Ferrari has been
working on a brand new supercar with a mid-engine layout that will be
positioned above the 488 GTB in its range. This spy shots that first appeared on Instagram, showing Ferrari testing a
heavily covered test mule on the Fiorano track. The car was initially thought
that it was the replacement of the 488, but an unnamed Ferrari insider
confirmed that this is the company’s new mid-engine model on a Ferrarichat
post.
Last September,
Ferrari announced that its future lineup will include a “two tier mid-rear
engine product range”, so this could be our very first look at the brand new
hybrid Ferrari model. The test car was spotted on October 18 at the Fiorano
track and according to the insider, it wears the finished production bodywork
under the covers. Ferrari has also reportedly finished work on the interior
too, which means that a reveal is imminent in the next few months.
At this point, we
still don’t know what kind of powertrain the new mid-engine Ferrari will use;
some rumors say that it will employ a hybrid twin-turbo V8, which sounds
plausible since the 488 replacement is also reportedly going to get a hybrid
V6. However, nothing is certain at this point. Ferrari has confirmed it’s
working on a new V6 engine family, as well as “Turbo Hybrid” powertrains that
will offer 394+ hp per liter and zero turbo lag.
Next-gen Ferraris
will come with an overhauled interior too, as their cabin will feature an
innovative instrument cluster and a head-up display, a new steering wheel and a
cutting-edge infotainment system. The Italian supercar maker wants drivers to
keep “eyes on the road, hands on the steering wheel”.
The 488’s hybrid
big brother could be revealed before next year’s Geneva Motor Show, so stay
tuned for more information.
