HomeMotoring UKFerrari finally explains 458 Italia fires Jayne Henry September 10, 2010 Motoring UK, Registration Industry Ferrari has officially explained what caused five of the very earliest examples of its 458 supercar to catch fire. A Ferrari spokesperson said “When the car is driven to high exhaust temperatures, in hot ambient temperatures, the adhesive used in the wheel arch assemblies can overheat and allow the rear wheel housing heat shields to move around. In extreme cases, the glue can begin to smoke and catch fire. It would only be a problem on cars driven very hard and has only affected a handful of the 1248, of the 148 Italias we’ve delivered so far – none in the UK.” Ferrari claims that the problem has been made to look more serious than it was because of unfortunate timing and inaccurate reporting. A new 458 was written off because of a warehouse fire recently, and others have been crashed, the firm sys, causing some areas of the media to claim the car is jinxed. Ferrari will recall all of the 458s delivered so far to fit new wheel arch liners. It will also be replacing any cars that have been damaged as result of the problem. Ferrari’s factory has now reopened after the summer shutdown and all new 458s already built will be rectified before they leave the factory. Personally I find it amazing that a car that costs £170,000 has not been put through such vagarious safety checks to ensure such fires do not take place. Do you think I should stay with my “High Street” makes, as least they haven’t begun to catch fire??
