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Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta frolics topless in the rain with Evo

With nearly 600 horsepower from a sonorous 4.5-liter V8 nestled in an already fantastic platform, Ferrari might have outdone itself with the 458 Speciale. At this year's Paris Motor Show, it took the idea to the next logical step by letting buyers drop the coupe's top with the limited-edition 458 Speciale Aperta. Evo recently got the chance to drive one of the 499 of them; unfortunately, it was pouring rain the whole time. Still, when you get an opportunity to drive such a special Prancing Horse, you don't pass it up, no matter what the weather is doing.
All of the standing water on the road does allow for a chance to see how the Aperta's traction control works in the slippery conditions, and the car handles it with aplomb. In fact, the host has a hard time taking the big grin off of his face for the entire clip. Check out the video to watch this special, new Ferrari and its wonderful V8 go singing in the rain.

2020 Ferrari F8 Spider loses its roof for Frankfurt

The inevitable has, well, happened: The F8 Tributo has received a drop-top twin in the form of the 2020 Ferrari F8 Spider. It's pretty much exactly what you would expect. Most of the body is identical to the Tributo except for the power retractable hardtop that replaces a targa-style roof panel and the rear window, leaving large flying buttresses with the top down. The drawback to the removable roof is that you can no longer view the engine through the window, as that panel also hides the top and mechanisms. Powering the F8 Spider is the same turbocharged 3.9-liter V8 as the coupe. It still makes 710 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque. It's a high-revver, too with a redline of 8,000 rpm. The V8 is coupled to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Being a convertible, the Spider does add an extra 154 pounds over the coupe, and thus is a touch slower. The 0-62 mph time is unchanged at 2.9 seconds, but on the way to 124 mph, the Spider takes 8.2 seconds versus the coupe's 7.8 second time. It does have the same 211 mph top speed as the coupe, though. Pricing and availability have not been announced for the F8 Spider. We expect it will have a price premium over the coupe's $274,280 base price.

Ferrari SP3JC one-off channels vintage roadsters with a color-wheel twist

Not long after we posted on rumors of a Ferrari 812 Spider, we get this, the Ferrari SP3JC. This is no 812 Superfast, though, it's a one-off commission based on running gear from the limited edition F12 TDF. John Collins, owner of classic Ferrari dealer Talacrest in the UK, provided the dream, the funds, and therefore the "JC" in the open-top's name. We'll assume this being Ferrari's third Special Project this year contributed the rest of the alphanumeric. Collins said the project took 3.5 years from dream to completion, and Ferrari said the design process consumed two of them. While there have been at least six special editions and commissions based off the F12, this is the first one-off to use the F12 TDF. The Italians say the SP3JC is "designed to pay homage to company's classic 1950s and 1960s roadsters." A much wider power bulge in the hood falls all the way into the grille of the redrawn front fascia. New vents appear at the corners of the bumper. Above, instead of the F12 TDF's small hood vents, two large, transparent panels provide views of the 6.3-liter V12. At the side, instead of the modern rising fender line from front wheel to cowl, the fender descends on its way rearward akin to Ferraris of old. The redrawn panels move the donor car's vent to above the rocker panel, and erases the three vents over the rear wheels. In back, 812 Superfast taillights preside over a layered fascia with three full-width vents and a jutting diffuser. The 812 Superfast also donated its wheels. Roll hoops stand guard behind the seats. According to a poster on Ferrari Chat, the SP3JC doesn't come with a roof. About that paint scheme: There were plenty of vibrantly hued classic Ferraris, but we don't know of any that put so many hues on one body. Ferrari says the mashup here was inspired by Collins' "passion for Pop Art." Bianco Italia mixes with Azzuro Met and Giallo Modena, right down to the yellow pinstripes on the wheels and the matching blue and white leather inside. Personally, we'd rather jump off with the F12 TRS when imagining what an 812 Superfast Spider could look like, but this is probably a better place to start. View 43 Photos Related Video: