It has Ferrari's best weight-to-power ratio, and it's backed up by a stellar chassis.
There are moments in life that mark you forever. I was born a few kilometers from Maranello and as a child, I spent a lot of time clinging to the outside fence at Ferrari’s Fiorano test track, trying to catch a look at the latest Cavallino. The mix of memories and emotions still resonate, so you can imagine how I feel driving on this track in the new Ferrari 488 Pista.
Never has any V8-powered special edition Ferrari been so extreme. Starting from the first Challenge model, the 348, continuing with 355, 360 Challenge Stradale, the 430 Scuderia developed together with Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher, and then arriving at the last 458 Speciale, Ferrari’s mid-engine V8s have had a reputation for ferocity. The 488 Pista is no exception.
Ferrari’s approach to speed is clearly visible even when the engine is off, thanks to aerodynamic refinements that are both show and functional. Compared to the standard 488 GTB, the Pista’s aerodynamic efficiency 20 percent. An S-Duct channel on the front fascia, side flaps from the 488 GTE racer, and a repositioned air intake help boost the Pista’s ability to cut through the air.
As per Ferrari tradition, we take to the track with Ferrari’s chief test driver, Raffaele De Simone, riding shotgun for a few warm-up laps. The harmony and ease with which the track shoots from one corner to another is disarming and, above all, fast. At 112 miles per hour, I can feel the aerodynamic load working.
I never would have expected to complete my three laps at Fiorano with such confidence. The Pista’s 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and twin-turbocharged, 720-horsepower V8 engine slingshot the car around when driving in Race mode. This setting cuts shift time to less than 30 milliseconds. On the straights, I can feel the the violence when the second clutch engages on the rear axle.
The Brembo carbon-ceramic braking system is a marvel. With bits derived from the 488 Challenge racer, the pedal is more responsive, granting plenty of confidence around turns, the Pista’s true playground.
I can feel the the violence when the second clutch engages.
The steering is faster and more responsive on the road compared to the 488 GTB, but at the same time, it’s not so nervous that it’s hard to handle oversteer. Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer, a new system available at the request of Ferrari’s most sporting clientele, kicks in in the 488 Pista’s angriest mode, CT-OFF, to “train” the 488 to handle up to 30 to 40 degrees of yaw. Even when spewing tire smoke with the assists off, the Pista feels millimeter precise, giving drivers confidence while feeling, weirdly polite. This is an easy car to manage, even on public roads, where the adaptive suspension’s comfort never fails.
The biturbo V8 features major refinements in the 488 Pista, with 50 more horsepower than the 488 GTB and 115 more than the 458 Speciale, for 720 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque. But the Pista also weighs 198 pounds less than the GTB. The result of these improvements is the one of the best weight-to-power ratios in Ferrari history and managed to lap Fiorano about two seconds faster than the GTB or 458 Speciale (about 1:21.5).
The 488 Pista competes in with the Porsche 911 GT2 RS and McLaren 720S in performance, so of course, the prices are similar. Excluding options, the Pista costs 296,000 euro ($347,000 at today’s rates). Add the carbon-fiber wheels that, in addition to being beautiful, reduce unsprung weight by 20 percent, and that price will likely climb quickly.
If you’re one of the lucky few that can afford the Pista, Ferrari will only build it for a limited time. Act quickly.