Ferrari 488 History

Unveiled at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, the Ferrari 488 GTB replaced the 458 Italia with a 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 — a significant engineering shift driven by fuel economy and emissions regulations. Peak output rose to 660 hp, and Ferrari's variable-boost management system worked to suppress turbo lag, producing a broad, accessible torque curve.

A 488 Spider with retractable hardtop joined the GTB in late 2015. The 488 GTE and 488 GT3 race derivatives proved dominant in endurance racing, with the GTE version winning its class at Le Mans. The track-optimised 488 Pista (2018) pushed output to 720 hp with extensive carbon-fibre bodywork and active aerodynamics derived directly from the GTE.

Production of the GTB and Spider ran from 2015 to 2019 when the F8 Tributo succeeded them. The 488 engine, tuned to 710 hp, then appeared in the F8; in its ultimate Pista state of tune, that same architecture powered the SF90 Stradale's combustion component.