ABOUT

The Italia

The 458 Italia was a revolution for Ferrari's design. It was revealed in 2009 and it looks like it came out today. The lines dictated the body shape for every Ferrari V8 supercar since, including the relatively new SF90.

It was a gorgeous creation then and it remains gorgeous to this very day. It is often the car that comes to mind when anyone mentions Ferrari to my generation.

As it stands in the Ferrari V8 family it is probably one of, if not the, most unique model. The triple exhaust, the revolutionary design, the single taillights, the vents besides the headlights and the flexible aero at the front. There is a world of very distinct factors that set this car apart from both its successors and predecessors.

In this project I did what I do best - I designed a futuristic build based on the 458. What it would look like in perhaps another decade when someone gets an example and decides to give it some love and a more brutal appearance.

The GTO

The exterior has changed quite a bit and yet the iconic Ferrari lines remain perfectly recognisable. When altering the body, following said lines is key. The most outlandish of changes will only look as good as their integration into the proven design.

Starting at the front, the entire bumper was remade to borrow a little modern touch from the 458's younger brother, the F8 Tributo. Just because the previous design is timeless doesn't mean Ferrari designers will simply idle by. This new face allowed me to pull the emblem onto the bumper and thus freeing some more real estate on the frunk.

And speaking of, the frunk looks a little different as well. This aero was inspired by multiple designs, from the La Ferrari to the GT3 cars, which the wheels were kindly borrowed from.

The headlights were initially removed and only added back in by the end of the project. The reasoning behind this was twofold - they drastically improve the readability of the car's front and rear, and a module I had previously designed fit in quite well with the brand's most recent design tendencies.

The sides remain mostly untouched with the biggest change being the integrated widebody. As much as I appreciate the industrial look of some kits, this project demanded something far sleeker. The wide arches were smoothed into the body, giving it a hint of its GT3 counterpart.

Continuing along the body we can see the rear matches the front. Drastic changes to the aero give this variant its distinct look. The once aggressive yet composed design is now let loose. With no restrictions nor requirements, every element was either enhanced or exaggerated to where it brings the strongest lines into focus.

The rear bumper was reshaped to accentuate the design's most iconic features. The triple exhaust now stands proud with no visual distractions.The license plate nook is cut out to allow for better cooling and, like in the front, bring the look more in line with the latest entry into the V8 family.

The single taillights were brought further down into the body. Like the headlights, they consist of a custom module sat behind a grill mesh and were added to improve readability for the rear. They were, however, left with the original cool white color to distantiate them from the body's passionate red paint.

The final addition sits just behind the 458 rear's lip. The active aero adds just enough to tie the car's newfound aggressiveness together without spoiling the design with a race wing.