Ferrari releases first official video of 700bhp 488 GTO supercar

Ferrari has released the first official footage of its much-anticipated 488 GTO. The video shows the higher-performance V8 supercar in action, on-track at the brand's Maranello base.

All set to become the most hardcore, track-focused Ferrari road car produced, so far, the 488 GTO will use a 700hp engine derived from the 488 Challenge racecar – two models of which are also featured in the video – and will also feature new bodywork which is focused on maximising downforce.

Prior to the new footage, leaked images posted onto Ferrari Photo Page appeared to show internal slides of the car where there's mention of a 10 percent lighter engine that is based on that used in the racer – making it the marque's most powerful production V8 yet produced. The 488's mid-mounted twin-turbocharged 3.9-litre V8 engine will most likely be boosted with increased turbo pressure and internal modifications to produce its anticipated 700hp. Torque would also increase substantially, on the standard car’s 760Nm.

A leaked photo showed a more aggressive front-splitter will be fitted to the car, while the official footage offers glimpses of a more prominent rear diffuser and black section between the car's taillights. These leaked slides also suggest a 20 percent improvement in overall aerodynamic efficiency for the 488 GTO.

The 488 GTO is a hotter version of the 488 that will go toe-to-toe with the Porsche 911 GT2 RS. It will, at the end of the day, replace the discontinued 458 Speciale – widely regarded as the best driver-focused Ferrari, to date. The car has been spotted testing outside Ferrari's Maranello base on numerous occasions before the official video release and has been tentatively tipped for arrival at this year's Geneva motor show.

Expect the 488 GTO to feature an extensive list of carbon-fibre parts for the body and interior. The bonnet, bumpers and rear spoiler will be made from the material; as will large sections of the cabin, including the dashboard.

There's also mention of 20-inch wheels made from carbonfibre, saving 40 percent in weight compared with the standard 488 rims. They'll come wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber.

Ferrari tradition suggests engineers will also remove non-essential parts from the interior and sound deadening from the car's engine bay; as well as fitting other lightweight parts such as thinner glass for the windscreen and side windows, and lighter ceramic brakes - like with the 458 Speciale.

Additionally, the brand's technical boffins will give the car its own unique settings for the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and Slide Slip Control management, with the latter likely to enable even greater angles of yaw before fully intervening.

Ferrari is rumoured to be reserving the GTO name for the car, but the final moniker has yet to be officially revealed (although in leaked slides, it's referred to as a 'New V8 Sport Special Series'). GTO has only been applied to three Ferraris, before; the first two of which – the 250 GTO and 288 GTO – were racing machines. The latest iteration was the 599 GTO – a road-legal version of the track-only 599XX, leading many to claim it wasn't worthy of its racing title. For this reason, the harder (but still road-legal) 488 could adopt a new tag that continues the trend set by its spiritual forbearers – the 360 Challenge Stradale, 430 Scuderia and 458 Speciale.

Watch the video here.