What's all this about?
Ferrari has whipped the roof off the 488 GTB and given us the astonishing Spider. This thing generates some incredible stats.
Such as?
Well, let's say that it features the same clever aero, the same Side Slip Angle Control System (SSC2) and the same interior as the 488 GTB. It also gets that car's mid-mounted 3.9-litre turbocharged V8 engine, generating 670hp, backed up by 760Nm of torque at 3,000rpm. Bear in mind that this is supposed to be the 'baby' Ferrari and suddenly the fact it's the fastest ever open-top to issue forth from Maranello becomes ever more gobsmacking.
Say what? Aren't you forgetting the F50?
Nope. The 488 Spider is quicker than that. It rips from 0-62mph in 3.0 seconds and passes 124mph just 5.7 seconds later. Top speed is 'in excess of 203mph', where the F50 could only muster 202mph.
Crikey! Any word on prices as yet?
Not at this stage, as the Blu Corsa car you can see in the pics is part of Ferrari's build-up to the model going on sale. It will have its full debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, before going on sale soon after.
Can I have some more juicy facts about the 488 Spider?
Its spaceframe chassis means it has the same torsional rigidity and beam stiffness as the GTB, while it's 23 per cent firmer than the old 458 Spider, itself no wobbling mess. The folding metal hard-top, which can complete its contortions in 14 seconds, saves 25kg over a fabric item and is part of the car's structure. The 488 Spider weighs a reasonable 1,525kg, which is split 41.5:58.5 per cent front-to-rear. Oh, and it does 24.8mpg and emits 260g/km CO2. As if you care.
I don't. I really don't.
Thought not. Glorious, though, isn't it?
Matt Robinson - 28 Jul 2015