There was no facelift, it is options. Yes the 458 had updates but nothing official:
2010 - Launch, best sounding as car burbles a lots more and even pops on over run and the DCT is very raw and aggressive.
2011 - engine map was fine tuned, less burbles, no pops and the transmission in late 2011 had new software as there were cases of gear boxes eating themselves so the transmission was updated and made smoother.
2012 - The magnetic suspension went from per axle control to each corner control allowing it to manipulate the suspension independently at each corner and at Ferrari's test track resulted in over a second per lap faster.
In short the car received updates, these updates cannot be done to an older car for whatever reason, either its physical not possible or just Ferrari being not so kind and just wanting customers to buy newer cars, but in fairness I've driven every year of 458 and yes earlier 2010 cars sound different and later 2011/12 cars certainly shift smoother and nicer for sure, upshifts still jolt in the newer cars but they do not upset the balance of the car whereas the older pre-updated DCT could do so.
Mine has the black lower skirts, thats an option, not a facelift thing.
The car I find looks really odd also has the lower carbon side bits too and a black matt roof and anthracite wheels and the car just looks to me terrible even though they are minor things for me they totally spoil the car.
I am lucky to have a 2014 car as it means I get the bonus of free services until 2021 also as all new Ferrari's come with a 7yr service pack on the car.
