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Dream car of the week
Dream Car: Ferrari's 458 Italia is a stunningly powerful supercar
Make like Schumacher in this road car that thinks it’s a race car.
IF I HAD the money I’d buy…
A car with a powerful V8 mid-mounted engine, an interior designed with input by Michael Schumacher and an exterior designed by Maestro Pininfarina. I’d buy a head turning car supercar with curb appeal turned up to eleven. I’d buy a Ferrari 458 Italia.
Why a Ferrari 458 Italia?
Ferrari has stopped making the 458 Italia so there is only a limited number of these left to buy. And when things are in short supply desirability increases.
The 458 Italia has a 4.5L V8 engine and when this motor first hit the market that made it the most powerful and highest-revving V8-powered production car in Ferrari’s history.
It is capable of producing 562hp at 9,000rpm and 540NM of torque at 6,000rpm and it has three exhaust tips - the central one works on normal speeds and the other two open up on higher accelerations. Schumacher had a say in the cabin design, and you can tell – the steering wheel is attached to the dashboard, much like a race car.
What’s special about this particular one?
This 2012 example with 17,702km (11,000 miles) on the clock is in great condition and stuns in its Rosso Scuderia Red coat. It sits on top of striking 20-inch lightweight alloys with carbon ceramic brakes.
Inside, the cabin is classy and elegant with the racing seats finished in red stitched Nero Carbon leather and Alcantara. It gives it more of a race car feel, and this particular car also has the F1 automatic transmission. You don’t see many of these beauties on Irish roads, so you would certainly turn heads if you were to own it.
What does it look like in action?
Here’s the official video by Ferrari showing not one but two 458 Italias challenging each other on the Mugello circuit and in the Tuscan hills. Listen to that noise. Phwoar!
Who else drives one?
This particular model of Ferrari is very popular with major stars from the worlds of music and sport.
Akon, remember him? He drives a Ferrari 458 Italia (as does Justin Bieber, but don’t let that put you off).
Ozzy Osbourne and Simon Cowell own 458 Italias and Italian footballer Mario Balotelli drives one, as does Frank Lampard and basketball superstar Kobe Bryant. Eric Clapton owns a custom Ferrari SP12 EC that was built from a Ferrari 458 Italia.
It costs €175,000. What else could you get for the money?
For the same money you could have this Volvo 9700 bus with room for 55 passengers.
…or this four bed farmhouse in Tipperary.
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