488 GTB (458 replacement)

I was looking at 458s and Speciales today at my dealer and May is right about one thing: The engine on the 488 does look like coffee machine compared to the 458's.

 

First Drive: 2016 Ferrari 488 GTB
Check the tenth and eleventh paragraphs.

 

Or they could have actually redesigned the car and created something that achieved the same performance goals with less power/tq.

The 488 exists as it does because it was cheaper than going any other route. They could have stayed NA if they were willing to spend more elsewhere on the car. They wanted to stay with the 458 platform though to save money.

 

This. They could have ignored mac and took a more porsche gt or elise route: lighter weight, maybe the same power maybe less, but focus more on PTW, and ignored mac on the straights and just kicked their butt on the handling course.

 

Yes, they could have. But that would mean creating an entirely new business, design and building formula. This is how it has been done since day one. New model, then an M car. Next time, it will be a new platform again. It's not an easy change, that's for sure, and there would be longer between the cars. You can be sure that the 488 successor has been on the drawing board for awhile now. It takes time coming up with something entirely new.

 

True, it does. But they have probably done something with a small, lighter body and engine, couldn't they?

 

So, like I said...

 

In what parallel universe is Ferrari going to ignore McLaren?

 

I said "could've"; I know they aren't going to ignore on a power matching scale, but like porsche and a few journalists have said: the horsepower wars are going to have to come to and end, so we can start focusing on lighter and more driver focused cars. Look at the 488, 660hp from a baby ferrari. The 599 gto has that much. Plus, the 488 is a tenth faster to 124mph than the f12 for crying out loud. where are we going to be 5 years from now? 700hp in a baby ferrari? Thats nearly as much as the v12 engine in the laferrari -- the hyper car flagship.

 

Oh I agree. It's getting silly.

 

Thank you.

 

Agreed on the horsepower, lets make lighter cars!

If the "Dino" comes to pass with "only" 500 hp maybe it will be light enough to end up
with close to the 488 power / weight ratio.

 

Thank you.

 

I highly doubt that -Just IMO

 

Probably a prudent decision when people like Gordon Murray call the 458 the best car in the world right now.

 

Concur!

They don't really need to be so wide either, although I understand how some like that look.

 

I just drove a 650s aggressively and then my 458 Spider. The 650s undoubtedly felt faster and the acceleration was a rush.

Then I drove my car and from an entertainment standpoint there really was no comparison. The engine sound of the 650s was comparitevly non-existent. Style wise, the 650 looked busy and dated. The 458's design remains as art.

Interestingly, I saw the upcoming 560 (?). Much fresher looking and the design was much more integrated. In other words, it looked better in every way. It was exciting and it was a prototype.

The 488 looks muscular instead of sexy (458). I felt the same with the 430 and 360. I don't like the nose, the hood scoops, or the excessive side vents. It's all too over the top for my tastes. I do like the rear.

I prefer normally aspirated sports cars and will remain open to the possibility that the tradeoof to turbos will at some point be worth it. I haven't driven that car yet and don't know when that day will arrive.

I applaud the additional competition as it forces both Ferrari and Porsche to raise their game. Unfortunately, global emissions are forcing the industry to utilize turbos if they want to maximize shareholder returns (it is a for profit business). Hopefully, with advancing technology the day will arrive when we won't be sacrificing more and more of the entertainment that we've always craved. The jury remains out.

And there is an opening to recreate a modern Dino that's light and normally aspirated (manual too?). It appears that Porsche understands as the GT4 is not only normally aspirated but also a manual. The new Boxster Spyders continue with the lite weight approach in that tradition as well (for now).

 

The 488 will sound like a louder 650S, that's it.

 

Ferrari take an easy way, I hope they will not pay a heavy price in the future for this

 

louder fart? that's scary

 

The car magazines in German language are having nothing but praise: "Best Turbo of the world?" or "near to perfection"! And they like the new deeper and raspier sound as well although it does not scream like the NA-enginges anymore...

 

Not really. They use the 458 monocoque and framework, so that dictates what is possible. To make a smaller and lighter body, they would need to build an all new car. With that, comes an entirely new set of safety tests, re-tooling and what not. It's a much more involved process going to an all new platform than going to an "evo" model.

 

So, I take it you've heard a 488 in person?

 

Just got my latest Forza and a review of the Cali T engine was the feature article. We should expect similar results from the 488 T albeit with 100 more ponies.

I think the conclusion in the article is: Cali T is better looking, much faster and more practical. The Cali 30 is more fun to drive...more engaging. At least thats what i got out of the article.

 

Yep. I recently bought a 328, and while it is not quite as crisp-looking as the 308, I think it is still quite beautiful -- and performance and reliability are better. Any time people see it on the street, I get plenty of "Magnum!" shouts. Most folks don't see a difference between the 308 and 328. I'm not certain that the 488 and 458 are as similar-looking, but they may well be so to people who don't know the cars.