Dubai collector stages lion photoshoot with Ferrari 458 Italia
A Dubai exotic car owner drew attention by staging a photo session featuring his Ferrari 458 Italia and a live lion, highlighting the city’s taste for ostentatious displays.
A Dubai resident combined two symbols of excess, a Ferrari 458 Italia and a live lion, for a private photo session that has circulated widely online. The images, posted by local collector Abrahym Al-Hashmy, show the big cat perched on the Italian supercar in what appears to be a private garage.
The scene, which also included a Rolls-Royce Phantom and a Mercedes-Benz G-Class, typifies a kind of social media exhibitionism common among some of Dubai’s wealthiest car enthusiasts. The juxtaposition of a wild animal and high-value vehicles is intended to signal status, but also raises questions about animal welfare and the risks to both the car and the animal.
Ferrari 458 Italia: technical background
Launched at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Ferrari 458 Italia replaced the F430 as Maranello’s mid-engined V8 flagship. The 4.5-litre naturally aspirated V8 produces 562hp at 9,000rpm and 540Nm of torque at 6,000rpm, sent to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The car’s Pininfarina-designed body and advanced chassis technology helped it set new benchmarks for Ferrari road models at the time.
| Engine | 4.5-litre V8 |
|---|---|
| Power | 562hp at 9,000rpm |
| Torque | 540Nm at 6,000rpm |
| Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive |
| 0-100km/h | 3.4 seconds (manufacturer claim) |
The 458 Italia’s combination of performance and design has made it a popular choice among collectors in the Middle East, where supercars are often used as status symbols and displayed in unconventional ways. Dubai, in particular, is known for its concentration of rare and expensive vehicles, sometimes paired with exotic animals for social media impact.
Risks and reactions
While the spectacle attracted attention, it also highlighted the risks of mixing live animals with valuable vehicles. A lion’s claws could easily damage the paintwork or body panels of a car like the 458 Italia, which features aluminium bodywork and specialist finishes. There are also safety and welfare concerns for the animal itself, as such situations can cause distress or injury.
Dubai’s authorities have periodically warned against keeping wild animals as pets, but private collections remain common among some wealthy residents. For car enthusiasts, the story is a reminder that even the most exclusive supercars are not immune to unconventional uses, or to the risks that come with them.
For more on the Ferrari 458 Italia’s technical achievements and design, seeFerrari 458 Italia: A New Era in Supercar Design
