2015 Geneva Motor Show: The new Ferrari 488 GTB revealed
Maranello-based supercar manufacturer, Ferrari, has unleashed its much anticipated all-new berlinetta, the 488 GTB (Gran Turismo Berlinetta) at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. The new car will feature Ferrari's new 3902cc V8 turbo that produces a whopping 670PS of power and 760Nm of twisting force. Ferrari says that the car can accelerate from a standstill to 200kmph in 8.3 seconds. Top speed is in excess of 330kmph.
Ferrari also adds that despite the astronomical power figures, the 488 GTB can be enjoyed by non-professional drivers too. The new 488 has set a lap time of  1 minute and 23 seconds at Ferrari's own Fiorano Circuit.
Designed by the Ferrari Styling Centre, the central section of the front end on the new Ferrari 488 GTB features a deflector that directs air towards the flat underbody of the car. The huge side intakes are an ode to those that were sculpted into the sides of the company's first production V8, the 308 GTB. Ferrari says that its blown spoiler at the rear creates downforce without any increase in drag. The exhaust pipes have also been repositioned to accommodate the raised diffuser which features active flaps that contribute to the aerodynamics. The tail lamps are circular LED units. Even the car's key design is inspired from the cylinder banks of its V8 engine.
The new berlinetta brings to the fore all the know-how that Ferrari has accumulated over its many years of association with various forms of racing such as Formula 1, World Endurance Championship, 24 Hours of Le Mans and its FXX programmes. Building on its stellar successors, the new car features advanced aerodynamic bodywork that highlights Ferrari's growing prowess in designing aero efficient cars.
According to Ferrari, the new 488 GTB has 50 per cent more downforce than its predecessor as well as reduced drag. The polar challenges of reducing drag and increasing downforce were tackled by crafting new aero bits such as a double spoiler at the front end, base bleed side intakes and a blown spoiler at the rear.
In addition to the active aero bits that were seen on the Speciale, the new 488 GTB also debuts the second generation of Ferrari's Slide Slip Control (SSC2). The SSC2 also adjusts the active dampers to enhance the handling characteristics of the car.
The interiors look similar to the 458 and the Speciale with Ferrari's all-controls-integrated steering wheel and a similar cockpit. The new Ferrari 488 GTB comes with new Rosso Corsa Met livery or Grigio Ferro Met livery. The former comes with black and red technical fabric cabin trim while the latter comes with black and Beige Tradizione leather interior details.
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THE FERRARI 488 GTB â" EXTREME POWER FOR UNIQUE DRIVING PLEASURE
Geneva, 3 March 2015 â" On its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show, the Ferrari 488 GTB sets a new benchmark for the sports car sector. Forty years on from the launch of Ferrari's iconic first-ever mid-rear-engined V8 berlinetta, the 308 GTB, the Ferrari 488 GTB opens a new chapter in the history of cars with this particular architecture. Credit for this achievement must go to the Ferrari 488 GTB's revolutionary proprietary solutions which deliver a car at the top of its class in terms of power output (670 cv) with engine and response times of just 0.8 and 0.06 seconds respectively. Sophisticated dynamic vehicle controls make this performance completely controllable even on the limit by drivers of all abilities, resulting in the unique driving pleasure that only a Ferrari can deliver. Ferrari drew extensively on its experience in both Formula One and endurance racing, bringing to the road the technology that delivered victory in two editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the title in the WEC (World Endurance Championship). Also pivotal was the XX programme in which Ferrari's technicians have developed a unique knowledge of the dynamic behaviour of extreme cars driven by non-professional drivers. The 488 in the car's moniker indicates the engine's unitary displacement, while the GTB stands for Gran Turismo Berlinetta, a reference to its deep roots in Ferrari history. Extreme power was a requisite for the car and is delivered by the new 3902 cc turbo engine coupled to a seven-gear F1 dual-clutch gearbox featuring Variable Boost Management which optimally distributes torque (a maximum 760 Nm in seventh gear). The Ferrari 488 GTB guarantees exuberant performance that is absolutely exploitable to the fullest regardless of driving conditions and is accompanied by a deep, seductive soundtrack, the signature of all Ferrari engines. The Ferrari 488 GTB's revolutionary aerodynamics incorporate patented solutions, such as the blown rear spoiler, as well as innovative features like the 458 GT-derived aerodynamic underbody with vortex generators. The result is a new efficiency record for a Ferrari (E=1.67). Downforce increases to 325 kg at 250 km/h, thanks in part to active aerodynamic devices which reduce drag whilst simultaneously generating downforce when required. The Ferrari 488 GTB's dynamic vehicle controls have also been further evolved. It sports a new version of the Side Slip Control System (SSC2) which, aside from just integrating with the car's F1-Trac and E-Diff, now also controls the active dampers. This renders the Ferrari 488 GTB's dynamic behaviour during complex manoeuvres even flatter and more stable, so that less expert drivers can enjoy its potential to the fullest, resulting in an extremely thrilling driving experience. Designed by the Ferrari Styling Centre, the Ferrari 488 GTB's sculptural forms are completely new. They accentuate the car's sportiness yet retain the classically clean, pure lines typical of Ferrari's legendary styling. The seamless interweaving of form and function is clear in every detail, in fact. Certain design elements also draw on styling cues from the past, not least the 308 GTB-inspired scalloped flanks. The Ferrari 488 GTB makes its debut in a new Rosso Corsa Met livery with black and red technical fabric cabin trim, and in a Grigio Ferro Met livery with black and Beige Tradizione leather interior trim. On the subject of extreme performance, also featuring on the stand is the F12berlinetta which is the most powerful car in the Ferrari range, courtesy of its 740 cv V12 engine and transaxle architecture. It continues to enjoy such enormous success worldwide that in certain countries the waiting list is over a year long. Two versions of the F12berlinetta are on show in Geneva: the first sports the now-traditional triple-layer Rosso Maranello livery with a leather interior and carbon-fibre trim, while the second is a Tailor Made homage to the Ecurie Francorchamps team, specifically the 250 GTO that won the 1964 Tour de France. It is in the same Argento Auteil colour as the latter with a triple-layer yellow racing cross-stripe on its bonnet. The Tailor Made programme, Ferrari's exclusive personalisation service, now boasts over 450 new materials which are homologated for automotive use for the first time. Alongside the sports cars are the GTs: the California T coup-cabriolet in an elegant two-tone Nero Stellato and Grigio Brunito livery complemented by a Tortora cabin is joined by the four-seater, four-wheel-drive FF in modern Bianco Italia with a Sterling interior. Both models feature CarPlay, the simplest, safest and most entertaining way to use your iPhone in the car. CarPlay is incredibly intuitive and offers phone, map, music and message access by either voice control or a tap of the central display. The system is enjoying particular popularity on the FF where it has been specified by half of all clients ordering it. Also on the stand is the Formula One single-seater which pays fitting testimony to Ferrari's inextricable links to motorsport on the eve of the new season. | |
Starts Rs 4.4 Crore
3902cc
Automatic
669
760
7.75 Kmpl