Ferrari has applied a substantial makeover to the 458 Italia, which from now on will be known as the 488 GTB. Scheduled to debut at the Geneva Motor Show, the 488 GTB doesn’t just feature styling upgrades, it also gets a new turbocharged 3.9-liter V8 engine that produces 670PS (661hp) at 8,000 rpm and 760Nm (560lb-ft) of torque.

These figures are enough to allow the Ferrari 488 GTB to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3 seconds flat and from 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph) in just 8.3 seconds. Top speed exceeds 330 km/h (205 mph) and Ferrari says it can lap the Fiorano track in just 1min23s.

The engine is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox with Variable Torque Management which is said to deploy the engine’s massive torque smoothly and powerfully right across the rev range. As a result, Ferrari says the 488 GTB is “the most responsive production model there is, with razor-sharp response times comparable to those of a track car.”

The car also features aerodynamic upgrades, boasting 50 percent more downforce than the previous model and reduced drag. To accomplish that, Ferrari added specifically developed elements such as a double front spoiler, base bleed side intakes and, at the rear, active aerodynamics combined with a blown spoiler. The 488 GTB also gets an sophisticated aerodynamic underbody, which incorporates vortex generators.

As far as the design is concerned, the 488 GTB displays very sculptural flanks, as well as a large signature air intake scallop that is a nod to the original 308 GTB and is divided into two sections by a splitter.

It also gets a wide front spoiler that features a double profile to improve the thermal efficiency of the radiators positioned at the sides. At the rear, the greater height required for the diffuser was achieved by repositioning the exhaust tailpipes. The circular LED taillights have also been redesigned.

Inside, the Ferrari 488 GTB features new satellite control clusters, as well as angled air vents and instrument panel, which give the impression of a cockpit completely tailored around the driver.

Classic Ferrari styling elements include the clear separation between the dashboard and tunnel, the multifunctional steering wheel, the control switch bridge and wraparound seats. The graphics and interface of the infotainment screen have also been completely redesigned, while the design of the car’s new key takes its inspiration from the car’s cylinder banks and allows keyless starts.

Lower, wider and lighter

WCF reader Yasid Oozeear of Yasid Design has sent us a render with a track-only Ferrari 488 GTBX.

It was only yesterday when Ferrari introduced the 488 GTB and already renders are emerging onto the web showing the 458 Italia successor in different flavors. One such example comes from Yasid who sent us his vision of a 488 GTBX built specifically for the track. Taking his inspiration from Ferrari's GT versions of the 458, the attached render shows a lower and wider track car making more extensive use of carbon fiber.

The Ferrari 488 GTBX comes with a prominent front splitter, front canards, side mirrors and a massive rear wing – all made out of carbon fiber. It also boasts a vented front hood (with latches), bigger front vents, yellow tinted headlights and other bits and pieces that race-spec cars usually have.

Unlike most other carmakers, Ferrari hosts exclusive events for select customers to reveal its new models, and one of those took place yesterday for the world premiere of the 488 GTB.

Gumball racer Josh Cartu, who was invited to the happening that took place at Ferrari's factory in Maranello, shot some pictures and a short video of the presentation, which he shared on his social media pages.

Perhaps the most interesting part about these 'live' images is the appearance of the new 488 GTB in a gunmetal grey color.

As a reminder, the 488 GTB is a heavily updated version of the 458 Italia that it replaces - much in the same way that the 328 was based on the 308, and the 430 on the 360. The biggest change occurs in the engine bay where the 458 Italia's naturally aspirated V8 gives its place to a new turbocharged 3.9-liter V8 that churns out 670PS (661hp).

Our Exclusive Analysis of the Brand-new Ferrari 488 GTB Engine

Yesterday we covered the news that Ferrari is announcing the new 488 GTB, which is going to replace the current 458 Italia. In that report, you may find the fact that both of the 488 GTB and California T’s engines have the same displacement (3.9L), the same cylinder numbers (V8), and they are both turbocharged. So here comes a question: are these two engines the same? To answer this question, let’s first take a look at the below photos.

Basically speaking, these 2 engines share the same cylinder block, and the valvetrains are propably the same too. The 488 GTB engine has a 500RPM higher redline, which partially contributes to the higher output. Besides this, there are also some intersting aspects that worth mentioning:





1. The California T engine has smaller Helmholtz pressure stabilizing chambers (the two red chambers on top of the cylinder head), while the stabilizing chamber on the 488 GTB engine is much larger.

2. The two Helmholtz chambers on the California T engine, are connected by a fixed tube. This means it is NOT a variable system; on the contrary, the stabilizing chamber in the 488 GTB engine is a variable resonance type (the connecting tube has a electronically-controlled valve).

3. To utilize the benefit from the larger Helmholtz chamber, the slide tubes (those vertical pipes that connect the stabilizing chamber to the cylinder head) on the 488 GTB engine are longer with larger diameter. The reason why 488 GTB can use a longer slide tube is because the engine is placed behind the passenger cabin, which has more room to fit. The California T places its engine in front of the cabin, so the height of the engine is limited to clear the engine hood cover.

