We’ve been waiting for the hardcore version of the
Ferrari 488 GTB for quite some time now but it appears that our wait will be
over soon. The Italian supercar maker is developing the track-focused 488
variant under near-complete secrecy, with Autocar reporting a 700 hp power
figure from the revised twin-turbo 3.9-liter V8.
Rumor has it that Ferrari is planning on using the
GTO moniker for the fourth time, following the 250 GTO, the 288 GTO and more
recently the 599 GTO. If this is true, then the Italian company might even try
to evoke the spirit of the 288 GTO with the hardcore 488, since they’re both
turbocharged and with the engine in the middle.
Up until the 599 GTO came along, Ferrari used the
sacred moniker for the aforementioned models, as they were basically thinly
disguised race cars for use on the road. Whatever the name, the new 488 variant
will feature a revised bodywork for better aerodynamic efficiency and angrier
looks as shown in a spy shot last month. Weight will also drop, thanks to
Ferrari stripping parts from the interior as well as using thinner glass and a
lighter wheel-brakes combo.
GTO or not, the track-focused Ferrari 488 will have
to prove itself against some pretty tough competition that includes not only
the McLaren 720S but the Porsche 911 GT2 RS as well, when it goes on sale in
2018.
Cr : Carscoops