Launch of the new Ferrari 488 GTB comes 40 years on from the unveiling of Ferrari’s first ever mid-rear-engined V8 berlinetta, the 308 GTB. It replaces the outgoing 458 Italia.

Since the introduction of the 308 in the mid 1970s, the entry level Ferrari has been powered by a naturally aspirated V8. Yesterday that came to an end. The new Ferrari 488 GTB has been unveiled and it’s going to be powered by a 3.8 litre turbocharged monster with 660 horsepower and a 0-100 sprint of 3 seconds flat and 0-200km/h in just 8.3 seconds.

The firm says the new car encapsulates Ferrari’s success in both F1 and the World Endurance Championships where the 458 GT holds the World Championship title and has won its category in the last two editions of the epic Le mans 24 Hours race.

The 488 GTB provides track-level performance that can be enjoyed to the full even by non-professional drivers in everyday use.

Power and Speed
The new engine is smaller than its predecessor, and its displacement of 488 cubic centimeters per cylinder gives the car its name: 488GTB. Multiplied by eight, that works out to 3902 cc for the new 90-degree V-8, which is mated to, as was the 458’s V-8, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Despite the 0.6-liter reduction in displacement, the new engine makes more power: 661 horsepower at 8000 rpm, versus 597 horsepower at 9000 rpm for the 458 Speciale. Torque, predictably, is greater as well, reaching 561 lb-ft at a low 3000 rpm, far eclipsing the 458 Speciale’s 398 lb-ft.

Ferrari bosses also sought to ensure that the car sounds as good as it looks and drives: ‘As is always the case, Ferrari’s engineers have dedicated great attention to perfecting the 488 GTB’s sound, creating a new soundtrack that is full, clear and totally distinctive, as expected from any Prancing Horse engine.’

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