Saturday, December 25, 2010
Forza Italia! Ferrari 458 Italia vs. Ducati 1198 S
People often describe Ducati motorcycles as two-wheeled Ferraris, and that’s not surprising. Both manufacturers produce fast, stylish, melodious machinery, frequently painted Italian racing red. Given most Italians’ passionate support for the Maranello-based prancing-horse company, the Ducati folks in Borgo Panigale probably accept the comparison as a compliment.
But how much do the products of these two companies really have in common? Cars and motorcycles possess profoundly distinct dynamics and provide widely varying sensations. High speed feels vastly different when you’re reclined comfortably behind a glass windshield instead of in a tight crouch, seeking shelter from the wind.
Still, the Ferrari 458 Italia and Ducati 1198S we’ve chosen for this test share high performance specifications, combiningeverything you need to go fast in a straight line, as well as around a track, in one street-friendly package. As apex models in their respective worlds, the Ferrari and Ducati are equipped and tuned to excel at everything enthusiasts and connoisseurs expect from such pedigreedmachinery.
But how much do the products of these two companies really have in common? Cars and motorcycles possess profoundly distinct dynamics and provide widely varying sensations. High speed feels vastly different when you’re reclined comfortably behind a glass windshield instead of in a tight crouch, seeking shelter from the wind.
Still, the Ferrari 458 Italia and Ducati 1198S we’ve chosen for this test share high performance specifications, combiningeverything you need to go fast in a straight line, as well as around a track, in one street-friendly package. As apex models in their respective worlds, the Ferrari and Ducati are equipped and tuned to excel at everything enthusiasts and connoisseurs expect from such pedigreedmachinery.
