It’s no secret Ferrari is working on a high-performance version of its 488 supercar and new information leaked online has provided us with the first details of the upcoming model.
The leaked images show a slideshow presentation titled ‘New V8 Sport Special Series’, which shows that a hardcore, race-derived Ferrari 488 is in Maranello’s pipeline; it follows in the footsteps of the 360 Challenge Stradale, 430 Scuderia and 458 Speciale. Although the images are low-resolution the slideshow clearly states that this race-bred 488 ‘Sport Special Series’ will feature the most powerful V8 engine in Ferrari’s history.
In the standard 488 the 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 develops 661bhp – expect the hardcore model to produce around 700bhp. The engine is also said to be 10 per cent lighter than the standard powertrain.
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The car will feature a suite of racing technology such as a ‘race’ gearshift, an ‘extremely’ direct steering ratio and all-new Michelin Sport Cup 2 tyres, along with a front S-duct and a rear diffuser derived from the 488 GTE Le Mans car. The new aero package is claimed to be 20 per cent more aerodynamically efficient than the standard 488. New 20-inch alloy wheels will also be fitted, which are 40 per cent lighter than the wheels fitted on the base model.
Based on the images, carbon fibre is the order of the day, the slides claiming that Ferrari’s performance 488 has the ‘highest utilisation of carbon fibre on a range car’. Both front and rear bumpers and the bonnet are made of carbon fibre, as is the active rear spoiler and interior dashboard. Interior luxuries are gone – even the glovebox has been thrown out – while the standard road car’s seats have been replacing by carbon fibre racing seats.
There’s a lot of speculation claiming that the performance 488 will bear the famous GTO badge. In the past, the GTO branding has only appeared on Ferraris every two or three decades and as Ferrari released the 599 GTO in 2010, it may be too soon for a new GTO to be let off the leash by the Italian marque. Ferrari insiders also suggest that a ‘488 GTO’ is unlikely so this flagship version seems set to carry another name.
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