FERRARI 488 GTB

Specifications

If we’re being terse, it’s a face lifted, turbocharged Ferrari 458, which replaces the lovely Italia after six years on sale. But really, the Ferrari 488 GTB is something much bigger. It’s Ferrari’s first turbo-assisted mid-engined car since the iconic F40, and a sea-change in Ferrari’s future car roadmap. And that bodywork isn’t different for change’s sake – there’s a 50 per cent increase in speed-generated downforce, up to 325kg of the stuff (that’s the equivalent of four bloke’s worth of force pushing you down onto the road). Ferrari also claims even faster gear changes and even cleverer adaptive suspension.

The conclusion of our Ferrari 488 GTB test drive? It’s like a 458, but way, way faster. Worried about turbo lag? Well, bear in mind that the 488’s 3.9-litre bi-turbo V8 (totally revised from the similar-sounding motor in the nose of a California T) delivers maximum response to full throttle 0.8 seconds after your toe hits the firewall. That’s just a tenth behind the non-turbo 458, while a 99bhp leap in power and a colossal 163lb torque surge over the old car deliver neck-snapping, hypercar-territory response.

What about the noise? It’s very, very different to the 458, trading some of the frenzied tightness for something more linear, controlled and industrial – a bit like a modern F1 car. Not as atmospheric, then, but still the best-sounding turbo road car out there. Besides, the era of natural aspiration