Blog road test of the year

#RTOTY11: Ferrari 458 and Aston Virage

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Time 2:18 am, August 23, 2011

img_0190I’M still shaking. A 4am start, seven cans of red bull, 500 miles and a Ferrari 458 will do that to you.

Today has been one of those life changing days. The sort of days you want to remember when you’re on your death bed, gasping your last breath.

In all honesty, writing this blog really is very difficult indeed. Finding words to describe the savagery of the 458 on full throttle is seriously tough.


It accelerates like nothing I’ve ever driven before. And that includes Caterhams, Lamborghinis and Porsches. The 458 is simply in a different league.

I won’t go in to too much detail. Partly because I really need a beer, partly because the only thing that’s keeping me awake is adrenaline and partly because anything I type simply won’t do the Ferrari justice.

Of course today wasn’t just about the Italian thoroughbred. We also visited Aston Martin HQ at Gaydon and picked up a stunning Virage Volante.


With 490bhp and a top to drop it’s certainly not to be ignored. My colleague Duncan has been at the helm of that brute for the day, with Dan following close (ish) behind in the BMW 1M.

Tomorrow we’ll be heading to our favourite triangle of roads to capture the cars on video and then Wednesday our snapper arrives to shoot the cover.

Until then, here’s a selection of pictures to enjoy…

Read more #RTOTY11 blogs here

Road Test of the Year is sponsored by Bridford.co.uk

James Baggott's avatar

James is the founder and editor-in-chief of Car Dealer Magazine, and CEO of parent company Baize Group. James has been a motoring journalist for more than 20 years writing about cars and the car industry.



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