 3 tailpipes… this one is perfect. Ferrari have really outdone themselves with the new 458 Italia.
Before I started snapping any photos I had to just look at it. I walked around the car a few times, getting down on my knees, standing on my tippy toes, and I even got to sit inside it. I had to take it all in. The internet has been flooded with photos, reviews, and videos for months, but finally it was here in our very own backyard. I love everything about it. Initially I was a little iffy about the front end and the Audi styled LED lights with the little nostrils. But after seeing it from every angle imaginable I became a lover. And as Ferrari have always stood by, the famous term “Function over Form” stands true with the new Italia.
The little inlets near the headlights take in air and send them out through the outlets on the outer sides of the headlights. This sends the air over the front fenders and keeps the front wheels planted to the ground at speed. The new intakes by the rear side windows is a little different from what we’ve been accustomed to seeing with the 360 and 430 series. And another cool thing about the front is the Active Aero. The black pieces on the front fascia bend at higher speeds to provide more downforce to the front of the car.
The new 3-exit exhaust system is an idea borrowed from the legendary F40. The new car uses the middle pipe for normal driving and acceleration. But when you really throw the hammer down and the valves open up and the exhaust flow is redirected to the two outer pipes for maximum flow and the best way to reduce emissions at lower speeds.
Overall I think Ferrari have hit a homerun with the new car. The new motor sounds astonishing too. As evident from the name 458, the Italia uses a 4.5 liter V8 with 570 horsepower and a new 7-speed dual clutch transmission to power the rear wheels. Ferrari claim a maximum speed of 202mph.
And what Ferrari party would be complete without an amazing display of their own Italian supercars? In true FMFL fashion there were quite a few noteworthy cars sitting nicely on the showroom floor. My favorite of the bunch, aside from the Italia of course, was Preston Henn’s breathtaking yellow Ferrari FXX. This FXX is the second one I’ve seen in person and it looks just as aggressive as Michael Fux’s white FXX. Minding its own business next to the FXX was a white and red Ferrari F430 Challenge Car. I usually don’t get to see an FXX and another Ferrari race car next to each other, but I’m not complaining. Another favorite of mine was the white Ferrari 430 Scuderia on display. We also got the unique opportunity to take a behind the scenes look at their shop. It’s not everyday that you get to see a mighty Ferrari Enzo in for service.
And I certainly cannot leave you without a few photos of the bikini models that were on hand to grace us with their presence. They definitely rounded out a perfect evening.
The My Daily Drive crew would like to thank the awesome staff at FMFL for their hospitality and kindness. We’re looking forward to attending many more events at their beautiful facility.
Photos © My Daily Drive 2010
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