The 2012 Women’s World Car of the Year short list has just been announced, and women motoring writers from around the world will begin voting for their top picks.

Cutting a list of contenders from 300 down to 32, judges will now allocate points to the nominated cars that fall into four categories: Family Car, Luxury Car, Sports Car and Economy Car. Just one of the 10 criteria that cars are allotting points for is Child Friendliness, which is something vehicles aren’t usually judged on in a competition.

Winners of the 2012 Women’s World Car of the Year will be announced before the end of March, and awards will be presented at the Paris Motor Show in September. You can check out the complete short list after below.

Family Car:
Ford Focus
Audi Q3
Kia Optima
Subaru XV
Mercedes-Benz B-Class
BMW X1
Mazda CX5

Luxury Car:
Range Rover Evoque
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Audi A6
Bentley Continental
Audi A7
BMW 6 Series
BMW 3 Series
Peugeot 508
Jaguar XJ

Sports Car:
Porsche 911 – 991
Jaguar XKR
Audi RS5
Renault Megane III
Ferrari FF
Ferrari 458 Spider
BMW Series 1 M
VW Golf R
Lamborghini Aventador
Mercedes-Benz SLK
Mercedes-Benz CLS AMG

Economy Car:
VW up!
Kia Rio
Kia Picanto
Honda CRZ
Honda Civic
Mazda 3 Skyactiv
Ford Fiesta Econetic
Hyundai Accent Diesel

Italy is one of the most beautiful and scenic countries in the world and when paired up with one of the most exotic creations from the country, you’re guaranteed to have a breathtaking video. Highlighting Ferrari‘s new 458 Spider, the red drop-top beauty races through the Amalfi Coast, at Reggia di Caserta and other picturesque locations throughout the Basilicata region.

While for most of us having the opportunity to drive a 458 Spider is good enough, being able to pilot its 562-hp, 4.5L V8 along the Mediterranean Sea is probably towards the top of our bucket list. So sit back, hit play and listen to the sonorous note of the Spider’s exhaust that has been tuned to sound even better with the roof open. No arguments from us.

Check out the video after the break.

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Ferrari recently held a private unveiling for the new 458 Spider in Maranello and Teamspeed member GrayTT was on hand to capture the action. And in true Ferrari form, the Italian automaker brought out three 458 Spiders, one in red, one in yellow and one in black. All three Spiders feature Ferrari’s fully retractable hard top which is a world’s first in a sports car with this type of layout.

The 458 Spider is powered by Ferrari’s 4.5L V8 power plant with 562-hp and its top will take only 14 seconds to open or close. One thing’s for sure, this is arguably Ferrari’s sleekest and sexiest convertible and we could easily see ourselves in one… or two, or all three.

Check out the video after the break and look for more photos from the official reveal with AutoGuide’s Frankfurt Auto Show coverage beginning September 13th.

GALLERY: Ferrari 458 Spider Unveiling

[Source: TeamSpeed]

Watch the video after the jump:

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After continued speculation, an excessive number of artist renderings and then leaked photos last week, Ferrari has now officially revealed the 458 Spider with a retractable hard top.

A world’s first for a mid-engine car, the hard top is made of aluminum and fits just in front of the engine compartment without affecting performance or aerodynamics. Ferrari even claims it weighs less than a traditional folding soft top (55 lbs to be exact), and takes just 14 seconds to open or close.

The stunning look of the car is even functional, with the new rear design helping to direct air towards to engine intakes, as well as to the clutch and gearbox oil coolers. In addition, the Spider comes with an electrically-deployable wind screen to reduce turbulence in the cockpit and allow “normal conversation” at speeds of up to 124 mph.

Powering the Spider is the same 562-hp 4.5-liter V8 engine as the coupe, although Ferrari has made adjustments to the suspension setup, throttle mapping and exhaust to deliver an optimized top-down experience.

Ferrari will officially reveal the car on September 13th at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Look for plenty more pictures then.

