Ferrari taps into its two-seater heritage with the F8 Tributo, its newest raging stallion.
There’s just something about Ferraris that can get you hot under the collar. Sure, they’re the ride of choice for douchebags who’ve graduated beyond their yellow tennis club boxster, but at the end of the day, they’re still high-performance machines that look great in red.
Paying homage to the most powerful V8 in Ferrari history, the Ferrari F8 Tributo, the marque’s new mid-rear-engined sports car, represents the highest expression of the company’s classic two-seater berlinetta. The name is a tribute to both the model’s uncompromising layout and to the engine that powers it, the F8 Tributo is the most powerful V8 in Prancing Horse history (for a non-special series car) and sets the benchmark not just for turbos, but for engines across the board.
Mid-Rear Monster
Ferrari’s 3902 cc V8 won “Best Engine” in the International Engine of the Year awards three years running and in 2018 was awarded the title of the best engine of the last two decades. The engine really comes into its own when it is mid-rear-mounted in a two-seater, and the result is the F8 Tributo, which promises to be one of the fastest, most thrilling and communicative supercars ever.
The new car replaces the 488 GTB, with improvements across the board including more power, less weight and better aerodynamics, providing even better control along with greater onboard comfort.
The F8 Tributo delivers its 720 cv without the slightest hint of turbo lag and produces an evocative soundtrack that will turn all the right kinds of heads.
Designed for Performance
Instantaneous power is matched by exceptional handling thanks to advanced vehicle dynamics solutions that include a new version of the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer (FDE+), which can be activated in the manettino’s RACE position for the first time, a move designed to make high performance levels easier to reach and control for an even greater number of drivers; and state-of-the-art aerodynamic solutions incorporated into the car’s body.
As with the 488 Pista, the F8 Tributo’s aero package is directly evolved from the track and it adopts several features from the former’s design to help manage engine heat, including rearward-angled front radiators and dynamic engine air intakes positioned either side of the spoiler instead of on the rear flanks.
Technical Additions
The front of the car is characterised by the S-Duct, a solution that made its debut on the 488 Pista, but which has been redesigned to suit the extensive modifications made to this area of the car. The result is an impressive 15 per cent increase in downforce compared to the 488 GTB. New, more compact, horizontal LED headlights allowed Ferrari’s aerodynamicists to incorporate new brake cooling intakes in combination with those on the outside of the bumper, the aim being to improve airflow throughout the entire wheel arch without having to increase the size of the braking system.
Shiver-inducing Lines
The new Lexan rear screen showcases the engine compartment and also brings a modern twist to the most distinctive design element from Ferrari’s most famous V8, the F40. The louvres help extract hot air from the engine compartment without impacting the efficiency of the blown spoiler, which has been further evolved to increase downforce generated at the rear. The spoiler wraps around the taillights, visually lowering the car’s centre of gravity and allowing a return to the classic twin light cluster and body-coloured tail, another signature of the early 8-cylinder berlinettas.
The cabin retains the classic, driver-oriented cockpit look typical of Ferrari’s mid-rear engined
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