The Ferrari F8 Tributo Is The 488's 710bhp Replacement

Just under four years on from its official reveal, the Ferrari 488 GTB is no more. It’s now evolved into the car you see here, called the F8 Tributo.

Yep, Ferrari has ditched the three-figure number naming convention for its mid-engined V8 machine, but that’s far from the only thing that’s new. Maranello is promising “improvements across the board” relative to the 488, resulting in “one of the fastest, most thrilling and communicative supercars ever.”

First up, there’s the V8: it’s still a 3.9-litre, 90-degree V8, only now, it’s good for 710bhp, matching the output of the 488 Pista. It has less weight to punt along, too, with the F8 Tributo tipping the scales at 1330kg (dry), a drop of 40kg.

0-62mph happens in 2.9 seconds, 0-124 is over and done with in 7.8 (identical figures to the McLaren 720S), and if you find a bit of tarmac long enough, it’ll keep going until you hit 211mph.

As well as packing the same amount of power as the Pista, the F8 has also been given a new version of the track-focused 488’s ‘S-Duct’ F1-inspired aero device. On its own, it’s responsible for a 15 per cent increase in downforce over the 488.

The horizontal LED headlights, meanwhile, look rather nice while also serving an important function. The shape has made it possible to install new cooling ducts for the brakes, meaning Ferrari hasn’t had to fit a bigger, heavier set of stoppers to cope with the increase in power.

The coolest aero feature can be found at the back. See those louvres in the lexan rear windscreen? As with the headlights, these aren’t just for show - they help eject hot air from the engine bay without mucking up the operation of the ‘blown’ rear spoiler.

Pricing hasn’t been revealed yet, but it’d be wise to expect a slight increase on the £195,363 charged for the outgoing 488 GTB. The F8 Tributo will make its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show on 5 March.