This ‘Franken-Ferrari’ was used to develop the LaFerrari
Ferrari, the renowned Italian leader in motorsports and performance cars, has modified production vehicles for use as development test mules. During the development of the Enzo, its engineers elongated the body of a 348 to accommodate its powerful Formula 1-derived V12 engine. Earlier this year, images emerged of a development mule that used the body of a
Maserati Levante SUV to conceal the drivetrain of its upcoming electric vehicle.This unusual, bulbous Ferrari 458, headed to the RM Sotheby’s auction at Monterey, is another development mule; one that played a key part in the development of the LaFerrari hypercar. According to RM Sotheby’s, this specific 458-based test mule was spotted testing at Ferrari’s Fiorano facility and on the roads around the factory between May 2011 and December 2012, before being offered for sale to Ferrari’s most loyal customers.
Formally known as the Prototype M4 or the F150 Muletto M4 internally at Ferrari, this matte-black special forgoes the screaming, naturally-aspirated 4.5-liter V8 found in the regular 458 in exchange for a much more powerful motor. This prototype has had its aluminum chassis modified to accommodate a first draft version of the LaFerrari’s hybrid F140 V12 engine, which would produce 949 horsepower in its production form.
Although Ferrari engineers tinkered with the Prototype M4’s engine bay, their modifications to the rest of the vehicle strongly suggest that their primary intention with this vehicle was to collect data, rather than anything else. The beautiful, sweeping lines of the 458’s Pininfarina-designed bodywork were modified with bits that showed it meant business. The Fiorano Dr. Frankensteins made all kinds of alterations, including additional side hatches to ease engine access, extra air intakes, including a giant Pirelli-stickered one mounted to the front, and overextended exhaust pipes out the back.
Although the Ferrari engineers didn’t modify the base 458’s headlights, taillights, mirrors, and Ferrari shields, relatively few alterations were made to its interior. The cabin retains much of the base car’s switchgear, black leather seats, and tan carpets. However, unmistakable signs that this is a prototype vehicle are an unmarked dashboard toggle switch, a high-voltage warning sticker placed over the Prancing Horse in the middle of the steering wheel, and an unaccounted-for 12-volt car battery in the passenger footwell.
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