- Ferrari modified a 458 Italia to test systems for the LaFerrari project.
- The company sold the one-off prototype to a private buyer in 2016.
- While the prototype can’t be road registered, it’s fully functional.
Just a couple of months after a 458 Italia-based LaFerrari prototype went under the hammer for $1.215 million in the United States, another development car has popped up on the auction scene. This one tells an equally intriguing chapter in Ferrari’s evolving hybrid hypercar story.
Known internally as the M6, this particular car was part of the very first phase of LaFerrari prototypes built in Maranello.
Early Hybrid Origins
Listed for sale through RM Sotheby’s Sealed platform, the Fezza does not have the fancy carbon fiber monocoque of the LaFerrari, and instead, it uses the same aluminum chassis as a regular 458 Italia.
However, unlike the road car’s 4.5-liter naturally aspirated V8, the M6 houses the mighty V12 that would later form the heart of Ferrari’s first hybrid hypercar.
Read: This Strange Ferrari Prototype Could Be Worth More Than Your House
Ferrari’s engineers assembled the car between February and April 2012, and from May 2012 to May 2013 used it to develop the LaFerrari’s braking systems at the Fiorano circuit.
The prototype also contributed to fine-tuning the suspension, steering, and tire setup and was the first test car fitted with the model’s advanced electronic stability system.
Federico Vecchio/RM Sotheby’s
Visually, much of original car’s bodywork has been retained, although it was often tested with temporary bumpers and a shooting brake-like rear decklid and engine cover, all of which will be supplied in the auction.
Inside, it’s mostly standard 458, with the notable additions of warning labels, a red kill switch, and exposed wiring that hint at its role as a true test mule.
The listing notes that Ferrari first sold this prototype to a collector in July 2016. While it cannot be legally driven on the road, it remains fully functional, so whoever wins the auction can enjoy it on a private road or track.
A Rare Chance for Collectors
Before it is handed over to its next owner, it will undergo a service in Maranello, ensuring it runs as well as it did when the company’s test drivers got behind its wheel.
RM Sotheby’s expects the car to sell for between $1.05 million and $1.3 million. If you’re a Ferrari collector looking to acquire something truly unique, be sure to place a bid before October 23. You can check out the listing over here.
Federico Vecchio/RM Sotheby’s
