Some might say it’s sacrilege to turbocharge a Ferrari, unless the factory already has, but it’s hard to make a case when you get performance numbers like those of Hennessey’s new twin-turbocharged Ferrari 458 Italia. The Texan tuner’s latest package for the Italian thoroughbred, the HPE700 Twin Turbo, liberates 738 horsepower and 532 pound-feet of torque from the car’s 4.5-liter V-8 engine.

It does so by way of a custom twin-turbocharging system, high-flow intake and exhaust piping, an air-to-water intercooler, upgraded fuel injectors, new oil and transmission lines, and a remapped ECU. And in case you think the modifications won’t last, boost pressure peaks at a mild 7 psi and Hennessey backs up the whole thing with a one year/12,000 mile limited warranty.

As the video above shows, the acceleration is brutal, though we have to admit the sound of the 458 is now somewhat muted and the hissing of the turbos won’t be to everyone’s taste. But we’re sure everyone will love the performance. Hennessey quotes a 0-60 mph time of 2.8 seconds and a quarter mile elapsed time of 10.5 seconds at 137 mph. Those numbers make the Hennessey-tuned 458 faster than any current Ferrari road car, and may even give the upcoming LaFerrari a run for its money.

But the modifications to the car aren’t exclusive to the engine bay. Most of the upgrade’s componentry is concealed beneath custom-made carbon fiber covers, and personalization of the car is also possible with optional upgrades including Hennessey’s CarbonAero exterior pieces (currently under development) consisting of a carbon fiber front splitter and rear lip spoiler designed to accentuate the 458’s seductive lines and improve downforce.

The wheels are custom forged pieces measuring 20 inches across and they are attached to KW suspension with adjustable shocks and threaded spring perches said to make easy corner weighting and ride-height adjustment. For interior, Hennessey offers custom leather and Alcantara trim, special stitch patterns and carbon fiber and aluminum pieces for the dash and instrument cluster.

If you like what you see, Hennessey will be presenting the car at the Concorso Italiano on Friday, one of the lead-up events to the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Pricing for the basic package starts at $59,995.

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