FERRARI 458 Speciale A Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Only 499 vehicles of this 458 Speciale A were ever built, and customers were assured that they were driving the most powerful Ferrari road car ever built until that moment.

The open-top version of the 458 Speciale was released in late 2014 and promised an exhilarating experience to those who had deep enough pockets to buy one. The Italian car manufacturer followed a known recipe for the supercar. It used the same technologies from the 450 Speciale and applied them to its open-top sibling, the 458 Aperta. This resulted in a roadster being able to lap the Fiorano track in a mere 1m23s50” on street tires.

Its look slightly differed from the one featured on the regular F458 Aperta. For starters, it sported a unique triple-layer yellow paint adorned with Blu Nart (blue) and Bianco Avus (white) center stripes. Yet, the carbon-fiber elements used for the aerodynamic package were left unpainted for a meaner look. From its profile, the car revealed its gray forged alloy wheels. On top of that, the retractable aluminum roof could have been retracted in a mere 14 seconds. Despite being an open-top vehicle, it was just 50 kg (110 lbs) heavier than its coupe sibling.

With a cabin stripped of most of the fancy, luxurious amenities, the 458 Speciale A Aperta proved that it was focused more on performance than on lifestyle. Yet, the Alcantara-trimmed dashboard, door cards, and some parts of the seats were not budget material. In addition, a few carbon-fiber elements were left uncovered so the owner could understand why they paid an arm and a leg for the Italian supercar.

The engine was pushed to offer a staggering 134.6 hp/liter. That was massive for a naturally aspirated engine. The dual-clutch F1-inspired gearbox was tuned for faster downshifts, and the E-Diff (electronically controlled rear differential) offered a faster reaction.