Luxury auto manufacturer Ferrari has a brand new car, the 488 GTB. It’s not everyday new supercars are released, so when it happens, it’s time to pay attention. The Ferrari 488 GTB provides track-level performance but is comfortable enough to use as your daily driver. The new car leverages Ferrari’s experience in both F1 and the WEC, where the 458 GT holds the World Championship title.
The Ferrari 488 GTB’s is rocking a new 3902 cc, V8 turbo sleeping behind your head, ready to punch you in the back with a tap of the go pedal. With top class power output, torque and response times drivers will feel this rocket ship beneath them. The engine unleashes 760 Nm of torque, meaning all that power gets to the ground faster that you can blink. Bury your right foot and the Ferrari 488 GTB accelerates you from 0-200 km/h in an astonishing 8.3 seconds.
By comparison, the insane hypercar, the Ferrari LaFerrari climbs from 0-200km/h in just under a second faster at 7.0sec. Competitor Bugatti EB 16.4 Veyron reaches the double century in 7.3 seconds.
As is expected by modern cars, the gearbox features variable torque management which means it’s sensitive enough to accept light inputs from the driver around town. A lot of other cars this powerful will have you through a shop front window before you’ve finished checking your rear vision mirrors and are a mess to drive around residential streets.
If you get to the freeway entrance and unleashes the engine’s massive power, the torque rolls out right across the rev range. Let’s face it, it wouldn’t be a Ferrari’s without that signature note and engineers have made sure this doesn’t disappoint. The 488 GTB’s sound creates a new soundtrack that is full, clear and totally distinctive, so addictive you may never turn on the radio.
Most drivers never get to reach speeds over 160km/h, but when you have this guy at the track, Aerodynamics count, a lot. With careful attention, engineers were able to yield a 1.67 efficiency figure, the highest of a production Ferrari and a result of 50% more down force than the previous model while also reducing drag.
Innovation is the key to this success with several elements were specifically developed with the purpose of improving the aero performance. A double front spoiler, base bleed side intakes and at the rear, active aerodynamics coupled with a blown spoiler all play a role. The air flow under the car was also carefully thought through, with a new aerodynamic underbody incorporating vortex generators, it’s amazing that the the side nobody sees is so painstakingly cured over.
Ferrari’s side slip angle control system gets a boost to v2, Side Slip Control 2 providing greater longitudinal acceleration out of corners, offering greater precision and significantly less feeling like Daytona is taking over. Aside from integrating with car’s F1-Trac and E-Diff, the SSC2 now also controls the active dampers which renders the car’s dynamic behaviour during complex manoeuvres even flatter and more stable. This roughly translates to a wide cheeky grin on Jeremy Clarkson’s face while he slides sideways in a tyre frying drift cloud.
One of the most impressive parts of a Ferrari is the inside, the cockpit, the office. Designed by the Ferrari Styling Centre, there’s new satellite control clusters, angled air vents and an instrument panel that puts you behind the controls of a fighter jet on wheels. The goal here is to wrap the console around the driver, making everything you could ever need in easy reach. Sorry passenger, you’ll have a pretty boring view, but if you’re riding shotgun in the 488 GTB, you probably already know your place. Usability was the key word in the design, leading to an extremely sporty ambience that in no way compromises on comfort. There are plenty of nods to classic Ferrari here, like the clear separation between the dashboard and tunnel, the multifunctional steering wheel, the control switch bridge and wraparound seats.
The infotainment screen receives a complete makeover, and if your vision manages to get past that spectacular F1-inspired steering wheel, you’ll notice it’s all business with a massive RPM counter front and centre. For those who are keen to show off to friends (as if the car itself isn’t enough), the 488 GTB also allows keyless starts.
If you’re headed to the International Geneva Motor Show in March, you’ll get to see the Ferrari 488 GTB in person where it’ll make it’s world debut. For now, you can see it at www.ferrari.com.
Ferrari 488 GTB Technical specifications
- ENGINE Type: V8 – 90° Turbo Overall displacement, 3902 cm3 Maximum power*, 492 kW (670 CV) at 8000 rpm Maximum torque *, 760 Nm at 3000 rpm in VII gear
- DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT: 4568mm x 1952mm x 1213 mm, 1370 kg (Weight distribution 46.5% Front – 53.5% Rear)
- PERFORMANCE 0-100 km/h: 3.0s, 0 -200 km/h, 8.3s, Maximum speed > 330 km/h
- FUEL CONSUMPTION: 11.4 l/100 km (ECE+EUDC combined cycle with HELE system)
* With 98 RON petrol
There’s no way to say it, this latest Ferrari looks to be another absolute classic, traditionally a Lambo man, I seriously want one.
We now know a couple of extra tidbits of information, the first deliveries will start in Europe from July. Also if you’re wondering where the number 488 came from, it’s the unit displacement derived by dividing 3,902 litres by 8 cylinders.
