Ferrari 458 Italia
Italian thoroughbred won through against new supercar from F1 arch rival McLaren
Why it won...
What a year for the Ferrari 458 Italia! It was crowned Auto Express Performance Car of the Year at our high-performance shoot-out last autumn, having seen off talented rivals from across the industry. And since then, it has been forced to defend its title in a titanic battle with a homegrown rival from Woking, Surrey.
The McLaren MP4-12C made an incredible debut, and proved to be even faster than the Italian stallion. But it misses out on the crucial element of driver appeal, which distinguishes the greatest performance models from the rest. As a result, the 458 cemented its place at the top of the supercar pecking order.
Video: watch our video review of the Ferrari 458 Italia
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From its beautiful bodywork and hi-tech underpinnings to its amazing twin-clutch gearbox and wondrous naturally aspirated V8 engine, the 458 marks an incredible and long-overdue return to form for the most famous car maker on the planet.
If there is a better sound in the automotive world than the screaming 4.5-litre unit, we’ve yet to hear it. And the Ferrari backs this up with an utterly absorbing driving experience. There are faster supercars around, but that simply doesn’t matter when you’re having as much fun as you will be behind the wheel of the 458. Its paddleshift gearbox allows you to play the 562bhp engine like a musical instrument, while the razor-sharp steering and livewire throttle response ensure every drive is an event to be savoured.
Adding to the appeal are the perfectly judged race-inspired features, such as the red Manettino switch on the steering wheel – which places control of the 458’s various chassis settings at your fingertips. Although our Performance Car of the Year is incredibly exclusive and expensive, we defy anyone not to be won over by its charismatic powerplant, rewarding mid-engine chassis and beautiful design. If you want the most thrilling drive in the world, look no further.
Details
Price: £173,132
Engine: 4.5-litre V8, 562bhp
Transmission: Seven-speed automated manual
0-60mph: 3.3 seconds
0-100mph: 6.7 seconds
Top speed: 202mph
