Ferrari unveils new 458 Challenge race car 12/13/2010
Ferrari recently unveiled the racing version of its new 458 Italia model, the Ferrari 458 Challenge.
According to Autoevolution, the 458 Challenge features the same powertrain as the standard version of the car, but it has received a number of upgrades that boost its performance on the track, including a new suspension and a new gearbox.
Just as the standard 458 Italia replaced Ferrari's F430, the 458 Challenge will replace the racing F430 GT2. The source reports that the outgoing racing car won a number of races, including the FIAT GT Championship and the American Le Mans Series.
The new car's V-8 engine is reportedly capable of putting out serious amounts of horsepower, but restrictions on maximum power for racing vehicles means that the powertrain has been capped at 470 hp, a full 30 hp less than the engine in the F430 GT2. The engine is reportedly connected to a six-speed gearbox.
The new vehicle also weighs more than its predecessor. It tips the scales at 2,745 lbs, approximately 60 pounds heavier than the F430 GT2.