Ferrari 458 Italia by Oakley | Car Advice

Car Advice

Ferrari 458 Italia by Oakley

By Anthony Crawford |

That’s not the Oakley sunglass mob, but rather, the British Porsche tuning crowd who have turned their hands to the wonderful looking Ferrari 458 Italia and added quite a few of their own ‘go fast’ bits to the standard factory package.

Meet the 458 Italia by Oakley Design, and if you like what you see, then you better be quick. Only five such turnkey cars will be built by the company although, customers who miss out on one of these five cars, can purchase individual enhancements to their 458 Italia.

Each car will bear a unique build number plaque and will include aerodynamic modifications, new engine mapping, and various cosmetic changes.

While the improved power and torque outputs of 461 kW and 567 Nm aren’t earth shattering, they are however, significant when married to the other Oakley Design features.

That said having shed 65 kilograms, this particular 458 now accelerates from 0-100km/h in a blistering 3.0 seconds, and top speed rises to over 330km/h.

The exotic titanium exhaust system with no bypass valves and its triple outlet pipes, saves a whopping 30 kilograms from the stock unit, and that’s before you add up the additional weight loss from the various carbon fibre bits.

Not only that, wind tunnel testing has confirmed that the carbon-fibre front splitter makes 45 kilograms of downforce to the front end at a speed of 241 km/h. That’s good news, given there isn’t a lot of weight up front in the mid-engine Ferrari.

Oakley has added a rear spoiler with a Gurney flap, which also adds 25 kilograms of downforce at the rear and at the same speed.

Airflow management has also been improved with the racecar style radiator vent channelling air over the bonnet rather than under the car.

The sills are also deeper and wider for both improved airflow down the sides as well as enhancing the flat bottom design.

The rear diffuser (now carbon-fibre) has also had the Oakley treatment, and is now longer and lighter, with deeper channels for better directional stability.

Rounding out the package is a set of superb Oakley Design super light composite wheels, which save a considerable 8.0 kilograms of unsprung weight per wheel.

Also in development is a bespoke suspension package by the Dutch motorsport gurus, Intrax.

Pricing for the Oakley Design 458 Italia has not been released.


 
  • TomJ

    Nice photoshops

  • Vince

    Do want! This is one of a few cars I’d actually have in white. Very nice indeed.

    • DDH

      This is one of the few cars I wouldn’t have in white! The gallardo, 911 and R8 yes but not this. Although I plan to buy a 355 with a challenge grille and spray it white…vice!

  • john

    Figures of 461kw/567nm are earth shattering considering these outputs are achieved from a N/A 4.5l V8. Have a look at other car makers too see what size engines, turbos, superchargers etc. they have too get anwhere near the power figure in particular. The torque is extraordinary for a small N/A V8!
    PS The stock car looks fantastic but this just takes it too a whole new level which I thought would be near impossible too achieve!

    • JooberGTi

      Agree, buts it comes down to the handbuilt, quality of materials which allow the car to produce this sort of power. the costs associated itself to build the engine itself is probably x 2 of a HSV or any ordinary muscle cars.

  • http://carAdvice The Salesman

    Just about every touring car and modification club have had a crack at making limited edition changes to Ferrari and charged a motza for it. What’s next? The Ferrari 458 Italia by the Wiggles?

    • David

      The Wiggles version will be gold plated. They can afford it on the back of all the crap they flog to parents of young children.

  • Kris

    Wank Dial turned up to 11??!!

  • Flying High

    I guess my only question is, if the go fast bits can be done, why doesn’t Ferrari do them in the first place? Surely not because of price…

  • Marcoz

    I hate white ferraris, hate them….but this looks F ING GOOODDDD ….!!!!