Ferrari->ke252 just celebrated its 60th anniversary in the United States with the main highlight being the introduction of the F60America limited-edition supercar.->ke177 However, the sexy F60America wasn't the only Prancing Horse brought to the festivities. The event, which was hosted by the Beverly Hills City Hall, also included the auctioning of the first production unit of the newly launched 458 Speciale A. The Italian spider crossed the block for $900,000, about three times the expected sticker of the [sports car.
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The final price is not at all surprising, as production of the 458 Speciale A is limited to only 499 examples. The vehicle will likely be sold out by the end of 2014, and it's only natural for collectors to throw nearly a million bucks at the first roadster to leave the Maranello factory.
As with most such events, proceeds were donated to charity. The entire sum will benefit "Daybreak," the American branch of the Italian charity whose mission for nearly 25 years has been to advance research towards a cure for rare genetic diseases.
Click past the jump to read more about the Ferrari 458 Speciale.
Why it matters
When a Ferrari sports car is built in 500 units or less, offering the very first example at auction is a big deal. Car collectors are just crazy for these "VIN0001" vehicles, and the final $900,000 bid comes to prove just that. The first production 458 Speciale A has just become the most expensive sports car of its kind to be bought as is, and that's not likely to change anytime soon.
Ferrari 458 Speciale A
Essentially a drop-top version of the stunning 458 Speciale, the Speciale A -- "A" stands for "Aperta" -- comes with the same aggressive and motorsport-inspired styling of the coupe, which makes it the most aerodynamic spider ever created. The interior is unchanged when compared to the coupe's, save for the new stripes on the seats and the unlimited headroom. Same goes for the Speciale A's engine, which comes in the exact same configuration as the coupe's. The 4.5-liter, V-8 unit cranks out 596 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque.
It is the most powerful, naturally aspirated V-8 Ferrari has ever dropped into a roadster, and it will complete the 0-to-60 mph run in in about 2.9 seconds, to go with a top speed of 199 mph.