Ferrari has unveiled the successor to the 458 Italia named the 488 GTB before its official debut at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. The 488 GTB is the third model in the company’s history to use forced induction but the second mid-engined Ferrari to adorn turbochargers after the iconic F40. Ferrari aficionados might still be coming to terms with the addition of not one, but two turbochargers as the performance figures are stellar.
The car retains the basic shape of its predecessor, but gets a decent styling overhaul. The front bumper, headlights, bonnet, doors, wing mirrors, and the large air-dams behind the doors to feed the chargers are all-new. At the back, the rear fenders look more muscular and the engine cover is new, gone is the stylish triple exhaust layout replaced by twin-exhausts. The tail light is new, rear bumper and the diffuser look more aggressive now with new alloy-wheels.
The most interesting part is the engine. The new V8 engine displacing 3,902cc employs twin-turbochargers and belts out 660bhp and 740Nm of torque. This engine is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch Getrag gearbox. Ferrari also claims despite turbocharging, the crisp throttle responses that cars from the prancing horse stable are known for won’t be lost.
There are some mouth watering numbers like 0-200 kmph in 8.3 seconds and from there on to a claimed top speed of 329kmph. It would still return 8.77 kmpl (ECE+EUDC combined cycle) to a litre of petrol.
The 488 GTB measures 4,568mm in length, 1,952mm in width, 1,213mm in height and tips the scales at 1,370 kgs making it 10 kg lighter than the 458 Italia. The weight bias is 46.5 per cent in front and 53.5 per cent at the rear which is pretty close to ideal balance.
There are no indications on its pricing yet, but it will be out when the car makes its official debut this March. While we aren’t sure when Ferrari will announce the availability of the 488 GTB for India, but a close guess would be by end of this year or in early 2016. Prospective owners should also locate petrol pumps that sell 98 RON fuel as that’s the mimimum requirement for this car.
