F8 Tributo Replaces the 488 as Ferrari’s Mid-Engine Flagship

Here it is! The long-awaited, highly speculated replacement to the 488 and it’s called the F8 Tributo. As speculated in our exclusive story, the F8 Tributo is an update to the 488 both in terms of performance and styling.

The F8 Tributo features a reworked twin-turbo 3.9-liter V8 which produces 720 horsepower and 568 pound-feet (770 Nm) of torque. That’s 50 hp more than the 488 GTB and same as the hardcore 488 Pista. This makes the F8 Tributo the most powerful non-special V8 supercar in the company’s history. Ferrari has said that power will be delivered without the slightest hint of turbo lag and with an evocative soundtrack.

But, that’s not the only performance improvement measure Ferrari has taken with its new supercar. The F8 Tributo is also 40 kg lighter than the car it replaces (with the dry weight now standing at 2,932 lbs or 1,330 kg with all the lightweight options checked) and benefits from a 10% improvement in aerodynamic efficiency. This results in a 0-62 mph (0-100 kph) time of 2.9 seconds which is down by 0.1s compared to the 488 GTB. 0 to 124 mph (200 kph) comes in 7.8 seconds, half a second improvement over the predecessor. Top speed of the F8 Tributo is 6 mph more than the 488 GTB and equal to the Pista at 211 mph (340 kph).

In terms of design, the F8 Tributo is a slight evolution over the 488 GTB. The F8 Tributo design will act as a bridge to a new design language of the future prancing horse models, Ferrari has said. As evident, the F8 tributo borrows several elements off the 488 Pista including the frontal S duct, the side air-intake and the twin exhaust at the rear. The F8 Tributo receives new, more compact, horizontal LED headlights with brake cooling air-intakes. The tail-lights on the other hand now return to the classic twin light cluster layout, signature of the early 8-cylinder Berlinettas like the 1975 308 GTB. Another nod to Ferrari’s rich heritage is the louvered Lexan engine cover reminiscent of the legendary F40.

On the inside, every element of the dash, door panels and tunnel, has been completely redesigned. New additions to the interior include round air vents, a new steering wheel and controls as well as a new 7” passenger touchscreen display.

The F8 Tributo will make its first physical appearance at the Geneva Motor Show which starts next Tuesday on March 5.