Back in January, rumors of a V12-powered Ferrari 458 Italia surfaced online, and now we have received a few more pieces of the puzzle.
The first one reveals the rear end of the car, as posted by a Ferrari collector that goes by the name Greg23 on Instagram, and which shows the massive V12 lump fitted behind the seats, accompanied by a few words: “Thoughts on the Ferrari 458 with the LaFerrari V12?”
The other shows a picture of the interior of his 458,
which appears to be unchanged with Alcantara and carbon fiber used
throughout, until you take a closer look at the center console that has
been significantly modified and features a few weirdly shaped buttons.
Greg23 confirmed the use of the LaFerrari’s V12, albeit without the hybrid system. Here’s what he wrote in a posting on Ferrarichat: “LaFerrari prototype used to develop the engine. No hybrid system. Drives like a ‘normal car’. Not possible to register for road use and track only for the first 24 months.”
In other words, this 458 prototype was originally a Ferrari mule used for the development of the LaFerrari’s V12 powertrain. Could it be that the Italians sold the car to Greg23 to use exclusively on track for the first two years in which it’s in his possession? We’re not sure.
Either way, we’ll have to closely watch the supercar collector’s social media accounts in the near future, hoping that he’ll shed more light on the V12-powered 458, or better yet, that Ferrari will detail it with official images and info.
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