This one-of-a-kind Ferrari is for sale

Monterey, August 15, 2025, promises to be a date to remember for Ferrari enthusiasts.

During the RM Sotheby’s auction (Lot 136), a unique and fascinating piece of Ferrari’s recent history will go under the hammer, the 2011 Ferrari LaFerrari Prototype M4, internally known as “F150 Muletto M4”. With an estimated value between $900,000 and $1,200,000, this machine is not just a prototype; it is one of the very first development mules of the LaFerrari hypercar, the model that would embody the technological supremacy of Maranello in the 2010s.

At the dawn of the decade, Ferrari was working on an ambitious project, combining its legendary atmospheric V12 with a hybrid powertrain inspired directly by Formula 1. To validate this unprecedented architecture, three development cycles were implemented. The M4 belongs to the very first phase, where the limits of this explosive marriage were tested on road and track. Based on the aluminum chassis of the 458 Italia, it has been extensively modified to accommodate the F140 V12 block and its hybrid system, foreshadowing the 949 horsepower of the final LaFerrari.

A Ferrari Hybrid in More Than One Way

While the interior retains the essence of a 458 (black leather, beige carpet, white tachometer graduated to 9,000 rpm), details reveal its experimental nature: specific switches, high-voltage warning stickers, prototype controls.

On the outside, discretion was clearly not the goal. The huge air intakes, exposed rivets, prominent exhausts, additional scoops, and matte paint create an aggressive and uncompromising silhouette, far from the polished elegance of a production Ferrari.

Between May 2011 and December 2012, this test mule was spotted on the private Fiorano circuit and around Maranello, fueling the curiosity of spy photographers. Once its mission was accomplished, it joined the collection of a loyal customer, under the strict condition that it would neither be road-legal nor usable on public circuits.

Today, the Prototype M4 stands as a rare testament to the era when Ferrari transitioned to high-performance hybrid technology. Unusable for everyday driving, certainly, but capable of making any tifoso’s heart race. In a world where factory prototypes are almost always destroyed, owning one is an absolute privilege. Monterey 2025 might see this piece of history being fiercely contested.