Introducing The Ferrari F8 Tributo, A 710-Horsepower Mid-Engined V8 Beast

Feast your eyes on the stunning Ferrari F8 Tributo, which made its world debut this week at the Geneva Motor Show. The new mid-rear-engined sports car replaces the Ferrari 488 GTB, with more power, flashier looks, an updated interior, and some weight savings to boot.

The Ferrari F8 Tributo is powered by a 3.9-liter turbocharged V8 that puts out a massive 710 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque. For those of you keeping score, that’s 50HP more than the 488 GTB and about the same as the limited-edition 488 Pista.

With a 0-62 mph time of just 2.9 seconds, a 0-124 mph time of 7.8 seconds, and a top speed of 211 mph, the F8 Tributo is ready to do battle against the McLaren 720S.

As mentioned, the F8 Tributo benefits from improvements across the board, providing even better control on the limit along with greater on-board comfort. The new car is lighter and benefits from a 10% improvement in aerodynamic efficiency along with the latest version of the Side Slip Angle Control, now in 6.1 guise. So while the F8 Tributo offers the highest levels of performance of any car in the current range, that performance is also very usable.

The F8 Tributo delivers exceptional handling thanks to advanced vehicle dynamics solutions. A new version of the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer (FDE+) can be activated in the manettino’s RACE position for the first time, a move designed to make performance on the limit easier to reach and control for an even greater number of drivers. The steering wheel rim is also smaller in diameter to enhance the level of tactility and make the car feel even more agile. In addition, the car is 88 pounds lighter than the 488 GTB, further enhancing both responsiveness and driving pleasure without impinging on interior comfort.

State-of-the-art aerodynamic solutions incorporated into the car’s body help ensure that the extraordinarily powerful engine can be fully exploited. As with the 488 Pista, the F8 Tributo’s aero package is directly evolved from the track and it adopts several features from the 488 Pista designed to help manage engine heat, including, for instance, the rearward-angled front radiators and the dynamic engine air intakes positioned either side of the spoiler instead of on the rear flanks.

The front of the car is characterized by the S-Duct, a solution that made its debut on the 488 Pista, but which has been redesigned to suit the extensive modifications made to this area of the car. This S-Duct alone contributes an impressive 15% to the overall increase in downforce compared to the 488 GTB. New, more compact, horizontal LED headlights allowed Ferrari’s aerodynamicists to incorporate new brake cooling intakes in combination with those on the outside of the bumper, the aim being to improve air flow throughout the entire wheelarch and avoid having to increase the size of the braking system to cope with the car’s greater speed.

A new Lexan rear screen showcases the engine compartment and also brings a modern twist to the most distinctive design element from Ferrari’s most famous V8, the F40. The louvres help extract hot air from the engine compartment without impacting the efficiency of the blown spoiler which has been further evolved to increase downforce generated at the rear. A spoiler wraps around the tail lights, visually lowering the car’s center of gravity and allowing a return to the classic twin light cluster and body-colored tail, another signature of the early 8-cylinder berlinettas like the very first in the legendary series, the 1975 308 GTB.

Inside, the cabin retains the classic, driver-oriented cockpit look typical of Ferrari’s mid-rear-engined berlinettas, but every element of the dash, door panels and tunnel, has been completely redesigned. The new generation HMI (Human Machine Interface), complete with round air vents, new steering wheel and controls as well as a new 7” passenger touchscreen display, significantly enhance the on-board environment for driver and passenger.

Overall, there’s a lot to like about the new Ferrari F8 Tributo, and it should be interesting to see how it stacks up against the competition. Pricing hasn’t been released yet, but expect it to fall somewhere between $250-300K.

What do you think of the all-new Ferrari F8 Tributo?

Featured image: Ferrari F8 Tributo by Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)