Ferrari F8 Tributo

I think NHTSA has set standards for minimum ground clearance for imported cars. It takes into consideration the usual standards for grading..ie driveways etc to avoid body scrapping. Im sure Ferrari made it as low as possible and still pass.( and not to piss off customers with body gashes). Check out what other countries are doing.https://vehicleinspection.nzta.govt.nz/virms/alternative-fuels/cng/location-and-ground-clearances ----click on tables and images within the link.

 

In the scheme of things.. they are street cars. ie compromise. Their Challenge cars, GT3 look great but would be a nightmare for the streets.

 

This, you can’t see the wheel gaps from inside the cockpit. Get in, drive and enjoy!

 

I had my last 3 cars lowered on the factory springs and it unfortunately compromised ride quality and handling. Even though it was about $1500 more, I’m glad I used the Novitec Springs this time around. The car feels more natural.
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Does bumpy road mode work with novitec springs?

 

Unfortunately my streets are uneven and potholes galore,( no lowering for me) one of the reasons i chose black wheels is to optically make the "gap" less obvious in pictures anyway. The shiny rim edge of my stock star forged wheel makes that"gap" more attention getting to some. My biggest gripe for the F8 is the steering feel, or the lack of..it feels slippery to me, poor feedback. Must be the iRacing sim experience lol.

 

Yes

 

Your F8 looks very aggressive yet beautiful in that California sunshine! Way to go!!!

 

Thanks man. Must admit, I’m in love❤️

 

There needs to be a basic understanding of the dynamics of vehicle architecture and the subsequent design of the body surfaces.
A 'package' is developed by engineering as to the suspension geometry, tire size, tire jounce, tire flop, suspension travel fully compressed to fully extended, full front turn, etc., etc.

That criteria is then given to the design team to 'work around'. Some engineering organizations are very aggressive in their criteria, others are very conservative. Some areas of the world still require chains for travel in the winter, pot holes, and other assorted issues that would allow the tire to come into contact with the fender. Quite simply, NO tire travel is allowed to contact ANY sheetmetal under any number of uses. Consumer cars don't travel on smooth racetracks. They are subjected to the most extreme conditions. So each mfg must choose how much risk they are willing to tolerate. Some take a bigger risk and hope the tire will never come into contact with any sheetmetal/plastic fascias. Other companies will not tolerate any risk and build their cars accordingly. Often very high with huge gaps between the tire and fender openings. Affectionately known in the business as 'cat throw'. I.e. you could throw a cat in the gap between the top of the tire and the bottom of the fender opening.

All by way of saying, the gaps that we all complain about are there for very specific reasons. The design teams hate the huge gaps and constantly complain. The engineering teams want to CTA's and make sure no tires get cut by sharp fender openings to avoid those nasty lawsuits.

So the choice to lower one's car is certainly a personal one. The designers hate those huge wheel gaps, but are usually constrained by the laws of physics and the desire to avoid any liability. Simple physics. But rest assured, it 's not by accident or fiat that those pesky wheel gaps just happened by chance, or that heaven forbid, no one cared.

 

The magazine reviews praise the steering. Funny how individual preference can differ. It’s why I don’t enjoy the experience only reviews. Give me the data. I’ll fill in the experience portion myself.

 

If we clamor for it. there is no reason why Ferrari cant make the steering more engaging and customizable..lets dream on. Trouble is, the more driving aids/programs TC there is results in less feel in the wheel. The power steering turns fine, but you have to rely more on g force feel and vision..would be nice to have that extra steering wheel feedback( stiffness and push back) as you negotiate a turn. I guess one can adapt but to me ,its minus in fun.

 

It looks incredible. Congratulations!

 

instead of moving the mountain, ie lowering the the car, could one extend the bodywork which would disguiise the wheel arch gap?

just musing . Or would that look bad, in a different way

 

The steering wheel of the F8 is the best of any car I have driven. The shape, feel and comfort in my hands is perfection. Equally impressive is the steering which exhibits a sublime balance between not heavy or too light. It is tight, direct and provides tactile feedback.

 

As you lower the wheel opening sheet metal you start to infringe once again into the tire envelope. The sweet spot is usually where the car is built, depending on how much the engineers and designers want to ‘give’. As a side result, as you lower the opening, the quarter panel or the front fender start to look heavier. There is also the variation in build tolerances. Can’t build that close for ‘mass’ production. + - tolerances vary from mfg to mfg.

 

Ferdinand Piech was asked how his engineers got such good door gaps on the bodies. He simply replied "if they didn't get it right, they were fired".

 

That sounds like him.

 

In the end, it all boils down to the limit you dare to take a corner as fast and precise as you can. What gives you confidence in the feel that you are in control and the car is not going to bite you all of the sudden. Around 5.50 into the video he makes a comment on the steering feel. ( filtered out the feeling i think he says) BTW his fav driving car is the Porsche 997 GT3 RS. Quite a proper drivers car.

 

Odd that someone has complained about the steering. Maybe the tire pressures were too low or something.

I found F8's steering delivered a smooth progressive feel from time of turn execution right through to completion of the the turn than the 488. It was one thing I really liked about the car as a standout improvement.

In comparison the 488 steering felt a less sophisticated attempt - less communicative at certain stages through the bend...and a little over sensitive to what was actually required to produce and maintain a nice smooth arc. One could even fairly say it was actually somewhat crude and unresolved given the heritage and year of the model.

 

This uncompromising nature is precisely why they are so good at making sports cars. Everything not only fits as it should. but also works as it should. And they don't just ask or expect your respect because of the Badge on the hood - they earn it.

 

Delivering a car with the right stance and ride is still very much achievable without turning it into a GT3 Challenge as shown to exist in other examples/brands.

The F8 is a sports car therefore, stance and sound should by rights be commensurate with the car's performance credentials and not representative of a regular passenger car which is why there is now so much discussion about lowering it and fitting new exhaust systems and the likes.

 

Mess with the bodywork on a Ferrari and not swap springs? Unsellable.

 

its due to a smaller diameter steering wheel. Aka faster, less effort( although power steering makes it moot). The steering mechanism of the 488 ,Pista and F8 are the same. The smaller wheel feels “ faster”.ie turning ( physics) Some say less precise. It all depends on driver preference. Personally , i like the Slightly larger diameter of the 488 steering wheel. But the new design looks better. This cornering feel is most likely due to the new handling software gizmos they have in the car.

 

Understandably all of the mechanisms and workings are the same after all they are all 488's (as in Pista, GTB and F8 ) so any changes come down to calibration, alignments, suspension settings of these core components. That said the steering of the F8 is a clear stand out improvement which in comparison to GTB feels unresolved in not only the steering but also brakes, ride, throttle response and so forth. Its more than just a cornering feel as the improvements allow the F8 to work better for the driver as evidenced by way of improved circuit times and better driver connection/feel.