Preview: The 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia Spider

The 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia Spider, two-seater, 8-cylinder Berlinetta, is truly a magnificent vehicle. Breathtaking to see, and power beyond comprehension, are the first thoughts when viewing this super elegant vehicle. Certainly, it should be all those things and more for just under $300,000 US. Introduced to the public at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show 2009, and having replaced the F430, the 458 continues to thrill the masses. Of course, not everyone can drive a Ferrari, but everyone can certainly dream, and this model delights its most ardent fans.

458 Ferrari RoadWith top speeds clocked at 202 mph, the 458 is a contender on the race track. What the average driver could do with those specs on the road remains to be seen, but what is known is that most would likely face costly fines, and maybe a stint behind bars. But, then again, only the 458 can arouse the senses and coax the “badboy or badgirl” image to the forefront even more than the already gorgeous ’10 Ferrari California. How could anyone test the real merit of this fine vehicle without driving it to the max?

With precision tooling, aerodynamic specifications, racing technology, and increased fuel efficiency, the 458 is built on a Pininfarina design. Efficiency and lightness are the crucial elements of a sports car, and this design is one of the best. Smooth, sleek, aluminum chassis, and strategically placed air vents give this model the necessary features to reduce drag and increase performance. Pininfarina’s and Ferrari’s association has been a long-standing tradition, both parties seeking the same goals of simplicity, efficiency, technology and superiority in a luxury vehicle. Reaching these goals, while at the same time reacting to environmental trends, was an incredible undertaking. Typically, fast cars burn plenty of gas and produce toxic emissions. That has dramatically changed, however, with the 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia Spider.

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The Chevrolet Corvette ZHZ – Hertz Rents out pure power!

That’s right Hertz rents out the Chevrolet Corvette ZHZ. While renting out high performance sports cars is not a new thing having them custom built for the rental company is. The only way to get your hands on the ZHZ is to rent one from Hertz. They are not being sold to the public. This is definitely a unique arrangement but it is one that has proven to be quite popular.

Steffi Vertriest CorvetteThe idea of renting out high performance sports cars is not all that unique. In fact there are companies that specialize in doing just that. Nevertheless it is rare to see a large chain like Hertz doing it. The reason they do it of course is that there is a demand for it. Surely they have seen the number of people who are taking advantage of the opportunity to rent these types of cars and have jumped into the market. It certainly doesn’t hurt that they can charge a high price for the chance to drive one of these cars. The premium charged to rent a Corvette ZHZ is pretty steep making this a profitable enterprise for Hertz.

The reason for the demand to rent cars like the Chevrolet Corvette ZHZ is easy to explain as well. They are out of the price range of most people. There is a whole class of super cars that everybody dreams of driving but which few people can actually afford. However the chance to rent one allows them to live out their dreams. Although the cost of renting a ZHZ is pretty steep it is at least in the price range of the average person. The chance to drive one for a couple of days is well worth it for a lot of people.

Corvette ZHZ Interior Corvette ZHZ Wheel Arch

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