Ferrari 458 Italia to Reportedly Get 670HP Turbocharged V8 for its First Facelift

Ferrari’s decision to put a turbocharged engine into the California T has a lot to do with emissions regulations and fuel economy standards, and it appears that the sports car manufacturer will do the same thing for other models as well.

If we’re to believe this report from CAR Magazine, not even the widely-acclaimed 458 Italia will escape the turbocharging trend, despite the fact that its target group is a lot more performance-focused than customers opting for a California T, 70 percent of which are first-time Ferrari buyers.

According to the report, with its first facelift scheduled for 2015, the 458 Italia will also receive an uprated version of the California T’s 3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine. After implementing these significant changes, the 458 Italia could to change its name into 458M, according to Ferrari’s 5-year plan revealed last month, but 458 T is another possibility.

In the California T, the 3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 produces 552hp and 557 lb-ft (754 Nm) of torque. However, for the facelifted 458 Italia, the engine will be tuned to develop around 670hp – which would make it a full 100hp more powerful than the current naturally-aspirated 4.5-liter V8.

To offset turbocharging effects on engine sound and power delivery, Ferrari is expected to deploy complex exhaust systems and engine management microchips. In the California T, Ferrari torque is limited in lower gears to encourage drivers to rev all the way up to the 7,500 rpm redline and a similar trick could be used in the facelifted 458 Italia.

By Dan Mihalascu

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS

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