The
Ferrari 488 Pista, which will be unveiled at the upcoming
Geneva Motor Show, is the successor to Ferrari's
V8-engined special series--the 360 Challenge Stradale, 430 Scuderia and 458 Speciale--which have received critical acclaim for their performance and undiluted handling.
The Ferrari 488 Pista marks a significant step forward from the previous special series in terms of both sporty dynamics and for the level of technological carry-over from racing. The name is, in fact, a direct homage to Ferrari's unparalleled heritage in motor sports.
The car's development evolved directly from the company's involvement in the
FIA World Endurance Championship--where it has won
five Manufacturers' titles in the GTE class in the six years since the series' inception, taking
29 out of 50 races--and 25 years’ experience in running the Ferrari Challenge one-make series.
The Ferrari 488 Pista's extensive weight saving solutions, along with engine, vehicle dynamics and aerodynamic developments all derive from Ferrari’s racing cars: the 488 GTE and the 488 Challenge. The result is a car with an uncompromising mission: to offer track-like performance on and off the road, even when in the hands of non-professional drivers.
Compared to the 488 GTB, the new model weighs an impressive
90 kg less (1280 kg dry) which, when combined with the largest-ever increase in engine power for a special series car (+67 hp), results in a new benchmark for Ferrari's V8 sports cars.
Its engine is the
most powerful V8 in Ferrari history and is an extreme evolution of the turbo unit that has won the overall
International Engine of the Year award titles in both 2016 and 2017.
It punches out
711 hp with the highest specific output of in its class
(182 hp/l) and is now lighter too, thanks to solutions adopted from the 488 Challenge, including
Inconel exhaust manifolds and lightweight crankshaft and flywheel, but also thanks to additional features, such as
titanium con rods and
carbon-fiber intake plenums.
The 488 Challenge also supplies the turbos with
integrated rev sensors along with the design of the air intake line which has been moved from the flanks to the rear spoiler area to ensure a cleaner flow of air.
Torque is higher than the 488 GTB at all engine speeds, delivering a feeling of consistently smooth, powerful acceleration with
even faster turbo response times despite the increase in power.
The engine sound is unique and unmistakably Ferrari, as such a special car warrants. Both the sound quality and the intensity are higher than the 488
GTB in all gears and at all engine speeds in proportion with the progressive increase in power.
The Ferrari 488 Pista makes full use of Ferrari's motor-sports experience for maximum aerodynamic performance even on the road. Among the racing solutions adopted is the front
F1-inspired S-Duct and the design of the
front diffusers which feature a ramp angle that was optimized for the 488 GTE to create strong suction for increased downforce.
The underbody vortex generators have also been redesigned, and the rear diffuser incorporates the same double kink as the 488 GTE to increase the air extraction and downforce generation compared to a traditional diffuser. In addition, the
rear blown spoiler is higher and longer and the shape has been optimized. The final result of all these interventions is an impressive
20-percent increase in downforce.
The vehicle dynamics were designed to enhance driving pleasure and make the car's full potential available to all drivers, professional or otherwise. The objective was to make the car’s performance on the limit easier to reach and control.
This was achieved by synergies between the development of the mechanical set-up and the electronic dynamic controls integrated into version six of the
Side-Slip Angle Control system. SSC 6.0 incorporates all the following systems: E-Diff3, F1-Trac, the magnetorheological suspension (SCM) and, for the first time ever, the
Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer (FDE). The FDE features a world-first: it uses Ferrari software to adjust the brake pressure at the calipers. This additional level of control further fine-tunes the Ferrari 488 Pista's performance through, and powering out of, corners making the car's handling even more effortless, intuitive and predictable. The extra confidence the system gives means that drivers can more easily control yaw angles, even on the limit, and develop a completely symbiotic relationship with the car resulting in the perfect combination of genuinely extreme performance and driving thrills.
The suspension set-up is completed by new tires developed specifically for the car by
Michelin.
The design of the Ferrari 488 Pista is focused on functional aerodynamic concepts while the cockpit is pared back in keeping with its very sporty vocation. Ferrari Design used innovative elements, such as the aerodynamic S-Duct at the front, as an opportunity to visually shorten the car's nose, creating an original floating wing effect.
The racing livery color scheme is an integral part of the design of the car and the way it dives into the S-Duct underscores the berlinetta's compact yet imposing forms. Contrasting edging on the aerodynamic elements on the bumpers and flanks add structure to the design.
The concept of the front is echoed in the
dolphin-tail rear spoiler which appears suspended to provide an impression lightness and efficiency, while the rear volumes add a sense of power to the tail.
The car's underlying sense of extreme purpose is also highlighted by the adoption for the first time on a Ferrari of optional new
20-inch carbon-fiber wheel rims, while other carbon-fiber parts include the
engine cover, bumpers and rear spoiler.
[gallery size="full" ids="28244,28246,28248,28250,28251">
Ferrari 488 Pista |
Short Technical Specifications |
ENGINE |
Type |
V8 - 90° twin turbo |
Overall Displacement |
3902 cc |
Max. Power Output |
530 kW (711 hp) at 8000 rpm |
Max. Torque |
770 Nm at 3000 rpm in 7 th gear |
|
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT |
Length |
4605 mm |
Width |
1975 mm |
Height |
1206 mm |
Dry Weight |
1280 kg |
|
PERFORMANCE |
0-100 kph |
2.85 s |
0-200 kph |
7.6 s |
Max. Speed |
> 340 kph |
|
FUEL CONSUMPTION/CO2 EMISSIONS |
Under homologation |
|
*With 98 octane petrol |
**With optional lightweight content |