Simply Abu Dhabi IV

The Drive of My Life With the capacity to accelerate from 0-62mph in just 3.4sec, it was with a beating heart that I stepped into the Spider. Ergonomically designed to put all the controls at your fingertips the dashboard has its own unique character. With a reinforced chassis that doesn’t take anything away from the sheer power of the car and a modified Ferrari exhaust system specially designed for this convertible, the unbelievable roar of the engine lets you know you are driving a dramatic supercar, yet it is incredibly reassuring and from the minute I selected first gear and pulled away with no lurching, it was a brilliantly smooth drive. With just a little pressure on the throttle from my right foot the highly responsive engine offered up a diverse range of sounds from the exhaust gases that were literally like music to my ears. With a variety of options I decided to test the safe sport mode before moving on to the more exhilarating ‘all-systems-go’ set up for a more challenging ride which still offered sensational precision due to the finely tuned engineering. Boys like their toys and when it comes to performance the exploitable degrees of response, noise and playfulness that the various Manettino settings allow are every car- lover’s dream. The array of set-ups were just one of many technical highlights for me, but I think what truly blew me away was the sheer speed. At times I was literally on the edge of my seat holding my breath in anticipation of an upcoming nasty dip in the road that it was impossible to avoid, but the spectacular Spider cleared them all without flinching and I loved every heart-stopping second of it. Awesome Acceleration This enlivening supercar seems too good to be true when it comes to its instinctive correlation to the outside elements as you experience a sensation of speed no driving simulation could ever come close to emulating. It felt almost effortless to drive as once I was settled behind the wheel and had started up the engine the controls were so responsive and the steering so beautifully precise, the Spider speeded away on a mission with apparently very little input. Even on seemingly poor ground, the suspension coped fantastically, keeping the utmost control. This surpassed any test drive you could imagine in that it wasn’t simply a drive, but rather a full-on adrenalin rush, racing through the fresh air at speeds of 130mph plus – its top speed is a whopping 198mph – that had my heart racing and all my senses on top alert. If you feel in need of a little excitement to remind you how great it is to be alive this is one bracing experience I can whole-heartedly recommend – invigorating, enlivening and totally awesome! 197 SIMPLY ABU DHABI FERARRI 458 Spider The Kudos of Car Ownership All my dreams had come true. With marvellous arching bodywork over the wheels, you can’t fail to feel like a hugely significant presence on the road behind the wheel of this beauty. You’re guaranteed to make an impression in this powerful convertible supercar – everyone can see and hear you coming which just add to the awesome appeal of driving such a spectacular piece of machinery. A true revolution in the world of Ferrari, this glorious powerhouse has the sound, sensational speed and mind-blowing handling of a supercar whilst being safe and reliable – after all, we shouldn’t get carried away and forget the practicalities! Promoted as a sociable car, I immediately saw the appeal for couples wanting to go for a fantastic drive with the roof down and I know Jordana is keen to be taken for more than a spin to see the Spider put through its paces, so it is also the perfect car for thrill seekers too. Naturally aspirated 4,499cc V8 with dual-clutch F1 paddle shift gearbox, rear-wheel drive, the Ferrari 458 Spider doesn’t come cheap with a sale price of £198,856 but as the supercar to be seen (as well as heard) in, I don’t doubt there will be a queue of eager car owners signing up to put it through its paces and I may just be first in that queue... For more information please visit www.ferrari.com Find Ferrari on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Ferrari