Carrera D132 Ferrari 458 Italia (redand yellow)

Review by CoMod JoergW of Carrera DIGITAL 132 the Ferrari 458 Italia (30539/30540)

Here we have the 2009 model from the Italian luxury automaker in 1:32 scale, and at first glance, it’s nothing more than a Ferrari in a long line of Ferraris… I think that’s exactly what it’s supposed to be ;-)

The Ferrari 548 Italia was released in 2009 as the successor to the Ferrari 430. A base price of nearly 200,000 euros naturally makes it a rather rare vehicle. Its weight of just under 1.4 tons is propelled by a direct-injection V8 engine with 570 hp, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds and allowing the car to reach a top speed of approximately 325 km/h. Traction is provided by 20-inch alloy wheels with 235/35 tires on the front and 295/35 on the rear axle. The car is truly a hot machine, which is why all the vehicles had to be sent back to the workshops. In some cases, the vehicles caught fire because an adhesive used in the engine compartment ignited due to the heat.

Appearance:
The two models in Ferrari red and the yellow also typical of Ferrari are styled true to the real thing. The micro-lettering and emblems, as well as the paintwork, are clean and rich in detail. As far as I know, the cars haven’t competed in any real racing series yet, but on the Carreratrack, their understated racing look allows them to be used in GT races without any issues. A race against older supercars like the Bond-era Aston Martin, etc., would likely be significantly more challenging due to technical innovations in the suspension, … but you can certainly give it a try. In the display case, that doesn’t matter, and the new Ferrari 548 Italia fits in beautifully here. Brake calipers and perforated brake discs further enhance the look.

Technical Details:
The headlights on the digital versions are quite bright and show almost no light bleed to the sides. Otherwise, the increased steering angle—which also has a positive effect on drifting performance in this vehicle—has been standard for some time now. The tires have sufficient grip even without after-treatment. Since the super-low-profile tires are very thin, special care is required when sanding and breaking the edges.

Workmanship:
The wheels do not sit quite flush in the wheel wells, but if you look at photos of the real-life models, this is also the case in person. Axles and rims rotate smoothly and roundly. There is sufficient space in the chassis to accommodate lead weights. The side panels, in particular, are ideal for this purpose. It gets tighter and flatter up front, so you’ll need to experiment a bit.

Handling:
The handling is brisk and unremarkable. The car runs quietly and is virtually unshakable, especially when equipped with magnets. With a few decals and race numbers, you could turn it into a nice race car. Given the real-world performance figures, I wouldn’t be surprised if one or two 548s show up on the racetrack soon.

CoMod JoergW

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Test report by CoMod Lotus on the Carrera DIGITAL 132 Ferrari 458 Italia
(30539/30540)

Fire under the rear end

! Yes! That’s probably what comes to mind when you think of the Ferrari 458, introduced in 2009 and on sale since early 2010: 8 cylinders, 570 hp, 540 Nm of torque, a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, and all that in a car weighing just 1,340 kg. A car like this really puts fire under your butt. Unfortunately, it doesn’t just do this figuratively—it actually happens in real life, which is why it’s now also known as the “Flaming Ferrari.” Ten of them have already gone up in flames.

Here’s a video: Ferrari on fire! (More examples can also be found on YouTube.)

The reason for the spontaneous combustion is a special high-tech adhesive that forms a protective shield between the wheel arch covers and the engine compartment to protect the tires and bodywork from the heat of the mid-engine. Under extreme driving conditions and high outside temperatures, the adhesive can evaporate and ignite. And just like that, €197,000 goes up in flames.

Well, the child in every man sometimes comes up with the silliest ideas. Back in my youth, during Carrera the blissful Carrera days of the Universal 132, my cousin Frank and I once coated those old cigar-shaped race cars with Pattex, lit them on fire, and raced them around the track. It smoked like a charm. Of course, only in the garden—it would have been way too dangerous inside the apartment. When I saw the pictures of the burning 458, an idea popped into my head…

However, I immediately dismissed that crazy idea, because the new Carreramodel is Carrera simply too good to risk Carrera . The Carreradesigners have done an excellent job with the car; the proportions are perfect. The body is partially painted black on the inside so the LEDs don’t shine through (on the digital model). There’s plenty of room in the chassis for lead weight enthusiasts, but the car drives perfectly even without weights. It doesn’t veer off track thanks to its very wide track and good grip. Personally, I like the yellow one better than the red one, though I agree with my colleagues: as a racing version in wartime livery

, this car would be a hit!

And finally, a reminder—especially for the kids: don’t even think about using Pattex! It’s too dangerous and, above all, a shame for the cars!