Ferrari Prices 458 Spider at $257,000

Fancy things from Italy are rarely cheap, and that holds true for the new Ferrari 458 Spider. Getting your hands on the V-8-powered convertible will require a cool $257,000. That represents a premium of about $30,000 over the 458 Italia coupe on which the Spider is based.

Both versions of the Ferrari 458 employ a 4.5-liter V-8 engine that churns out 570 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission directs accelerative fury to the rear wheels. The Spider wears a rotating aluminum roof panel, which can open or close in just 14 seconds.

To make the top-down experience as thrilling as possible, Ferrari has specially tuned the 458 Spider’s exhaust note and developed a wind blocker which reportedly keeps wind noise low enough so that normal conversations can be held at speeds up to 124 mph.

Of course, bear in mind that the above figure is merely the base price for the new 458 Spider; Automotive News reports that most Ferrari buyers add 15 to 20 percent to their car’s sticker by bundling options like carbon-fiber trim or a backup camera.

The Ferrari 458 Spider goes on sale in the U.S. in January 2012.

Source: [Autonews.com]