GALLERY: Ferrari 458 Spider

Watch video of the hard-top in action after the jump:

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Ahead of its official reveal at the Frankfurt Auto Show, photos of the new drop-top Ferrari have leaked onto the net. We can’t confirm if these are in fact the official pics of the production 458 Spider, but they certainly do look authentic, and are done in the same style as Ferrari’s usual press images.

What isn’t clear from the photos is where the roof section goes, with the Spider reportedly using a folding hard top similar to the Superamerica.

Look for official images soon, followed by a mid-September debut in Frankfurt.

GALLERY: Ferrari 458 Spider

[Source: CheersandGears]

Ferrari will unveil a slew of new products over the next two years, starting in about a month’s time at the Frankfurt Auto Show. First among the debuts is the 458 Spider, powered by the same 570-hp 4.5-liter V8 as the coupe, but featuring a retractable hard top. That car will then be followed by a 458 Scuderia mode in 2013. Inspired by motorsports, no details are yet available, but look for a slight bump in power and a more significant drop in weight. That same year Ferrari will look to update the California.

After the Spider is revealed, Ferrari’s next big debut will be in Geneva next March with the unveiling of the successor to the 599 GTB Fiorano. Code named the F152, the new car will remain a front-drive model with two seats and a V12 engine. The rest is a mystery.

But the most exciting news is the next-generation Ferrari supercar. The successor to such historic badges and the F40 an Enzo will be made entirely of carbon fiber and will reportedly use a naturally aspirated V12 engine, highlighting new fuel saving technologies that the Italian automaker will spread across its model range. Production numbers for this model are certain to be low, although with 399 Enzos being made and 349 F50 models being made, a 449 total seems likely.

GALLERY: Ferrari 458 Italia

[Source: Automotive News]

After previous reports that Ferrari would launch a 458 Spider with a soft-top, Italian outlet Auto.it is indicating we’ll get a retractable glass-top model instead. This setup would be similar to the one found on the 575 Superamerica, where the glass top would slide in behind the passenger compartment.

This rumor is just the latest Ferrari convertible tale, with reports of a 599 Convertible debuting at Pebble Beach never coming to fruition.

Regardless of the type of drop-top, Ferrari is planing a convertible version of the 458, boasting the same impressive performance from a 562-hp 4.5-liter V8.

[Source: Auto.it via WorldCarFans]

[Photo Credit: Jon Sibal]

Yesterday in Fiat’s 5-year plan it was revealed that Ferrari will introduce four new models in the next three years. But the details of Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne’s press conference are apparently open to interpretation. According to AutoCar, it won’t be four new models, but six!

While its true that the product lineup will continue to include four standard models, an Enzo replacement isn’t included in that list as it will only be produced in limited numbers. Reports suggest it will be powered by either a twin-turbo V6 or V8 and use Ferrari’s active aerodynamic technology – as showcased on the 599XX. In addition AutoCar claims that not only is a 458 Spider coming, but also a 458 Scuderia – a more hard core version of the just-launched exotic.

With those models making up three of the six, the remainder will include a new 599 in 2012 and a 612 Scaglietti replacement coming next year. The 612 is also rumored to be the first production Ferrari to get hybrid technology. Finally, in 2013, Ferrari will deliver an updated version of the California.

We’ll be sure to give a details report on the next interpretation of the “facts” from Marchionne’s 5-year plan.

[Source: AutoCar]

As a part of a larger press conference held today Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne outlined the product plans for each of the Italian automakers brands – including Ferrari. In an unprecedented move, Marchionne laid bare his plans, likely in an attempt to shore up support for a company that continues to lose money and which made a risky move in buying into the failed Chrysler corporation.

In total, four new Ferrari models are set to debut by 2014, with a steady progression that is mostly expected. Coming first is a replacement for the 612 Scaglietti, as well as a spider (convertible) version of the new 458 Italia. Both models will launch in 2011.

The following year will be considerably more exciting, however, with the launch of a successor to the 599 GTB, as well as a replacement for the Enzo. Then in 2013, Ferrari will debut an updated version of the California.

Fiat has big hopes for the Maserati/Ferrari side of the company, and plans to focus on increased differentiation between models. This will also include two new Maserati models that will slot in underneath the GranTurismo in the current lineup.

[Source: AutoNews]