The New Italian Stallion

ENAR

Whenever an automaker departs significantly from its own standards and norms, it raises certain questions about the maker, the marque, and the industry as a whole. Manufacturers — and sport and luxury car manufacturers in particular — invest millions of dollars in creating “attitudes” consistent with their products, and for these attitudes to stick, it is important that any car manufactured under their marque be recognizable down to the smallest detail. Customer loyalty depends on consistency. Radical innovation, even if it means radical improvement, is always something of a gamble. So what do we make of the Ferrari 458 Italia? The Italia is, in the company’s own words, “a completely new car from every point of view,” and demonstrates both the company’s experience in Formula One (F1) racing and increasing global awareness of acceptable levels of fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The F1 influence is apparent from without as