[roundincircles]

Went to Millbrook Proving Circuit today in a 458 Italia.

We did a launch control start on the mile straight and by the time I had to stand on the brakes we were at 186 mph (indicated at three quarters of a mile point) needing to hit 40 mph at the banked exit turn.

Sweaty hands - you bet - even after the third run as it is a narrow strip of concrete/tarmac which shrinks at 180 mph plus.

What struck me is that all the talk and claims about MP4-12C versus 458 Italia is a sort of nonsense as either car will thrill a mere mortal. I don't think most people would notice a second here or there over three quarters of a mile, unless racing of course or at the Bar of The Barley Mow.

Any views out there of performance differences at this level of ballistic pace? Is it academic?

By the way on the Alpine circuit the car skipped/shimmied sideways at a couple of points which surprised me but the circuit is designed to test and work chassis, suspension and engineering competence.

 

[emve]

Speaking of performance figures, do you have any data ? 0-186mph time etc.

 

[andy c]

Speaking of performance figures, do you have any data ? 0-186mph time etc.

the 458 time to 300kph is 32.4 seconds according to fastestlaps,while it has been said by a swiss car mag after going to portamoi that the 12c does it in 24.9 seconds,quite a difference

 

[andy c]

Went to Millbrook Proving Circuit today in a 458 Italia.

We did a launch control start on the mile straight and by the time I had to stand on the brakes we were at 186 mph (indicated at three quarters of a mile point) needing to hit 40 mph at the banked exit turn.

Sweaty hands - you bet - even after the third run as it is a narrow strip of concrete/tarmac which shrinks at 180 mph plus.

What struck me is that all the talk and claims about MP4-12C versus 458 Italia is a sort of nonsense as either car will thrill a mere mortal. I don't think most people would notice a second here or there over three quarters of a mile, unless racing of course or at the Bar of The Barley Mow.

Any views out there of performance differences at this level of ballistic pace? Is it academic?

By the way on the Alpine circuit the car skipped/shimmied sideways at a couple of points which surprised me but the circuit is designed to test and work chassis, suspension and engineering competence.

at normal road speeds i agree,but the 12c has made such a leap in road car technology i think it will be apparent to even a normal driver,usually manufacturers only make a small step that lasts them 6 or 7 years,this car will make them all up their game,mainly because the type of buyer of these cars is alot more astute than ever before and sometimes a badge is not good enough anymore

 

[RWD]

There is some truth that the level of performance that is being generated by the 458 and 12C are indeed out pacing driving ability of most. To really get the difference you have to be a track guy and a good one at that. It is also fun to have bragging rights to give your fellow friends with the other marquee a hard time.

 

[emve]

the 458 time to 300kph is 32.4 seconds according to fastestlaps,while it has been said by a swiss car mag after going to portamoi that the 12c does it in 24.9 seconds,quite a difference

Yes, I was curious whether roundincircles used Driftbox to measure that run, because indicated 300km/h (290km/h GPS speed in case of 458 Italia) at 3/4m is quite insane. That would mean 0-300 time waaaay below 30s.

Automobile magazine tested 458 at Millbrook a while ago and got 0-290km/h (180mph) in 23,3s, which would imply 0-300km/h in about 27-28s.

Anyway, I agree that both cars performance is amazing and it is more up to personal preferences.

 

[andy c]

Yes, I was curious whether roundincircles used Driftbox to measure that run, because indicated 300km/h (290km/h GPS speed in case of 458 Italia) at 3/4m is quite insane. That would mean 0-300 time waaaay below 30s.

Automobile magazine tested 458 at Millbrook a while ago and got 0-290km/h (180mph) in 23,3s, which would imply 0-300km/h in about 27-28s.

Anyway, I agree that both cars performance is amazing and it is more up to personal preferences.

i saw that ,but automobile magazine was so far out compared to other magazines,this is were the other mags possibly started the fixing theory,did they have 2 cars on that day,one for corners and one for the straight,that would be interesting to know

 

[roundincircles]

Guys, this was not a timed run as such. I potentially mislead you.

What we did was set the 458 on launch control. Then left foot on brake and right foot floored. The car holds 3000 rpm, beeps, then you release the brake and keep right foot floored and the car changes up automatically at optimum revs. The instructor indicates when to brake, which was pretty close to the end of the mile, but I assumed was at the three quarter point and he said we reached 186 mph.

Interestingly the up changes were brutal as the engine torque just drives the car forwards, the power just rips the car forwards, so the MP4-12C must be something else!

It was hard on me to wait for the braking point.........the instructor was cool as a cucumber and I stood on those brakes......no setting up the chassis by kissing them first....I bottled out and hit them but we got down to the required 40 mph to make the banked turn at the mile end......few, sweaty hands you bet.

Still hit those breaks with all my might on run 2 and 3. Smile as wide as a Cheshire or Modena Cat

 

[roundincircles]

Do you recall the journalist comments about test driving a factory 458 and questioning if it had got a performance engine map factory fitted as when he drove a customer car it was slower?

These were Ferrari cars. Not customer cars. But they must be normal engine maps????

 

[andy c]

Do you recall the journalist comments about test driving a factory 458 and questioning if it had got a performance engine map factory fitted as when he drove a customer car it was slower?

These were Ferrari cars. Not customer cars. But they must be normal engine maps????

probably the straight line ferrari model then ???

 

[widowmaker911]

probably the straight line ferrari model then ???

there is just something very ODD here when u have to question which 458 you are driving should'nt a 458 be just a '458' right out of the production line and NOT a 458 (SQUARED) i have never heard/read any other car company do this kind of BUFFOONERY! shame shame FERRARI

 

[falb]

Any views out there of performance differences at this level of ballistic pace? Is it academic?

People have been asking this question for 100 years. Nearly all don't care about the shaved seconds.... but there are enough on earth that do and some of those will effectively use the difference