A twin-turbo Ferrari 458 Italia with 738bhp has been revealed. With more power than the V12-engined F12 Berlinetta, though, it is perhaps unsurprisingly not an official product from Maranello.
The makers of one of the fastest cars in the world – the Hennessey Venom GT – are responsible for the tuned 458, dubbed the Hennessey HPE700 Twin Turbo. There are no prizes for guessing its primary tweak over standard, with two huge, low-inertia ball-bearing turbochargers fitted to the 4.5-litre V8 engine, lifting its output from 562 to 738bhp, with peak power delivered 600rpm lower, at 8400rpm.
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Just as identifiable will be its increase in torque, which climbs from 398 to 532lb ft. The result is a drop in 0-60 time that pulls the 458 below the three-second barrier, with a 2.8sec sprint putting it on par with the Nissan GT-R and Bugatti Veyron. Its quarter mile time is rated at 10.5sec, at 137mph.
While most of the new componentry is hidden beneath carbonfibre covers, Hennessey boasts of elegant engineering ‘finished to Ferrari standards and expertly packaged in the 458’s tight hindquarters’.
The HPE700 Twin Turbo upgrade adds 59,995 US dollars (around £40,000) to the 458’s asking price; considering how easily that figure can be added via official Ferrari options such as carbonfibre cupholders and Alcantara boot trim, it’s good value for the huge dose of extra performance it brings. The price includes fitting, a one-year, 12,000-mile warranty plus dyno tuning and road testing.
While the kit is applied to 458 Italias or 458 Spiders with just the addition of some Hennessey badging, further personalisation is possible via carbon exterior features, 20in forged alloy wheels, adjustable KW suspension and custom interiors, with carbon, Alcantara and special stitching among the choices.
See the Hennessey Venom GT in action below...
