Ferrari has quietly introduced the 488 Spider, which will make its official debut at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show this September.
This is the most powerful ever mid-rear-engined V8 car of the Italian carmaker to feature a retractable hard top. This is also the most aerodynamically efficient Ferrari spider ever built, thanks to a series of complex aero solutions designed to guarantee optimal downforce whilst reducing drag, two normally mutually-exclusive objectives. Maranello’s engineers managed to achieve both goals simultaneously by introducing several innovative devices, including a blown spoiler and an aerodynamic underbody incorporating vortex generators.
The air flow studies also took into account factors relating to in-car comfort. The electric glass rear wind stop can be adjusted to one of three positions to guarantee maximum comfort when the top is lowered.
The air flow studies also took into account factors relating to in-car comfort. The electric glass rear wind stop can be adjusted to one of three positions to guarantee maximum comfort when the top is lowered.
The 488 Spider has a spaceframe chassis made of 11 different aluminium alloys combined with other noble metals, such as magnesium, each one used in a highly specific way. This yields the same torsional rigidity and beam stiffness figures as the 488 GTB, improving the chassis’ performance by 23% over that of its predecessor. The retractable hard top folds backwards in two overlapping sections and it takes 14 seconds for the top to fully retract or deploy.
Motivation is provided by a 3.9-liter V8 twin-turbo engine which produces 670 hp at 8,000 rpm and 760 Nm of torque at 3,000 rpm. These power figures are enough for a 0-100 km/h sprint in 3 seconds, while hitting the 200 km/h mark takes 8.7 seconds.
The Ferrari 488 Spider could go on sale before the end of the year.
The Ferrari 488 Spider could go on sale before the end of the year.
