Owning an open top Ferrari is perhaps one of the most common male fantasies, though with a five liter V8 providing motive force, it's infinitely more practical to have the protection and quietness of a hardtop when atmospheric conditions aren't optimum. Hence Ferrari's new 458 Spider with its automated folding aluminum hard-top solution makes infinite sense.
In all respects other than the Ferrari-patented, fully retractable hard top, the Spider is identical to the 458 Italia, with the same direct-injection 4.5 liter V8 that won a nomination for the 2011 International Engine of the Year, dual-clutch F1 paddle-shift transmission, E-Diff, F1-Trac traction control and high-performance anti-lock brakes.
![Ferrari's new 458 Spider](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/3efa68b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2983x1507+0+0/resize/1440x727!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2Fferrari-458spider-mid-rear-engined-berlinetta-retractable-hardtop-6.jpg)
The hard top though is pretty special as a piece of engineering. In comparison to the Italia's folding soft-top, it is a full 25 kg lighter, and has a deployment time of just 14 seconds. It fits ahead of the engine bay and takes up so little space that there's still room for rear bench behind the seats.
![Ferrari's new 458 Spider](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/fc64118/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3050x1014+0+0/resize/1440x479!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2Fferrari-458spider-mid-rear-engined-berlinetta-retractable-hardtop-7.jpg)
There's also an electrically-adjustable windstop designed to facilitate normal conversation at speeds up to 200 km/h.
The Ferrari 458 Spider will make its world debut at the 2011 Frankfurt International Motor Show next month.
![Ferrari's new 458 Spider specs](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/d535f64/2147483647/strip/true/crop/926x935+0+0/resize/926x935!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2Fferrari-458spider-mid-rear-engined-berlinetta-retractable-hardtop-5.png)