Engine: 3.9 litre V8 twin turbo
Transmission: 7 speed dual clutch auto
Power: 529 kW
Torque: 568 lb-ft
Top Speed: 340 km/h
0-100km/h: 2.9 sec
Price: $484,888
Ferrari is like the automotive equivalent of that kid in high school who owned everyone at sports, exams and the ladies. Now, they’ve bested themselves by saying arrivederci to the 488 GTB and buongiorno to the F8 Tributo – a machine that will house Ferrari’s most powerful V8 engine ever.
As the name makes obvious, the F8 pays tribute to the sacred engines the brand has engineered since the 1975 Ferrari 308 GTB. The twin-turbo V8 with 720 horses and 568 lb-ft of torque enables it to hit a 488 Pista-matching 340 km/h top speed – with zero turbo lag. As the engine note sings you’ll feel like a maestro conducting the Italian orchestra.
The method behind the music is the F8 Tributo’s weight. Advanced tech from Formula 1 have helped shave off mass: the exhaust manifold saves 10 kgs; titanium rods knock off another 8, and a new front S-duct results in a 15% increase in down force. At just 1330 kgs, the car is 22 kgs lighter than the 488 GTB, which in the supercar game is a shitload.
The dual round rear taillights go back to those from the F40 of the late 1980s and early 1990s, as do the louvers in the engine cover. Made from ultralight Lexan, the clear screen louvers allow for easy access gawking of the legendary engine itself.
Interior improvements, though few, include an 8.5-inch touch screen and twin digital screens either side of an oversized ferocious tacho.
Making its Australian debut at a VIP event in Sydney recently, local pricing was announced at $484,888.
Climate change may ruin the planet, social media may end society, but fresh food, good wine, and a devastatingly beautiful Ferrari – these things endure generations. No wonder they pay tribute to their own.
For the full article grab the August 2020 issue of MAXIM Australia from newsagents and convenience locations. Subscribe here.
