Geneva show: Ferrari saddles up F8 Tributo

FERRARI has revealed the replacement for the 488 GTB supercar ahead of its international debut at the Geneva motor show this week, with the F8 Tributo packing the 488 Pista’s V8 and paying homage to legendary models like the F40.

 

Essentially an extensive facelift of the 488 GTB, the F8 Tributo is powered by a mid-rear-mounted 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged petrol engine that produces 530kW of power at 8000rpm and 770Nm of torque at 3250rpm – a 38kW/10Nm increase.

 

As a result, the rear-wheel-drive F8 Tributo can sprint from standstill to 100km/h in 2.9 seconds while on the way to 200km/h in 7.8s before hitting its top speed of 340km/h –improvements of 0.1s, 0.5s and 10km/h respectively over the 488 GTB.

 

With lightweight options fitted, the F8 Tributo’s dry weight of 1330kg is 40kg less than that of the 488 GTB, partly thanks to its smaller-diameter steering wheel that features paddle-shifters for the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

 

The F8 Tributo features a new version of Side Slip Angle Control (SSC 6.1), which allows drivers to manage oversteer for sustained drifting on the racetrack.

 

Similarly, the latest iteration of Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer (FDE+) is also found in the F8 Tributo, working with SSC 6.1 by adding braking support to ensure control when exiting a drift.

 

Aerodynamics have been honed, with the S-Duct introduced on the 488 Pista adopted for the F8 Tributo’s front end, itself contributing 15 per cent more downforce over the 488 GTB.

 

As part of Ferrari’s new design language, the S-Duct is flanked by horizontal LED headlights that incorporate air intakes, which cool the brakes in conjunction with their counterparts on the sides of the front bumper.

 

At the rear, a Lexan engine cover with horizontal louvres aptly pays tribute to the F40, while the spoiler now wraps around the tail-lights that have returned to using the marque’s signature twin-cluster design.

 

The driver-orientated two-seat cabin has been overhauled with redesigns of the dashboard, door panels and transmission tunnel, while the new-generation HMI infotainment system is complemented by a 7.0-inch touchscreen for the passenger, plus round air vents.

 

Australian pricing and timing are yet to be confirmed, but the F8 Tributo could start from about $500,000 plus on-road costs if the $469,988 488 GTB is anything to go by.

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