Thursday 5th January 2017

V12 Speciale?

Mysterious Instagram posts show what appears to be a 458 with a V12 in it - start guessing!

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Given how some of them turn out, it would be understandable if you're not all that excited about every unique Ferrari that's now made. Some are more exciting than most though. And then there's this: what appears to be a 458 with a LaFerrari V12 in it.

Just what is this then?

Don't get too excited just yet. All that exists so far are a couple of Instagram posts from one of those wealthy types you were happily ignorant to until social media arrived. And now you're quite jealous of. But what they show is a car under covers that is very 458-shaped, plus an engine shot captioned "Does that engine look familiar?! #V12". It looks extremely similar, from the angle provided at least, to the LaFerrari engine. Yes, the one that makes 800hp at 9,000rpm. Some rumours suggest that this car was a test mule for the LaFerrari, which could explain the clips for the engine cover and the matt paint as you see on so many prototypes.

Otherwise it could be a specially commissioned build, where an owner has requested that incredible engine to be used in a car other than the LaFerrari. At a guess this car is a 458 Speciale, which supports the idea of both this being an old mule for the hybrid hypercar but also the one-off; if you're going to make a track special (those clips can't be road legal) with a V12, why not start with the most circuit focused version?

That's before there's any discussion of whether this car carries any of the hybrid technology seen in the LaFerrari. That V12 is an evolution of what was used in the F12, so perhaps this was a prototype to test that before the hybrid was introduced.

Whatever, it looks like a fascinating project. Hopefully there will be something official from Ferrari soon but, in the meantime, it's probably worth giving the guy greg.b23 a follow on Instagram. Best not if you're an envious type though...

[Sources: Motor1.com, Gregb.23, via Instagram]

[Furyblade_Lee]

That sounds insane. I remember reading a road test of a Speciale in EVO and cannot ever remember wanting a car so much...

[FourWheelDrift]

Could just be a test mule, they used one to test the Enzo's V12.

http://www.supercars.net/blog/2000-ferrari-enzo-pr...

[TerryThomas]

I believe all previous one off specials have used the engine from the donor car on which it's based, so I'd wager this is a mule.

[paranoid airbag]

I have to salute the beardery of someone who can tell that engine from that single partly obscured photo.

[MCBrowncoat]

This?

http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/future-cars/n...

[PhantomPH]

Why would clips holding the engine lid shut, not be road legal?

[KarlMac]

TerryThomas said:

I believe all previous one off specials have used the engine from the donor car on which it's based, so I'd wager this is a mule.

I came to post the same. Isn't there a 355 running around with an F50 engine and a 346 with f40 gear in? Apologies if this isn't exactly right as my Ferrari knowledge isn't the best.

[AshBurrows]

I wish some of the cupgang nutters posted on here. Nice to see it going to Greg since it'll get used instead of parked up in some hellish sandscape/parked outside harrods once a month. Would love to know what his investment firm is, guy has I think 9 Paganis, F1GTR, CLK GTR, LAF, 2 MC12s etc etc. Properly insane stuff.

[j_s14a]

FourWheelDrift said:

Could just be a test mule, they used one to test the Enzo's V12.

http://www.supercars.net/blog/2000-ferrari-enzo-pr...

I love that thing.

[PHMatt]

KarlMac said:

TerryThomas said:

I believe all previous one off specials have used the engine from the donor car on which it's based, so I'd wager this is a mule.

I came to post the same. Isn't there a 355 running around with an F50 engine and a 346 with f40 gear in? Apologies if this isn't exactly right as my Ferrari knowledge isn't the best.

I was thinking the same about the F40 - I believe it was the 288 GTO Evo though?

As for this story - am I missing something? All I see is 2 pictures of a LaFerrari, 1 picture of a 458 and 1 picture of a bit of an engine through some glass of a possible Ferarri of which it isn't clear which one?

Show me a picture of a V12 clearly IN a 458 and I'll take notice.

[havoc]

j_s14a said:

FourWheelDrift said:

Could just be a test mule, they used one to test the Enzo's V12.

http://www.supercars.net/blog/2000-ferrari-enzo-pr...

I love that thing.

Saw that at the N'ring GP-strecke a few years back at a Modena Trackdays event. Proportions were all-wrong in the flesh, but the sound when they fired it up...

[Davey S2]

'those wealthy types you were happily ignorant to until social media arrived. And now you're quite jealous of.'

[j_s14a]

havoc said:

Saw that at the N'ring GP-strecke a few years back at a Modena Trackdays event. Proportions were all-wrong in the flesh, but the sound when they fired it up...

That's why I love it. It's an ugly mule. An ungainly beast with a flawless pedigree.

[ThomasHowarth]

That's definitely an Italia body not a a Speciale

[menoy]

j_s14a said:

That's why I love it. It's an ugly mule. An ungainly beast with a flawless pedigree.

That's the thing - Ferrari mules always seemed hacked together. Although the photo is not showing much, the finish on what can be seen seems quick good. If it were a mule I'd also expect some additional apparatus / wiring in the engine bay. Makes me think this is a one off, rather than a mule.