Ferrari Unveils 488 GTB Spider

Source: Auto Express

The new 488 Spider was unveiled at the recent Frankfurt motor show and there was plenty of fanfare.

The open-top, V8 supercar arrives only six months after the GTB was first introduced, and it becomes the most powerful drop-top ever to come out of Maranello.  As with the 458 Spider that went before it, the 488 uses a two-piece retractable hard-top. It’s 25kg lighter than the fabric roof used on the old F430 Spider. Like every drop-top Ferrari, the 488’s roof can only be operated when the car is stationary for safety reasons, but it can then be neatly and electrically stowed under the new flying buttresses in 14 seconds.

The added strengthening required to make up for the loss of a fixed roof means the Spider is 50kg heavier than the 488 GTB, but it’s still 10kg lighter than a 458 Spider. However, the aluminum chassis and body construction means the new car’s retained the same torsional rigidity as the coupé.

Also carried over from the GTB is the new 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 and seven-speed F1 dual-clutch transmission. Developing 660bhp at 8,000rpm and 760Nm of torque at 3,000rpm, the Spider has a claimed 0-62mph time of three seconds flat. That’s identical to the hard-top GTB’s time, and 0.4 seconds faster than the old 458 Spider powered by the 562bhp 4.5-litre naturally aspirated V8. Roof up or down, the 488 will top out at 203mph, yet Ferrari claims 24.7mpg and CO2 emissions of 260g/km.

The manufacturer has also fitted an electric glass rear wind stop, which can be adjusted to three positions. Even when the roof is in place, the glass section can be lowered so that the driver can be exposed to the full V8 soundtrack.

As well as being Ferrari’s fastest-ever Spider, the 488 is claimed to be the most aerodynamically efficient drop-top from the brand. This is due to aerodynamic features such as the active front bumper and blown rear spoiler carried over from the GTB.

Learn more about the Ferrari 488 GTB Spider