Ferrari 458 Italia Spider Will Have Folding Hard-top

The stunning new 2010 458 Italia supercar, Ferrari's replacement for the outgoing F430, was just revealed to the world for a few months when talk started circulating the internet about a possible drop-top version of the car, with all the thrills of the coupe but much, much more headroom. At the time, we expected the car to be a soft-top version and to arrive some time next year, yet it looks like the Maranello carmaker wants to change the game a bit.

According to a recent Piston Heads report, inside sources suggest that the future Ferrari 458 Italia Spider (long name, isn’t it?) will actually make use of a folding metal roof. The California grand tourer was the company’s first ever car with such an arrangement, but this latest model addition will likely be joined by the 458 Italia in 2012.

A folding hard-top 458 has been the subject of much speculation, especially in online forums that love to argue the merits and disadvantages of the design.

The F430 Spider did not make use of a folding hard-top because it was believed to be too heavy and complex, but it seems Ferrari has solved these problems for the drop-top 458. The only problem foreseen is that the mechanism will reportedly obscure the impressive 4.5-liter, 570-horsepower V-8 engine that's visible through a clear cover on the coupe.

Still being analyzed by the company is the material to be used for the Spider. Metal would be simpler and lighter to use, but glass could do the job in part and would provide that Italian... passion and soul. And let’s not forget the drop-top need to save weight wherever possible, so carbon fiber might also do the trick.