It may look and perform as fresh as it did when it was launched back in 2009, fending off rivals like the McLaren MP4/650S, but the Ferrari 458 has turned five this year and the Italian carmaker isn’t a proponent of keeping a model dragging on for years on end.
The 458’s most recent predecessors were all replaced within six years from going on sale and that includes the 348 (1989–1995), F355 (1994–1999), 360 (1999–2005) and F430 (2004–2009).
As usual, Ferrari isn’t opening its cards yet, but our spies tracked down a slightly modified prototype (or test mule) of the 458 coupe with its front wheel arches chopped down, driven by the firm’s engineers on the snow in northern Sweden.
At this point, there’s too little information to say whether Ferrari is working on a facelift, a completely new replacement or perhaps simply testing some new gear on the 458. However, if one of the first two explanations holds true, then we will no doubt see more testers out in the open in the coming months.
By John Halas
Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS
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