Ferrari 488GTB: Turbos Ahoy

Ferrari goes turbo, and it’s not going back
Imthishan Giado

Ferrari 488GTB

You all knew it was coming, and here it is: the first modern turbo mid-engined Ferrari. Ostensibly the replacement for the much loved Ferrari 458 Italia, it’s in reality a huge update that brings an all new new, 488GTB.

Ferrari 488GTB

This is a huge moment for Ferrari, and a sign of the times. No longer can even the legendary Italian company get away with selling high-revving naturally-aspirated V8s like the 4.5-litre 562bhp mill in the Italia; blame increasingly strict fuel emissions and C02 regs.

Ferrari 488GTB

The harbinger of the modern era

But maybe you won’t feel so bad once you get a load of the replacement in the swoopily styled 488: a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that puts out a whopping 661bhp at a dizzying 8000rpm and 560lb ft of torque – 99bhp and 161lb more than the non-blown mill. Stupendous numbers, and it’ll ensure that it obliterates all your speed benchmarks.

You can make your own mind up about the styling but to me, it’s far from the prettiest Ferrari ever made, is it? Dramatically (over)styled, there’s a LaFerrari style front end to go with a LaFerrari-style body yet the two don’t seem to quite meet in the middle. And the scalloped sides aping the 308 – one of the most beautiful Fezzas ever, mind – is not exactly successful.

Ferrari 488GTB

Ferrari promises updates for the infotainment system – finally, the old one was creaky and wilfully obtusive to use – and even more advancements for the electronic traction control systems to rein and put down all that power to the unwilling rear wheels.

Ferrari 488GTB

 

You’ll be able to see the car at the Geneva Motor Show – and if you have the cash, order it at the same time.

 

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