Ferrari 488 GTB revealed ahead of Geneva 2015 debut

This is the Ferrari 488 GTB, the hotly anticipated evolution of the 458 Italia that ushers turbocharging into a modern-day mid-engined V8 Ferrari supercar for the first time. The new car follows the California T in adopting turbocharging on a mainstream Ferrari, but the firm says the engine of the 488 GTB is completely new when compared with its V8 stablemate, not just in components but also in feel and character. It will go into production in September after production of the 458 Italia range ends in the summer.

 

The 488 GTB’s engine is a twin-turbocharged 3.9-litre unit (3902cc); the California T’s is a 3855cc unit. The new engine produces 660bhp at 8000rpm and 69.95kgm at 3000rpm. Both outputs are significant increases over the normally aspirated 4.5-litre V8 used in the 458 Italia and 458 Speciale. This produces 562bhp at 9000rpm in the former and 597bhp at 9000rpm in the latter; the torque figure of 55.02kgm at 6000rpm in the former is the same in both cars.

 

The outputs of the 488 GTB also eclipse that of its likely biggest rival, the McLaren 650S. The Woking car produces 641bhp at 7250rpm and 69.12kgm at 6000rpm, although an imminent new McLaren supercar called the 675LT has a confirmed power output of 666bhp and will make its debut alongside the 488 GTB at the Geneva motor show in March. The torque figure of the 488 GTB is such that it also exceeds the 69.95kgm  at 6000rpm of the normally aspirated V12 used in the range-topping Ferrari F12 Berlinetta.

 

The mighty new engine in the 488 GTB drives the rear wheels through a revised seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox derived from the 458. It features a new ‘Variable Torque Management’ system, which Ferrari says “unleashes the engine’s massive torque smoothly and powerfully right across the rev range”. The gear ratios are also tuned to “deliver incredibly progressive acceleration when the driver floors the throttle”.