2012 Ferrari 458 Spider review

In our November 2011 issue, We anointed the Ferrari 458 Italy the year's Best Driver's Car after running it back-to-back against 10 of the greatest sports car on the planet. After hot laps at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, road drives the between Monterey and Los Angeles; and loads of instrumented testing and seat time; We concluded That there is no better combination of ride, handling, and outright performance in the world than the Ferrari 458 Italy . Welcome to the Ferrari 458 Spider, the world's first hardtop convertible mid-engine supercar, and arguably the finest road-going conveyance money can buy. Every Ferrari oozes sex (well, except Perhaps the California), but the Spider? The rear deck clamshells skyward while the aluminum roof separates into a large forward section and rear Smaller sliver. Roof up, the Spider looks longer and leaner than the Italian, with a cab-forward yet fastback silhouette. Dropping the top opens up the profile and puts Greater emphasis on the dramatic back-sloping buttresses. And They Are not just stylistic devices - the buttresses protect occupants' skulls Should the Spider flip on its