Ferrari 488 Pista to be revealed at Geneva Motor Show

The Ferrari 488 Pista, which will be unveiled at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show in March, is the successor to Ferrari’s V8-engined special series – the 360 Challenge Stradale, 430 Scuderia and 458 Speciale.

The Ferrari 488 Pista’s weight saving solutions, along with engine, vehicle dynamics and aerodynamic developments all derive from Ferrari’s racing cars, the 488 GTE and the 488 Challenge.

Compared to the 488 GTB, the new model weighs 90 kg less and produces 50 hp more. The 3.9-litre turbocharged V8 churns out 720 hp and 770 Nm of torque, and is now lighter too, thanks to solutions adopted from the 488 Challenge, including Inconel exhaust manifolds, lightweight crankshaft and flywheel, titanium con rods and carbon-fibre intake plenums.

This is enough to take the 488 Pista from 0-100 in 2.9 seconds and hit a top speed of around 340 kph.

The 488 Challenge also supplies the turbos with integrated rev sensors along with the design of the air intake line which has been moved from the flanks to the rear spoiler area to ensure a cleaner flow of air.

The exhaust note is louder as well than the regular 488 GTB.

Among the racing solutions adopted for aerodynamics is the front F1-inspired S-Duct and the design of the front diffusers which feature a ramp angle that was optimised for the 488 GTE to create strong suction for increased downforce.

The underbody vortex generators have also been redesigned, and the rear diffuser incorporates the same double kink as the 488 GTE to increase the air extraction and downforce generation compared to a traditional diffuser. In addition, the rear blown spoiler is higher and longer and the shape has been optimised. The final result of all these interventions is a 20% increase in downforce.

The objective was to make the car’s performance on the limit easier to reach and control. This was achieved by synergies between the development of the mechanical set-up and the electronic dynamic controls integrated into version 6 of the Side-Slip Angle Control system (SSC). SSC 6.0 incorporates all the following systems: E-Diff3, F1-Trac, the magnetorheological suspension (SCM) and, for the first time ever, the “Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer”(FDE). The FDE uses software to adjust the brake pressure at the calipers.

The suspension set-up is completed by new tyres developed specifically for the car by Michelin.

For the first time on a Ferrari are optional new 20-inch carbon-fibre wheel rims, while other carbon-fibre parts include the engine cover, bumpers and rear spoiler.

Expect to see a few around the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other GCC markets.