At Ferrari, there are always beasts with claws of varying degrees of sharpness. The Speciale, like the 360 Modena and F430 before it, is a genuine racing car that has just been adapted for the road. Ferrari has drawn on all its racing experience to make this 458 a very… special car. Respect for the fundamentals, first and foremost, starting with a radical reduction in weight. By cutting back on everything from soundproofing to certain mechanical parts and bodywork, 90 kilos have been saved. Rated at 1,290 kg dry, the Speciale weighs just under 1,400 kg when fully loaded and in running order. Less weight, but more horsepower, of course. We know the recipe! The other ingredients of the transformation, essentially electronic, are more sophisticated and refined. This is an area in which Ferrari excels. Such is the case with the active aerodynamics which, thanks to mobile flaps at the front and rear, defines the ideal compromise between penetration coefficient and downforce, depending on speed and conditions of use. All without the need for a large rear spoiler. Or the dual-clutch robotised gearbox, whose shift times have been further shortened, by 20% for upshifts and 44% for downshifts. There’s also a magnetic-controlled damper, recalibrated for even better roll control.