What's the news?
This is our first look at the new Ferrari F8 Tributo, the Italian manufacturer's new mid-engined sports car that represents 'the highest expression of the company's classic two-seater Berlinetta'.
Its name comes from the incredible 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 which powers it, which is the engine from the old 488 GTB, only with the wick turned up a bit to a Pista-rivalling 720hp and 770Nm.
Indeed, though the F8 Tributo is a glorious machine, it is - in essence - a heavily revised version of the 488, which in turn was based on the underpinnings of the 458. Nevertheless, the Tributo has the most powerful V8 in Ferrari's history, for a non-special series car, and the company says it has been 'improved across the board' when compared to the 488 GTB. The F8 is lighter by 40kg than the 488 GTB, has 10 per cent better aerodynamic efficiency and boasts v6.1 of Ferrari's Side Slip Angle Control, allowing drivers to oversteer the Fezza at their behest.
The F8 Tributo also has a new version of the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer (FDE+), allowing driver's to better access and then control the car when it's operating near the limits of its performance, while the steering wheel has been reduced in diameter to make the car feel more agile and responsive. Aero solutions include package that has been honed on the track, like the 488 Pista's, and also that car's characteristic S-Duct, which has been redesigned for the Tributo. Downforce is said to be up 15 per cent, on the old 488 GTB, as a result, while even the slim, horizontal LED headlights incorporate brake cooling intakes to match those on the outside of the bumper.
Styling-wise, the Tributo shows off a new design direction for Ferrari and the F8 has a Lexan rear screen with louvres, which is evocative of the awe-inspiring F40 of the 1980s. Twin rear-lamp clusters make a comeback on the Tributo, while the tail is in body colour - harking back to the earliest eight-cylinder Berlinettas like the 308 GTB of 1975. Inside, the cabin has been redesigned across dashboard, door cards and transmission tunnel, with a new generation of human-machine interface (HMI) incorporating round air vents, the aforementioned steering wheel and controls, and a seven-inch touchscreen display for the passenger.
Anything else?
Pace is not a problem for the F8 Tributo. It'll tick off 0-100km/h in 2.9 seconds, 0-200km/h in 7.8 seconds and will hit 340km/h flat out, where legal (and even appropriate). The new Ferrari V8 will be fully unveiled for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show.