Is Ferrari's New $265,000 Supercar an Accident-Prone Firetrap? [video]
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 and a video of the one that recently caught fire in China after the jump:
[via JamesList]
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
