Automotive

Ferrari announces new F8 Tributo, its most powerful V8 supercar ever

Ferrari announces new F8 Tributo, its most powerful V8 supercar ever
F8 Tributo: Ferrari's most powerful V8 supercar ever with 710 twin-turbo horsepower
F8 Tributo: Ferrari's most powerful V8 supercar ever with 710 twin-turbo horsepower
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The vented engine cover will be one of the F8 Tributo's signature design elements
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The vented engine cover will be one of the F8 Tributo's signature design elements
The fully redesigned interior leaves little doubt about this car's intentions to be driven hard
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The fully redesigned interior leaves little doubt about this car's intentions to be driven hard
An aerodynamic reworking of the 488 GTB shape, using elements from the 488 Pista
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An aerodynamic reworking of the 488 GTB shape, using elements from the 488 Pista
Welcome back, twin round tail lights!
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Welcome back, twin round tail lights!
F8 Tributo: Ferrari's most powerful V8 supercar ever with 710 twin-turbo horsepower
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F8 Tributo: Ferrari's most powerful V8 supercar ever with 710 twin-turbo horsepower
The S-Duct vented hood looks terrific. The whole car looks terrific.
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The S-Duct vented hood looks terrific. The whole car looks terrific.
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Out with the 488 GTB, in with the F8 Tributo. Ferrari is justifiably proud of its powerful 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, so it has busted out its favorite infinity background photo studio to introduce its latest supercar ahead of a public debut in Geneva next weekend.

If the photos of this F8 Tributo look familiar, you've been paying attention. Where most brands agonize over photoshoot locations for each new vehicle, Ferrari has been using this particular grey-carpet-with-dramatic-sky backdrop for the last six years or more. We first spotted it in 2013 with the 458 Speciale, but since then it's been used for everything from the California T, the 458 Speciale A Spider and the Portofino, to the 812 Superfast, F12 Special Edition, and all manner of others.

This background was there when the 488 GTB replaced the 458, bowing to emissions regulations and giving up its full-throated naturally aspirated V8 for a twin turbo, so now it can claim to have ushered in three generations of mid-rear engined Ferrari supercars. We look forward to seeing it right up until Ferrari releases its final product in 2055: a V8 carbon fiber walking frame for the last surviving people with driver's licenses.

The S-Duct vented hood looks terrific. The whole car looks terrific.
The S-Duct vented hood looks terrific. The whole car looks terrific.

As to the F8 Tributo, it looks ... Well, frankly, almost exactly like its predecessor despite the fact that Ferrari calls this "a bridge to a new design language." The overall body shape has remained all but identical, while each detail has been tweaked just enough to call it a different car. It's like the designers hit randomize on all the bolt-ons. The key visual difference to the casual fan will be the scoopier hood, heavily reminiscent of the "S-Duct" on the 488 Pista track special. Hey, nice studio backdrop you've got there guys! The vented Lexan engine cover will also be distinctive, a nod to the F40. None of this is necessarily bad – like the 488 GTB before it, it looks terrific.

There's more to it, of course; that S-duct alone boosts the car's downforce by some 15 percent at speed, and the lack of blingy LED "eyelashes" on the headlights has allowed Ferrari to use that space for extra cooling air ducts to the wheel arches, which will help the Tributo's brakes stay within their favored temperature zone. Spoiler alert: there's a spoiler. Not a very big one, but made more effective using a "blown spoiler" design like that on the 488 Spider (sweet background!). The rear flanks of the car hide the engine air intakes beneath the tail lights.

The vented engine cover will be one of the F8 Tributo's signature design elements
The vented engine cover will be one of the F8 Tributo's signature design elements

Better braking is necessitated by more power and speed, and it wouldn't be a supercar launch without those. The F8 Tributo (which I keep misreading as tri-turbo) gains 49 horsepower for a total of 710 ponies – an admirable achievement out of a 3.9-liter engine and the most powerful V8 Ferrari has ever built. The company claims that even though its exhaust gases are being forced through two turbines, there's still an "evocative soundtrack."

Expect performance in the realm of 2.9 second sprints from 0-100kmh (0-62 mph). That's no joke for something without electric help. Top speed, should you find enough road and grim determination to go looking for it, will be 340 km/h, or 211 mph. Those are lovely numbers to quote to your friends at the shrimp bar after you've just idled it down Hollywood Boulevard in traffic.

Naturally, it's lighter as well – some 40 kilograms (88 lb) lighter, and will allegedly be easier to drive on the edge for a wider range of drivers thanks to a new Race mode in the Dynamic Enhancer menu. A redesigned interior with a 7-inch passenger touchscreen means passengers can spend less time complaining about being driven at the edge and more time watching Project Runway on the dash.

The fully redesigned interior leaves little doubt about this car's intentions to be driven hard
The fully redesigned interior leaves little doubt about this car's intentions to be driven hard

The F8 Tributo will make its public debuto at the Geneva Motor Show next weekendo. New Atlas will be on hand to bring you a closer look. Pricing, availability and details on when we'll see that studio background again are yet to be announced.

Source: Ferrari

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6 comments
6 comments
Nobody
When I went to Italy and toured the country on a bus, I was looking forward to seeing some Italian sports cars on the road like this Ferrari. How many did I see? Not one.
Gene Preston
I'm sorry to disappoint but the specs for this ICE car are still below the new Tesla Roadster.
guzmanchinky
Gawd it's gorgeous. But it will still be sad when the Tesla Roadster comes calling... Why isn't Ferrari developing a Tesla killer? Surely they have the know how and they are soooo good at everything else.
highlandboy
Why compare it with a Tesla Roadster, even a full sized 4 seat sedan like the Tesla P100D is faster to 100kph. Super car? Maybe for top speed and handling, but to overtake it leaves something to be desired.
Gizmowiz
Not even close to specs for 2020 Tesla roadster
Buzzclick
Why are all you dunderheads comparing this Ferrari with a Tesla? This car is drop-dead gorgeous! It makes a Tesla look like your grandmother's electric shopping cart, and sounds a hell of a lot better.
>Nobody. That's because you were in a bus, and you probably didn't visit Modena where I saw Lambos, Masers and visited the Ferrari factory (I wasn't allowed in since I hadn't booked a tour). So I checked out the showroom and had a game of pool and an espresso at the Ferrari cafe across the street.