Currently reading: 711bhp Ferrari 488 Pista shown at Geneva
Lighter, more focused version of the 488 is the most powerful V8 Ferrari yet

The new Ferrari 488 Pista, which has made its public debut at the Geneva motor show, dispatches the benchmark 0-62mph as quickly as the Italian brand’s halo model, the LaFerrari.

The 488 Pista – a more powerful, lighter variant of the 488 GTB, just as the 458 Speciale was to the 458 – covers 0-62mph in 2.85sec, while the official quoted figure for the LaFerrari is “under 3.0sec”.

Autocar's Matt Prior has taken a look at the 488 Pista at Geneva. Check out this video.

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The model uses the most powerful V8 in Ferrari’s history and is described as an “extreme evolution” of the turbo unit that won International Engine of the Year in both 2016 and 2017.

Ferrari 488 pista 3

The 3.9-litre twin-turbo engine produces 711bhp at 8000rpm and 568lb ft of torque at 3000rpm. Top speed is up to 211mph. Performance figures from its key rival, the range-topping Porsche 911 GT2 RS, are near-identical, achieving 0-62mph in 2.8sec and a top speed of 211mph.

Ferrari claims the 488 Pista is “a significant step forward” from the previous special series in terms of sporty dynamics and the level of technology carried over from racing. The name – meaning ‘track’ in English – is a nod to the brand’s motorsport heritage.

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The engine, vehicle dynamics, weight saving and aerodynamics are all derived from the 488 GTE and 488 Challenge race cars. Ferrari said the result is a car that offers track-like performance on the road and on circuits.

Ferrari 488 pista 6

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The dry weight is 90kg less than a standard 488 GTB’s, at 1280kg. In addition, an extra 49bhp in engine power has ensured this is Ferrari’s most powerful V8 yet.

The weight decrease comes from features used on the 488 Challenge. These include Inconel exhaust manifolds and lightweight crankshaft and flywheel, plus titanium con rods and carbonfibre intake plenums.

The 488 Challenge also supplies turbos with integrated rev sensors, while the air intake line has been moved from the flanks to the rear spoiler to help achieve better airflow.

Ferrari 488 pista 1

Torque is higher than the 488 GTB’s at all engine speeds, and the quality and intensity of the engine sound, Ferrari says, are higher than the 488 GTB in all gears and at all revs.

Overall, there is a 20% improvement in downforce, according to Ferrari. The Pista has an F1-inspired S-duct and redesigned front and rear diffusers from the 488 GTE.

The Pista also introduces the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer, which is a world first. It uses Ferrari software to adjust the brake pressure at the calipers, benefiting handling in corners.

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Ferrari 488 pista 4

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Ferrari has also updated its Slideslip Angle Control system, first seen on the 458 Speciale, which offers advanced stability control akin to a drift mode. The car uses Ferrari’s magnetorheological suspension set-up.The Pista will be available with 20in carbonfibre wheel rims, a first for Ferrari. Other carbonfibre parts include the engine cover, bumpers and rear spoiler.

Order books for the 488 Pista will open after the car’s official debut at the Geneva show in March. It costs £252,695.

The arrival of the 488 Pista, which has been rumoured for many weeks, follows in the footsteps of models such as the 458 Speciale, 430 Scuderia and 360 Stradale, all considered the halo variants for their respective models. None was a limited-production model but was typically in production for only two or three years. 

Ferrari 488 pista int 2

History of the GTO

Although the Ferrari 250 GTO was the first to receive the GTO moniker, it was the 288 GTO – known simply as the GTO – which began an era of creating more powerful, lighter versions of existing Ferrari road cars, an ethos that has continued to this day with the 488 Pista.

The Ferrari GTO was built to race but, due to poor participation in the race series, the car never did and all 272 cars built were only ever used on road. Enzo Ferrari gifted the last-built GTO to Formula 1 driverNiki Lauda.

The model used a 395bhp V8 with two turbos and achieved 0-62mph in 4.9sec.

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marshal26 5 April 2018

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eseaton 22 February 2018

A car for people who can't

A car for people who can't drive properly. 

 

If you are so hopeless as to need 'Sideslip Angel Control', Ferrari should hurl you out the door and spit on you.

justaviewman 22 February 2018

Pista.

Why use a name that means track ? I thought Ferrari only used names that had specific meaning. This car should have used an historic track name or just letters, not dull 'track' I suppose it just doesn't justify it.