“The 458 Italia is an extraordinary Ferrari and a deserving winner of Car’s Performance Car of the Year award,” said Phil McNamara, Editor of Car magazine. “That one of the fastest, most thrilling and communicative supercars of all time is also one of the easiest to drive day in, day out is a remarkable achievement. Next year’s new McLaren supercar will have to be extraordinarily talented to dislodge the Italia.”

Car magazine’s Performance Car of the Year test took place over more than 2,500 miles in Europe earlier this year, with competitors from eight different brands all competing to win this award. After several gruelling days evaluating each car, the Car team decided the Ferrari 458 Italia was more than a match to whatever the magazine or the competition could throw at it with its eight rivals for the award including the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, BMW M3 GTS, Porsche GT2 RS, Lotus Elise S and Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera.

Car magazine’s “Performance Car of the Year” award follows on from a raft of other awards that have come in the UK for the 458 Italia including Fifth Gear’s “Fast Car of the Year”, BBC Top Gear Magazine’s “Supercar of the Year” and “Car of the Year”, GQ Magazine’s “Supercar of the Year”, MSN Cars “Car of the Year”, and Auto Express’s “Performance Car of the Year”.