The Ferrari 458 Italia is dead? Man, I loved that car…
You’re not alone buddy, the 458 Italia was a truly special car but petrol-quaffing naturally aspirated V8 engines have fallen out of fashion and Ferrari has decided to clean up its act. But dry those eyes, because the twin-turbocharged 488 GTB looks set to be rather awesome in its own right.
Why will it be so awesome?
The new turbocharged 3902cc V8 produces a staggering 661bhp – almost 100bhp more than its predecessor – and a gut-busting 760Nm of torque. And it’s not just the headline-grabbing power that’s worth noting but also the way it’s delivered: maximum power comes at 8000 revs rather than the 9000rpm of the old 458 Italia.
Sorry, that has gone right over my head…
Basically, it means the 488 GTB doesn’t have to be driven on the ragged edge to realise its full performance potential. Ferrari claims the latest car provides track-level performance that can be enjoyed by any ham-fisted buffoon on a daily basis.
Won’t that annoy diehard Ferrari fans?
Probably, as owners of a car with the Prancing Horse on the bonnet like the fact their vehicles take a certain level of skill to handle. But that’s not to say the 488 GTB won’t be feisty – it can accelerate from 0-100km/h in three seconds and go on to a top speed of 335km/h.
Why does the bodywork have so many holes in it?
One word: downforce. Or is that two words? Anyway, the new 488 GTB is said to improve downforce by over 50% compared to the 458 Italia, which means it should grip the track like a car possessed. The bodywork is also slipperier, if that’s a word, helping the car to achieve those insane performance figures.
What can we expect to find on the inside?
A refreshed cabin that sees the driver cocooned by various infotainment clusters, angled air vents and instrument panels will feature on the new model, as will a completely refreshed interface with all-new graphics. Fear not, the classic multi-function Ferrari steering wheel still exists, although the marque is yet to confirm whether Apple CarPlay will come as standard or as an optional extra.
How much will it all cost me?
Ferrari is saving that punch in the gut for the Geneva motor show next month but expect to part with at least R3.5 million (plus extra) for a very basic model. There will also be a load of enticing optional extras to tick, so most cars will likely push the R4 million mark by the time they leave the showroom. Small change, really.
