Ferrari 458 Italia – full price details

The Ferrari 458 Italia launched at Frankfurt

We had the official launch of Ferrari’s new 458 Italia at the Frankfurt Motor Show last month, but we didn’t really know what to expect in terms of price. But now we do. The 458 Italia starts at £175,364. Which is a fairly hefty £40,000 more than the starting price of the F430. Ouch.

We always knew the 458 would take a hike in price over the F430, but we didn’t think it would be quite so much. But in truth, Ferrari probably has no option. Ferrari’s shot themselves in the foot a bit with the California – the entry-level Ferrari – which Ferrari had expected to mop up sales from the high-end offerings of marques like Mercedes and Porsche. But that hasn’t happened.

Ferrari 458 Italia full price list. Click to enlarge

What has actually happened is that people have ordered the California in preference to the F430. It would seem that Ferrari buyers are not necessarily Ferrari aficionados after all. Instead they are looking for the cheapest way in to a new Ferrari. The California has given them a cheaper option, and they’ve taken it.

It’s probably fair to say that a percentage of the buyers deserting the F430 for the California did so because they knew the 458 was coming. But we’d guess the vast majority were just looking for the most economical way to drive a new Ferrari.

So, as we’ve said before, Ferrari had to up the price of the 458 and – before too long – start to push up the price of the California. If the California is going to be the big seller in the Ferrari range they have to make sure the mark-up is good. Otherwise they have no chance of getting back to the big profits they’ve made in the last decade.

So if you want a 458 it’s going to cost you. And if you want a California get in quick. Before the price goes up.

By Cars UK