Amid wild speculation, renderings and expected fervor over a new member of the Ferrari family, out comes the 458 Italia. Described by Ferrari chairman di Motezemolo himself as “the most innovative Ferrari of all time,” it was nearly a year ago that this mid-engined horsepower junkie made its North American debut; not at a major auto show or concours but in Tooele, Utah. While the location didn’t provide a gold-plated pedestal for the new model, it was perfectly fitting seeing as how the Miller Sports Park in Tooele hosted the second Ferrari Challenge of 2010. While the world had been exposed to the 458’s uniquely Italian curves pre-debut, this marked the V8 Ferrari’s official imminent takeover of U.S. tracks and affluent enclaves across the nation; Club Sportiva knew we had to get our hands on one.

The question, though, becomes, how does the 458 Italia stack up against current Ferrari offerings, most notably the F430? It seems as though Exotic automakers have been expanding their lineup’s at an accelerated pace in recent years, and Ferrari has even noted that its 4-year model plan will allow for a new model every year. Let’s get down to the nitty gritty; how does the 458 Italia stack up? Like its brother, the F430, it packs a mid-mounted V8 mated to a RWD platform, but this time to a 7-speed F1 double clutch tranny. With 150 pounds less baggage and 72 more horses, the 458 sprints to 60 in 3.3 seconds and reaches 205 if you’re brave enough; compare this to the F430’s 490 horsepower, 3.7 second 0-60 and 192 mph top speed. Though it also comes with a steeper price tag, the unique and fresh curves are worth the extra dollars when compared to the 360 Modena successor. Whether or not the new Italia trumps its brethren is quickly becoming irrelevant as competition builds with exotics such as the new McLaren MP4-12c. Porsche has also taken the Italia head-on when they recently announced a potential direct competitor on the streets in the near future; no exact timeline was given.

So as the 458 Italia continues to marinate in the automotive world amid countless more exotic debuts, even within the Ferrari brand itself, it begs the question as to how long this curvaceous mid-engine monster will be relevant. On that note, does the question of relevance even apply to such history-rich and glamorous brands such as Ferrari? Is it even possible for Ferrari to dilute its brand? If Maranello keeps churning out stunning examples of its automotive prowess like the 458 Italia, we hardly think so.

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Photo Credits: Ferrari.com