4. The turbocharger in California T is at traditional position, which is tucked underside the V banks, and close to the exhaust manifolds. The advantages are its compactness, which saves spaces (since the engine need to share spaces with the front suspension, steering, braking systems); and it also reduces heat loss, which benefits emission control during cold startup. On the other hand, the 488 GTB engine places the turbochargers more outwards and sits higher than the cylinder head. This leads to a longer and more straight exhaust manifold, which is a typical example of optimizing high RPM exhaust air stream resonance. Such design also indicates: the 488 GTB turbocharger is more relying on the exhaust airflow’s kinetic energy, not just the pressure. The high position of the turbocharger also makes a very short intake path possible, which greatly reduces turbo lag and enhances throttle response.

5. Placing the engine behind the cabin can not only optimize 488 GTB’s front/rear weight distribution, but also allows more optimized engine packaging and design flexibility.

6. Thanks to advanced light-weight materials in the engine block construction, the 488 GTB has very hight HP output/powertrain weight ratio, which any current pure EV cannot match. Take the Tesla Model S P85 as example (it is not a sports car but we can use this to illustrate the weight of a EV powertrain with similar output and range), the battery pack alone has already taken up 1,323 lbs, putting the electric motor, differential together makes the total powertrain weight close to 1,900lbs, more than 2 times of the weight of a gasoline counterpart with similar output.

Side Note: nowadays the best sports car should be using a hybrid powertrain, which gets good stuffs from both sides. This is a future trend within the sports car industry, which is already represented by the Porsche 918, the upcoming Acura NSX and also Ferrari’s LaFerrari. For luxury sedans, a famous professional race car driver (we hide his name for privacy) we have interviewed told us his opinion: the Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid, which has identical HP output (416hp) to the Tesla Model S P85, is “light year ahead” than the Model S in terms of the performance, ride quality and handling, and it still “has a very long way to go before joining the first-class club”. Not to mention the fact that the Model S, even could not complete a full lap on the Nürburgring with full power (due to battery pack overheating issue).

Conclusion: the 488 GTB engine inherits Ferrari’s design tradition (seperated stabilizing chambers with connecting pipe), optimized for high RPM performance, with hight output/weight ratio.

YouTuber Marchettino took a longer video of the Ferrari 488 GTB launch than any other uploaders. His footage shows the car being accelerated and has a look at the interior too; we even get to see the tailored bags.

The car still strikes us as an updated 458, which it is, especially inside where the dash looks broadly the same as before.

It is prettier than its predecessor, and the 458 was by no means a bad looking thing, particularly the final Speciale model.

The biggest change is still the use of a turbocharged engine, and that’s arguably this car’s biggest talking point. Maybe it will end up being a better day-to-day car, and one that you don’t constantly have to floor in tunnels to get the most out of – perhaps it will be a completely different thing, a much more flexible car than any mid-engined Ferrari before it.

The new Ferrari 488 GTB is the fruit of the Scuderia Ferrari’s F1 experience and the 458 GT’s victories in the WEC and the 24 Hours of Le Mans as well as the knowledge gleaned by Ferrari’s engineers over a decade of XX Programmes. So many facets of the Prancing Horse’s sporting soul in one car: the Ferrari 488 GTB. #WORDSARENOTENOUGH

Features twin-turbo V8 engine

After last month's online reveal, the Ferrari 488 GTB is currently being exhibited at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.

It may look like a 458 facelift but lurking underneath the familiar design is a new beating heart, a twin-turbo V8 3.9-liter engine pushing out 670 HP (493 kW) and 760 Nm (560 lb-ft) of torque. It's enough muscle to allow the 488 GTB rocket to 62 mph (100 km/h) from a standstill in just three seconds while the 0-124 mph (0-200 km/h) task is accomplished in 8.3 seconds before hitting a top speed 205 mph (330 km/h).

The new engine is coupled to a reworked dual-clutch seven-speed gearbox benefiting from variable torque management. Ferrari says they modified the exhaust system to provide a "full, clear and totally distinctive" sound while the refreshed interior cabin sports new satellite control clusters, revised infotainment system, angled air vents and new seats.

Getting back to the design, the 488 GTB comes with a big air intake scallop reminiscent of the 308 GTB but this time it's divided into two separate sections by a splitter. There's also a wider front spoiler, updated LED taillights, a new diffuser with active flaps as well as a different blown spoiler boosting downforce.

Tipping the scales at 1,370 kg (3,020 lbs), the Ferrari 488 GTB is set to go on sale in the months to come and will likely be joined by a Spider version in the second half of the year.

Tipping the scales at 1,370 kg (3,020 lbs), the Ferrari 488 GTB is set to go on sale in the months to come and will likely be joined by a Spider version in the second half of the year.

a twin-turbo V8 3.9-liter engine pushing out 670 HP (493 kW) and 760 Nm (560 lb-ft) of torque.