Ferrari 458 Italia

Ferrari had been accused in the past of having turned into a marketing company, more concerned with selling gaudy trinkets to wealthy poseurs than designing and building fast sports cars – but the arrival of the 458 changed all that.

Interior

The driver-focussed interior is spartan but has everything that you need – even if the air-conditioning controls are awkwardly placed. The seats are supportive, grip well and remain comfortable enough for long journeys.

Driving

No-one has raised any concerns with how the 458 drives with every journo loving it. Most single the engine out for praise, but the seven-speed, twin-clutch gearbox and suspension have also won universal praise.

The Ferrari’s suspension is adjustable, which means that you can have it softer for the road for a (relatively) comfortable ride and then firm it up for the track giving inch-perfect handling.

Engines

The 562bhp, 4.5-litre V8 engine revs to a stratospheric 9,000rpm and makes the most glorious noise in the automotive world. Relentless urge and a willingness to rev mean that you will sometimes wish that it revved even higher!

Value for money

Not great value in the conventional sense, but if you’ve got the money to spend on a supercar then there is no more reliable, fast, or exciting place to put your money.

Worth noting

Britain’s McLaren’s MP4-12C was widely expected to trounce the 458. In reality most commentators prefer the Italian car, claiming that it gives more excitement and driver involvement.

Conclusion

This ‘pant-wettingly exciting’ supercar changed the rules of the game completely and is the benchmark by which all others are now measured. The great thing about the 458 is that delivers as a track or road car with aplomb – and manages to add reliability and usability to the mix. It is the closest thing to a perfect super-car that you can buy today.

To see how it compares to the McLaren MP4-12C, the 458's arch rival, check out this infographic we created comparing the Ferrari 458 and McLaren MP4-12C.