• Ferrari 488 Pista
  • Published: 26 February 2018
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The news of a brand new Ferrari is always something that is bound to cause ripples in the automotive world, especially in the midst of what feels like a never-ending winter. However, last Wednesday, we got news of just that. Not only a new Ferrari but a new track-focused Ferrari, the 488 Pista.

Whilst the technical bods at Stuttgart have been gaining worldwide acclaim recently for their own stunning Porsche 911 GT2 RS, Ferrari, not willing to surrender to their German counterparts in the supercar stakes, have been quietly developing their own undiluted track weapon.

Big brother to the 488 GTB and the natural V8 powered successor of the 360 Challenge Stradale, 430 Scuderia and 458 Speciale, ‘Pista’ translated directly from Italian to English, means track, so it's apt for Ferrari's latest track-focused machine to bear this name.

In the press release that accompanied the news of the car last week, which is set for a full reveal at next months Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari made clear links between the development of the 488 Pista and it's current and successful World Endurance Championship, GTE Class, motorsport programme in which Ferrari has swept to no less than 5 manufactures titles in the last 6 years.

It's no surprise then that weight saving and chassis performance have been a key recipe for this car's conception and the results of this objective are clear to see. Weighing in at 1,280kg, the Pista is a full 160kg lighter than the Porsche 911 GT2 RS which weighs in at just over 1,440kg.

Coupled to this prancing horses' lightweight chassis is a 3.9-Litre bi-turbo V8, which produces 568 pound-foot of torque and 711 BHP, making it the most powerful Ferrari V8 in the marques' history. These power and performance figures translate to a top speed of 211 MPH and a standstill to 62 MPH time of 2.8 seconds.

Visually, whilst directly comparable to the 488 GTB, the Pista has been on the receiving end of some striking design changes. The most notable comes at the front of the car, with the Pista sporting a large, single vent in its hood, whereas its predecessor saw this area of the car divided up into two sections. Catching your attention at the rear of the car is a more clearly defined diffuser. A clear nod to its motorsport pedigree and track focused intentions.

Ferrari has declared that the aims of the Pista's motorsport-derived development were to create 'a car with an uncompromising mission: to offer track-like performance on and off the road'.

With the 488 Pista's full reveal imminent, it will be fascinating to see how this machine stacks up to that statement, and how it performs in the real world alongside the likes of the 911 GT2 RS and the Lamborghini Huracan Performante'.

Ourselves, for one, cannot wait to see the outcome.

  • Ferrari 488 Pista
  • Ferrari 488 Pista 2