Ferrari 488 Pista is official… and it’s magnificent
Months of rumours and spy-shots finally concluded after Ferrari officially revealed the 488 Pista – a more track-focused version of the 488 GTB.
The biggest controversy accompanying the debut of the 488 Pista is the acceleration. The supercar reaches 100km/h from rest in just 2.85-seconds, which is, in fact, faster than the LaFerrari hypercar, which does it in “under 3.0-seconds”.
The engine in the Pista is a twin-turbocharged 3.9-litre V8 that produces 530kW of power and 770Nm of torque. The power figures are in line with the supercars biggest rivals, such as the Porsche 911 GT2 RS and the McLaren 720S.
The 488 Pista also benefits from the 90kg weight reduction over the GTB model, bringing its total weight to 1280kg. Pair this reduction to an F1-inspired S-duct and redesigned front and rear diffusers and the result is a 20% improvement in downforce.
There is also the new-to-the-world Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer, which uses software to manipulate the brake pressure at the callipers, allowing improved handling in corners. The latest version of Ferrari’s Slideslip Angle Control also makes its way onto the Pista, which is basically a drift mode that offers advanced stability control.
Another feature that destines the 488 Pista to become a track-killer is the wheels, which are 20-inch carbon-fibre wheels – a first for Ferrari. The engine cover, rear spoiler and bumper are also made up entirely of carbon fibre.
Order books for the Ferrari 488 Pista are expected to open after the Geneva Motor Show in March this year, where the supercar will make its official debut.
The arrival of the 488 Pista, which has been rumoured for many weeks, follows in the footsteps of models such as the 458 Speciale, 430 Scuderia and 360 Stradale, all considered the halo variants for their respective models. None was a limited-production model but was typically in production for only two or three years.
