Another Frankfurt debutante?
Actually, no. The car you see before you, the 2020 Ferrari F8 Spider, is certainly brand-new, but it won't be at the Frankfurt Motor Show, as Ferrari is not exhibiting at this year's event. Instead, Ferrari took the wraps off the new open-topped, mid-engined delight at its temporary Universo Ferrari venue at the Fiorano test track in Italy.
It's based on the F8 Tributo, right?
It certainly is, so it gets that car's revamped biturbo 3.9-litre V8 for a start, which is pretty much the same as was used in the Ferrari 488 Pista. Inconel exhaust manifolds, titanium con-rods, a lightweight inlet manifold and a lightened crankshaft bring the weight of the engine down by some 18kg (in comparison to that of the Ferrari 488 Spider). It should also be quicker responding thanks to a 17 per cent reduction in inertia. Peak power is 720hp and torque maxes out at 770Nm, those gains achievable due to making full use of speed sensors on the turbochargers and changing the intake ducting.
So, how fast is it?
Ferrari quotes 0-62mph in just 2.9 seconds, 0-124mph in a scarcely believable 8.2 seconds and a top speed of 211mph. It's a proper supercar, essentially, just with a roof that retracts. Speaking of which, the RHT (Retractable Hard Top) folds away in 14 seconds at speeds of up to 28mph.
Anything else new?
The F8 Spider effectively builds on what we've seen in the F8 Tributo, so it gets more advanced aerodynamics measures to increase downforce without affecting the drag, while also debuting the latest iteration of Ferrari's self-explanatory Side Slip Angle Control system. First deliveries will be in 2020.
Shane O'Donoghue - 9 Sep 2019