Ferrari’s 488 Pista-derived V8 now makes 710 horsepower.
Ferrari revealed its replacement for the four-year-old 488 GTB, and it packs the company’s most powerful V8 ever. For this year’s Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari is retiring the 488 from its lineup, which in turn was a replacement for the 458 Italia. Now, the 710 horsepower Ferrari F8 Tributo enters the ring as the company’s mid-engined offering.
As you’d expect with a new Ferrari, the first thing to hit you about the F8 Tributo is the looks. It’s an evolution on its ancestors, with a more aggressive-looking front fascia and a striking rear end. Thanks to those LEDs in the front and the rear, the F8 Tributo looks a much more modern design than even the remarkable 488 GTB.
Inside, the F8 Tributo gets a revised dashboard layout and new air vents over the 488 GTB. In fact, the shape of the vents and the layout of the dash borrow some cues from the LaFerrari hypercar, rather than the F8 Tributo’s direct predecessor. All the switchgear you’d expect is still there, however. Same steering wheel controls, and a slightly different button layout through the center stack.
What about that power?
Then there’s cutting to the heart of the matter: That 3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine. With 710 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque, the F8 Tributo matches the special edition 488 Pista number for number. However, that’s 49 horsepower and 7 lb-ft of torque more than you got in the Ferrari 488 GTB. With Pista-derived power, the F8 Tributo also makes similar 0-60 times. Ferrari claims the car hits 62 mph in 2.9 seconds, while taking 7.8 seconds to sprint to 124 mph. Top speed? That’s the same as the Pista as well, as 211 mph.
You can’t talk about power without weight, and the Ferrari F8 Tributo is lighter than the 488 GTB. At 2,932 pounds dry, it’s 88 pounds lighter than the 488 GTB. That said, it is 111 pounds heavier than the 488 Pista, which does slow it down in the 0-124 mph sprint by 0.2 seconds.
What’s more, Ferrari also updated its Side Slip Angle Control, making the car easier to control on the limit for a greater range of drivers. The Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer (FDE), available in Race mode, offers a greater sense of control as well, according to Ferrari.
The F8 Tributo will be on display at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, which starts on March 5. Stay tuned for more updates!
