Since production started in 2009, the 458 series went to become the best-selling Fezza of the modern era. We test-driven it in both Italia and Spider guises, as well as the tail-happy Speciale super trooper, but time has come for the Maranello-based automaker to operated some mid-cycle changes on the potent breed.
Our spy photographers caught test mules of the purportedly called Ferrari 458 M, sporting various minimal aesthetic changes over its outgoing brother. The biggest tell-tale sign of them all is that these test mules were spotted with a duo of exhaust pipes, not the F40-inspired three-pipe layout of the 458 Italia.
The rumor mill speculated that the M will go turbo and the change with the exhaust system leads us to believe it will happen. Thinkin’ about it, the California was updated into the California T. As a brief reminder, the T swapped the naturally-aspirated V8 of yesteryear for an all-new 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8, so it’s not that far fetched for theFerrari 458 M to go force-fed too.
Based on Ferrari’s latest photo teasers, we’re to expect a new car described by the manufacturer with fancy Italianisms. “You have #POWER when you want it: immediately” is the tagline that really caught our attention. For the unknowing, a twin-turbo layout gets you that fine low-down torque a supercar needs to obliterate any other vehicle on the road.
If you have any other opinion on the “#POWER when you want it: immediately” tagline, please share it.
Speaking of the upcoming Ferrari 458 M / 458 T or whatever it will be called, word has it a Geneva Motor Show debut is in the cards and the 4.5-liter N/A V8 will be replaced by a twin-charged 3.8-liter V8. Similarly speculative, the output is estimated to be around 666 horsepower (497 kW) and 745 Nm (550 lb-ft) of rear-wheel drive twist, all handled by an uprated seven-speed dual-clutch tranny. If we’re lucky, the 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) acceleration time will drop from the 458 Italia’s 3.4 seconds to at least 3.2 clicks, maybe 3.1.
UPDATE: it's the 458 M, alright! Too bad the rev counter shows a red line of 8,000 rpm now.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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