Ferrari 458 hits Australia

The first of Ferrari's latest mid-engined supercars is ready for the road in Australia, complete with a pricetag of $526,950 and a waiting list which already stretches for 15 months. The pioneer car is not heading for a customer's garage - not yet, anyway - but is doing demonstration work for Ferrari as the brand gears up for a total change in its local portfolio.

The V8-powered California coupe-convertible is already going well and winning a record number of women to the brand, but Ferrari says the 458 sets the pace for the brand in everything from its design and engine development - including a sump which operates within a vacuum - to a steering wheel which houses switches for the turn signals, lights and wipers. It has active aerodynamic devices, diamond-like coating on the cylinder bores and fully-integrated electronics to make the car easier and safer to drive despite a 300-plus top speed and 0-100km/h sprint time better than four seconds.

"It's a window on the future of technology that will be available across a much wider range of vehicles in the future," says Ferrari's local spokesman, Edward Rowe.

All the early 458 deliveries in Australia will be made to long-term Ferrari fans, most adding an extra car to their garage after paying a deposit as much as three years ago. All but a handful are going to men and all have a manu-matic seven-speed gearbox, after demand on the outgoing 430 dropped to almost zero in Australia.

"Around 90 per cent are existing Ferrari owners. For about 40 per cent of those people the car will be an addition, not a replacement for an existing car," Rowe says.

Ferrari is reluctant to talk about exact pricing for the 458, because of differences in optional equipment and government charges, but Brisbane dealer boss Greg Willims (correct) says most will hit the road at between $580,000 and $590,000. Enamel badges on the front mudguards alone cost $3000.

The bottom line is a significant jump from the $460,000 range for the 430, but Ferrari justifies the increase with everything from the car's new technology to improved quality. Around 60 458s will be delivered in the car's first year in Australia as Ferrari aims for just over 100 sales, based on allocations from Italy and not local demand.

"Whatever the factory can build, that's what we sell. If a customer was to place an order today the delivery would be later next year," Rowe says. "We don't know what the final allocations for 2011 will be. We prefer to err on the conservative side, because it's better for a customer to get their car earlier than expected."

The 458 demonstrator is a classic Ferrari, with red bodywork and tan leather trim, but picks up painted yellow calipers on its carbon brakes, side shields, larger alloy wheels, electric seats and upgraded headlamps.