Ferrari Italias - En Fuego!

[zaxrex]

Is there a curse on Ferrari's new $265,000 supercar, the stunning 458 Italia? In the mere 90 days that have elapsed since the first models were delivered to well-heeled customers, 458s the world over have been the victim of an inordinate amount of crashes, fires and other mishaps, the sheer number of which seem to indicate a mechanical flaw rather than mere idiotic driving. Their frequency and severity – such as the spontaneous combustion of one example on a Paris street (above) – has prompted Ferrari reps to declare that "We are taking it very seriously and investigating each incident" but they have declined to comment further or admit to any production flaw. Rumors abound however that faulty gas overflow tubes and vapor systems are to blame. Designed by famed styling house Pininfarina, the 458 has a 4.5-litre V8 engine boosting it from 0–62 mph in 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 202 mph. There have been 11 recorded wrecks in all, making for nearly $3 million in trashed exotics. Check out a timeline of the 458 Italia incidents.
Wreck 1: May 20, Poland - Red 458 involved in collision with VW Bora

Wreck 2: June 1, Spain - Red 458 spotted on the back of a tow truck

Wreck 3: June, Czech Republic - Red 458 crashes on wet race track

Wreck 4: July 8, Paris - Parked 458 catches fire spontaneously (photo at top)

Wreck 5: July 9, London - Yellow 458 with a bespoke Dolce & Gabanna interior destroyed in fire at Heathrow airport

Wreck 6: July 14, Switzerland - Red 458's engine catches fire on a mountain pass

Wreck 7: August 9, Italy - One-day-old red 458 crashes outside Ferrari factory in Maranello

Wreck 8: August 11, England - Black 458 hit roadside barrier during wet weather in Buckinghamshire

Wreck 9: August 18, California - Red 458 catches fire on highway

Wreck 10: August 21, Czech Republic - Six-hour-old car with 200 miles on the clock ran into ditch

Wreck 11: August 23, China – Red 458 catches fire in China
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRHJACxTAUs[/video]

Stolled from luxist

[Sabre]

Very VERY sad news I think that car is what all Ferrari's should be.

[sirwilliam]

<Paris Hilton>That's hot!</slut>

Sorry, couldn't help myself

But seriously...that sucks though about the car...and for the people that bought one...and for the people around the people driving the car...and for the environment. Hope it gets fixed before some serious damage happens.

[Mr Kleen]

There's a recall out now. The latest word is that an adhesive used to attach a heat shield in the engine bay becomes flammable at very high temperatures. Like those found in the engine bay of a Ferrari. The latest cars delivered have the fix.

[zaxrex]

sort of like the Apollo 1 disaster cause. Adhesives.
except no deaths, and no pressurized oxygen environment.

[Mr Kleen]

sort of like the Apollo 1 disaster cause. Adhesives.
except no deaths, and no pressurized oxygen environment.

adhesives? I thought it was an electrical short that caused a spark which ignited the oxygen.

[WRXWagon2112]

Apollo 1:
- Pure oxygen capsule
- Hatch that opened inward (though that's understandable)
- Pressurized capsule (pushing the hatch against the lock)
- No explosive bolts to blow the hatch open in an emergency

So many factors ...

--Alan

[zaxrex]

Velcro that was not combustible at normal O2 concentrations, but becomes combustible at the 100% O2 at 17 PSI used in the test. The adhesive was not slated to be carried into space, but was used in the ground testing assuming a normal O2 distribution and concentration.
Boom.

[sirwilliam]

Ferrari 458 Italia Officially Recalled

[complacent]

That won't be cheap.

I wonder who'll get the axe over this?

[zaxrex]

If newly delivered ones already have the rivet fix, then how did they not know the problem existed before the recall to change the attachment?

[Mr Kleen]

If newly delivered ones already have the rivet fix, then how did they not know the problem existed before the recall to change the attachment?

remember that Ferrari isn't like Ford or Toyota, they don't produce thousands of cars a day. their output is low enough that fixes can be integrated fairly quickly. but there is a question of when they realized there was an issue...