As a model from a low-volume manufacturer, Ferrari 458 Spider safety credentials are exempt from the auspices of the crash testing experts at Euro NCAP.

This isn’t to say that the Spider is unsafe – far from it – simply that there’s no independent comparison with other cars available.

Complementing the driver and passenger airbags are a raft of electronic safety measures, the effects of which can be lessened by turning the racing manettino dial on the steering wheel from ‘Wet’ through to ‘ESC Off’ where there’s no electronic intervention at all. In normal road conditions it makes sense to restrict oneself to ‘Wet’, ‘Sport’ or ‘Race’, particularly while you’re familiarising yourself with the car’s high speed nature and playful rear-wheel drive handling.

Ensuring power is delivered as effectively, and therefore as safely, as possible is a sophisticated system encompassing F1-Trac to minimise wheelspin and E-Diff3 to direct a greater torque to the rear wheel which has the most traction.

Carbon ceramic brakes help deliver impressive stopping power, particularly effective for scrubbing off high speeds very quickly, without suffering significant brake fade or reduced effectiveness when very hot.

If the inherent comfort levels are surprising, Ferrari 458 Spider practicality is startling for a prestigious, two-seater sports car.

Everything’s relative though, and given the 458’s dimensions ensure it takes up more road space than a ubiquitous Ford Focus, you’d expect it to be have space within its sensuous bodywork for more than a pair of seats and a large V8 engine behind them.

Pop the ‘bonnet’ within the Spider’s shallow nose and you’ll reveal a 230-litre carpeted boot space. It’s far from the last word in stowage supremacy, but you’ll easily manage a couple of airliner overhead locker cases in there, or a weekly shop for two from Harrods’ food hall.

Should you need more space, there’s a further 58 litres available behind the front seats. Naturally, as this area is slightly more exposed, you may wish to spend extra and opt for the purpose-designed suitcases or a golf bag trimmed to match the interior leather colours.

There’s ample space in the cabin for two large adults to sit very comfortably with plenty of space to luxuriate in, particularly on the passenger side; the curvature of the folding hard-top ensures it doesn’t feel too cramped in there too.

Other little practical touches include a cupholder – just the one, as presumably the driver is too busy to need liquid refreshment – a 12-volt socket for plugging in electrical paraphernalia and a small well between the front seats which is perfectly sized for a smartphone. Overall, the interior seems designed in such a way as to make it clutter-free to preserve the minimalist feel of the cabin.