Ferrari: 458 replacement gets turbo lungs

This brings To mind The eagles song  Get Over It. With this Ferrari, it's clear that the days of naturally aspirated V8s rolling out from maranello are done. We've had the iconic enzo, the much loved 458 italia, and the F430, boasting an aural cacophony from their respective naturally aspirated powerplants. but history also points to the F40, a car which any true petrolhead will gladly sell a kidney for. The mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, twin-turbocharged V8, is unarguably one of the best pieces of automobile art ever produced. if Ferrari managed this forced-induction gem, then let us put aside our worries concerning the 458 successor.

Enter the 488 GTB. The 661bhp 3.9-litre 488 GTB, is significant because of two reasons. First, it replaces the 458 italia which is known for its addictive beauty, performance and ‘value-for-money’ aspects. secondly, it’s turbocharged, a factor that the rest of the world is sceptical about. The GTB suffix, short for gran Turismo berlinetta, was last used on the 599. Ferrari aficionados might liken it to the 308 GTB, launched 40 years ago, marking the first time Ferrari used a V8 for a mid-engine car. The 488 prefix? in this case, the heart has a displacement of 3902cc, so divide the car’s capacity by the number of cylinders and you get 488.

The twin-turbocharged V8 engine is a completely new unit. in the process of replacing the 458, the 488 GTB’s smaller displacement 3.9-litre mill has pipped the 4.5-litre predecessor with a 60bhp bump, thanks to the turbos. The 661bhp generated at 8000rpm bests that of the mcLaren 650s and keeps up with the upcoming 675T. With a 10kg weight reduction, a power boost and a massive 220nm increase in torque, it promises to take the game far forward. At Ferrari’s Fiorano test track, the 488 gTb laps at 1:23.0, which is a half-second quicker than the 458 speciale. While both cars take just 3 seconds to do the 0-100kmph run, the 488 gTb edges past the latest iteration of the 458 to 200kmph, managing it in 8.3 seconds, 1.2 seconds quicker than the speciale.

The twin-turbocharged V8 engine is a completely new unit

There was considerable hue and cry over the adoption of forced induction and it's easy to see why maranello considers turbocharging taboo: a raucous, adrenaline-pumping exhaust note and a clinical throttle response. Ferrari knows the first is super important, and has stressed that they have focused on perfecting the vocals of this supercar. For the latter, maranello engineers have gone great lengths with a claimed throttle response time of just 0.8 second at 2000rpm, hinting at minimal turbo lag. but when the massive 760nm comes spooling in at just 2000rpm, Variable Torque management comes to the rescue of the rear wheels. in conjunction with the twin-clutch gearbox, the technology delivers torque to the wheels smoothly across the rev range.

The chassis technology, developed using know-how gleaned by Ferrari's technicians over the last decade through the XX program, played a significant role in formulating the 488 gTb. The car boasts 50 per cent increased downforce over the 458, as well as reduced drag, thanks to the double front spoiler, side intakes, active aerodynamic elements at the rear, and a spoiler. Additionally, the revised side slip Control 2 (ssC2) system, working in harmony with the F1-Trac and e-diff systems, gives it greater control through turns, as well as at the exit.

Visually, the Ferrari 488 gTb has an array of subtle changes that separate it from its predecessor. The new car features a large air intake inspired by the original 308 gTb, and divided into two sections by a splitter. relocated exhaust outlets, deeper front hood vents and redesigned tail lights provide a new, lower, and more aggressive appearance than the outgoing 458 italia. The interior features typical Ferrari bits such as the separation between the dashboard and tunnel, the multi-function steering wheel, and plush bucket seats.

We’ll have to wait till the upcoming geneva motor show in march for more information. but there are many reasons to be optimistic. Whether it’s turbocharged or naturally aspirated, Ferrari is a manufacturer known for making the most focused sports cars on the planet. And again, these are the same hands that worked on the benchmark F40. so keep calm and wait for geneva.

Turbo legacy
Forced Induction Ferraris

208 GTB Turbo
inspired by the success in turbocharging in Formula 1, Ferrari revealed the 208 GTB Turbo at the Turin motor show in 1982. The model was exclusive to the italian market with just 437 units produced until 1985.

288 GTO
Announced by enzo Ferrari and unveiled at geneva in march 1984, the GTOs were all sold before production. Limited to 200 units for homologation as a group 'b' competition car, demand pushed it to 272 units.

GTB Turbo
The gTb Turbo was the forced induction cousin of the 328 GTB. it was mostly an italy-only model to avoid tax penalties imposed on cars with a displacement of over two litres. Ferrari sold 308 units in three years.

F40
The mid-engined, rear-wheel drive, two-door sports coupe manufactured from 1987 to 1992, the F40 was designed to celebrate Ferrari's 40th anniversary. it was then the fastest, most powerful and expensive Ferrari.

California T
Ferrari's return to forced induction after two decades of natural aspiration, the California T set into motion a process that would ultimately result in the 488. smaller-engined turbocharged prancing horses, what can go wrong?