A Look at the Ferrari 488 GTB

By Wallace Wyss
Photos courtesy Ferrari Media

It’s hard to believe that the 458 Italia, which seems so new to me, is already the “old model” and Ferrari is replacing it with a new model called the 488 GTB, essentially the Italia with many improvements and a turbocharged engine. They promise that the new berlinetta will offer more driving pleasure than the old one, in terms of “nimbleness and on-the-limit driving.”

The 2009 Ferrari 458 Italia.

And don’t forget 0-60 mph in 3 seconds—1.2 seconds faster than a 427 Cobra (always my benchmark).

They also say in their news releases that it “encapsulates Ferrari’s experience in both F1 and the WEC, where the 458 GT holds the World Championship title”, pointing out their 458GT won its category in the last two 24 Hours of Le Mans. They also cite the know-how they gathered through the last ten years through a program they call the XX program “ which makes extreme track-only cars available to gentleman test-drivers. The data yielded has made a significant contribution to the refinement of the electronic and vehicle control systems so that drivers can make the most of the incredible performance of this new car.”

Twin Turbos, 3902cc, 670 hp.

The Drivetrain

The big word is “turbos.” The engine displaces 3902 cc and is rated at 670 hp at 8,000 rpm along with 760 Nm of maximum torque in seventh gear. I have never heard a “response time” quoted before but I am assuming that the time of just 0.8 seconds at 2,000 rpm they quote refers to how long it takes the automatic transmission to respond to you flooring the accelerator. They are claiming an ET of 0-200 km/h in 8.3 seconds. The new car’s lap time around Fiorano is one minute 1 minute 23 seconds. The automatic has Variable Torque Management which takes you through all the gears progressively though I haven’t read enough to know what makes it variable, probably depending on how deeply you depress the accelerator. They claim that it makes a new engine sound one that’s “full, clear and totally distinctive.”

Cornering with 0s and 1s

In the last few years automakers of extreme high performance cars don’t just depend on aerodynamics, tire width and suspension to aid cornering; they have electronic aids as well. Ferrari is claiming that this car is “the most responsive production model there is,” – an odd sort of claim, do they mean the most responsive in the world? Maybe not as they hedge that comment in their press release saying it has “razor-sharp response times comparable to those of a track car.” So, almost as good as a race car.

In particular, Ferrari mentions the side slip angle control system (Side Slip Control 2 – SSC2), as more precise and less invasive, providing greater longitudinal acceleration out of corners. This slip control system is integrated with the car’s F1-Trac and E-Diff, and controls the active dampers which they promise makes the car’s behavior during complex maneuvers “flatter and more stable.”

The Body

This design came not from Pininfarina, their main supplier of body styles for decades, but from Ferrari’s own Styling Center. The big words that dominated this design are “aero” in keeping with Ferrari’s philosophy in recent years of having aerodynamic considerations take center stage early on.

Here’s my quick take on the design based only on pictures, as to my knowledge, the car hasn’t been shown stateside yet as of February 5, 2015:

The almost aircraft style sculptural flanks dominate the side, particularly the way the air intake - in the same place on the side, by the way, as the original 308 GTB , is separated by a splitter.

The broad, low tail is highlighted by what they call the “blown spoiler” which generates downforce without increasing drag. Ferrari defines a blown spoiler as a device “used to channel air flows near the rear of the car to modify the pressure field in the wheel well.” The rear spoiler works in concert with active flaps on the rear diffuser, which has an aggressive ramp angle. LED is common in everything now, so the taillights are now LED.

The wide front spoiler features what Ferrari likes to call “a double profile “to improve the thermal efficiency of the radiators positioned at the sides. At the center are what they call “pylons” which work with a deflector whose sole purpose is to channel air towards the flat underbody.

Well, what can we say. There’s still some tradition maintained with a separation between the dashboard side and passenger side, but more of a feeling that everything to do with the driver is all wrapped around the driver, like a jet fighter plane. There are also new satellite control clusters, angled air vents and a new instrument panel design. I like the two-tone in the publicity pictures, something you also see in Bentleys, using the body color in the interior on the doors and on the lower part of the dashboard. I also like the thin (as far as the brushed metal center panel) central console, not so dominating as in some other two seater sports cars. It’s a shame to see the steering wheel now studded with dozens of buttons where once a Ferrari steering wheel was simple and there was no button to hit by accident. The seats appear to be more wraparound , more racing style, than in the past , though still amply padded for touring. Ferrari even uses the world “infotainment screen” which means more and more they are responding to the luxury car driver’s need for up to date electronics, not only for car information but for entertainment. It is the way of the world…

Summary

The newest Ferrari is always interesting to see, in that Ferrari attempts to maintain an edge in styling while at the same time being technically advanced. Sometimes, as you can see by the latest Le Mans cars, what is technically most advanced wouldn’t make the most attractive car for the street. But Ferrari manages to do both, as this car proves.

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
Length 4568 mm
Width 1952 mm
Height 1213 mm
Dry weight** 1370 kg
Weight distribution 46.5% Front – 53.5% Rear
PERFORMANCE
0-100 km/h 3.0 s
0 -200 km/h 8.3 s
Maximum speed > 330 km/h
FUEL CONSUMPTION***
11.4 l/100 km
C02 EMISSIONS ***
260 g/km
* With 98 RON petrol
**With lightweight options
*** ECE+EUDC combined cycle with HELE system

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THE AUTHOR: Wallace Wyss, a historian, has lectured on design at the Art Center College of Design. His latest books are the Incredible Barn Find series , available from Enthusiast Books, Hudson, WI.