Ferrari saves something extra 'Speciale' for Paris

The Italian supercar company will be taking the wraps off the 458 Speciale A, a limited edition, no-holds-barred drop-top at the upcoming motor show this October and has already announced that production will be curtailed to just 499 examples.

Ferrari claims the car will be the most powerful road-going Spider in its illustrious history and will be getting the same engine as the hardtop Speciale, launched earlier this year.

So that means a naturally aspirated 4.5-liter V8 with 597bhp spinning the rear wheels via a seven-speed twin-clutch semi-automatic gearbox. That means a 0-100km/h time of 3 seconds, a 0-200km/h time of 9.5 seconds and a top speed that will be north of 200mph (321km/h). And all without a turbo or supercharger helping out.

Its folding metal roof can be dropped almost as quickly -- 14 seconds -- and is unique to this model. The standard 458 Italia Spider has a fabric soft top. However one thing the standard convertible boasts that this doesn't is an exposed engine bay. This car's rear has been redesigned to accommodate the folding aluminum mechanism but it still looks just as dramatic.

It's the most powerful V8 convertible in the company's history. Photo:AFP

Inside the cabin will get exclusive carbon fiber trim and other details to mark it out from other 458 cars, and there will also be a prominently placed plaque that lists the number of awards that the 458's engine has scooped during its lifetime.

Fans wanting to grab their first glance of the car in the flesh will have to wait until October 3 when the Paris Motor Show opens its doors to the public.