Enzo would be turning, well, let’s say Ferrari red…
A new “Special Series” model, the Ferrari 488 Pista Spider (track or trail) was unveiled during the world-famous Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach in California yesterday. The Ferrari 488 Pista Spider is the 50th drop-top model from the Prancing Horse and a premiere in the US was a “natural choice” given that, ever since the 1950s, North American clients have forked over billions in Lira for a car from Maranello to support Enzo’s racing addiction.
Ironically used Ferrari’s are worth more. On Sunday a Ferrari 250 GTO coupe was bid to $48,405,000 at the RM Sotheby’s sale at Monterey. This makes it the most valuable car ever sold at public auction, beating the previous record for a 250 GTO – $38,115,000 – set in 2014.
The Spider is not priced yet, but bet on somewhere north of coupe’s $350,000.
The new 488 Pista appears to have the highest performance ever in a spider given the with an unprecedented weight-power ratio of 1.92 kg/cv or horsepower. This came from a good old ‘Merican hot rod trick – stuff the most powerful Ferrari V8 engine ever.
The 3902cc twin-turbo V8 has 720 horsepower and combines that power with increasing torque at all engine speeds (decidedly not American muscle) for continuous acceleration all the way to the red line. The unique engine sound is now even more riveting thanks to the open-top configuration. Well, it still ain’t a V12 but for a V8 I’ll guess it will do.
The Ferrari 488 Pista Spider represents the natural development of the defining design of the coupé version. The Ferrari designers’ primary objective (marketing babble and styling babble alert) “was to maintain unaltered the perfect marriage of aerodynamic efficiency, order viagra online usa purity of form and racing spirit.”
This concept is underlined by the characteristic central livery which runs the whole length of the car, expanding towards the rear where it finishes at the end of the rear wing next to the spoiler. This continual expansion of the stripe recalls the movement of the airflow and exalts the lines of the car.
Inside, weight is saved by using lightweight, pared-back components. As well as the generous use of carbon-fiber, the carpets have been replaced by patterned aluminum foot plates and – a throwback -the driver’s-side door handle is now a simple strap.
In terms of engineering, the Ferrari 488 Pista Spider is directly derived from the 488 Pista which is said to encapsulates all the racing experience gathered on world’s circuits with the 488 Challenge and the 488 GTE. As a result, the new Spider offers the highest level yet of technological transfer from the track to a road-legal drop-top car.
There is a new lateral dynamics control system, the “Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer” (FDE), which claims to make on-the-limit driving more intuitive, controllable and predictable.
The car features new diamond-finish 20” alloy wheels with a novel 10-spoke star-effect interpretation of Ferrari’s traditional mid-rear engine berlinetta-style rims. Also available are the optional one-piece carbon-fiber wheels which offer a 20% weight reduction over the standard forged alloys.
Ferrari 488 Pista Spider Specs
Engine
- Type: V8 – 90° twin-turbo
- Overall displacement: 3902 cc
- power output *: 530 kW (720 hp) at 8000 rpm
- torque *: 770 Nm at 3000 rpm in 7th gear
- * with 98 octane petrol
Dimensions and Weight
- Length: 4605 mm
- Width: 1975 mm
- Height: 1206 mm
- Dry weight** : 1380 kg
- **With optional lightweight contents
Performance
- 0-100 km/h: 2.85 s
- 0 -200 km/h: 8 s
- speed: 340 km/h
Fuel Consumption/C02 Emissions
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Topless Prancing Horse, Err 720 Horses
Enzo would be turning, well, let’s say Ferrari red…
A new “Special Series” model, the Ferrari 488 Pista Spider (track or trail) was unveiled during the world-famous Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach in California yesterday. The Ferrari 488 Pista Spider is the 50th drop-top model from the Prancing Horse and a premiere in the US was a “natural choice” given that, ever since the 1950s, North American clients have forked over billions in Lira for a car from Maranello to support Enzo’s racing addiction.
Ironically used Ferrari’s are worth more. On Sunday a Ferrari 250 GTO coupe was bid to $48,405,000 at the RM Sotheby’s sale at Monterey. This makes it the most valuable car ever sold at public auction, beating the previous record for a 250 GTO – $38,115,000 – set in 2014.
The Spider is not priced yet, but bet on somewhere north of coupe’s $350,000.
The new 488 Pista appears to have the highest performance ever in a spider given the with an unprecedented weight-power ratio of 1.92 kg/cv or horsepower. This came from a good old ‘Merican hot rod trick – stuff the most powerful Ferrari V8 engine ever.
The 3902cc twin-turbo V8 has 720 horsepower and combines that power with increasing torque at all engine speeds (decidedly not American muscle) for continuous acceleration all the way to the red line. The unique engine sound is now even more riveting thanks to the open-top configuration. Well, it still ain’t a V12 but for a V8 I’ll guess it will do.
The Ferrari 488 Pista Spider represents the natural development of the defining design of the coupé version. The Ferrari designers’ primary objective (marketing babble and styling babble alert) “was to maintain unaltered the perfect marriage of aerodynamic efficiency, order viagra online usa purity of form and racing spirit.”
This concept is underlined by the characteristic central livery which runs the whole length of the car, expanding towards the rear where it finishes at the end of the rear wing next to the spoiler. This continual expansion of the stripe recalls the movement of the airflow and exalts the lines of the car.
Inside, weight is saved by using lightweight, pared-back components. As well as the generous use of carbon-fiber, the carpets have been replaced by patterned aluminum foot plates and – a throwback -the driver’s-side door handle is now a simple strap.
In terms of engineering, the Ferrari 488 Pista Spider is directly derived from the 488 Pista which is said to encapsulates all the racing experience gathered on world’s circuits with the 488 Challenge and the 488 GTE. As a result, the new Spider offers the highest level yet of technological transfer from the track to a road-legal drop-top car.
There is a new lateral dynamics control system, the “Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer” (FDE), which claims to make on-the-limit driving more intuitive, controllable and predictable.
The car features new diamond-finish 20” alloy wheels with a novel 10-spoke star-effect interpretation of Ferrari’s traditional mid-rear engine berlinetta-style rims. Also available are the optional one-piece carbon-fiber wheels which offer a 20% weight reduction over the standard forged alloys.
Ferrari 488 Pista Spider Specs
Engine
Dimensions and Weight
Performance
Fuel Consumption/C02 Emissions
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.