Ferrari 488 GTB coupe. 1st generation 2015
Ferrari 488 is a premium supercar of the Italian Ferrari brand. The brand is well-known to produced legendary racing cars, top a part of the Italian-American Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. The car is produced since 2015. The rear-wheel-drive car in the coupe body adds GTB (GranTurismo Berlinetta) to the model name and the roadster body is called 488 Spider. As of 2020, the first-generation sports car has been available in the Israeli market of the 2015 model year as well as the second generation of the 2018 model year called Ferrari 488 Pista. The latter has improved aerodynamics, exterior, and engine of 720 hp.
2-door 2-seater Ferrari 488 GTB of the 2015 model year is 4605 mm long, 1975 mm wide, and 1206 mm tall. The wheelbase is 2650 mm. The trunk volume is 170 L.
Features
The 2015/2016 two-seater has a spacious aluminum frame. The Motor is installed in front of the rear axle. This results in an almost perfect axle weight distribution of 46.5/53.5 in favor of the rear axle. The coupe has a completely independent spring suspension with aluminum parts – double-lever on the front axle and multilink on the rear axle.
Exterior
The new Ferrari 488 GTB coupe is a rear-wheel-drive premium sports car with an elegant design, high-performance equipment, and perfect driveability.
Unlike the previous model, 458 Italia, the Ferrari 488 has the design of a new bumper with two vertical elements. The head optics didn’t change their shape, but the interior was redesigned a little. The drag coefficient of the new 488 GTB coupe is 1.67, 50% better than that of the previous model. At the speed of 250 km/h, the downforce is 325 kg. It’s not a record but much better than before. The tall fair-shaped roof improves dynamics so that the car inspires dreams of racing. 20-inch heavy wheels support the car. Their top nearly reaches the glass level.
The rear end is equipped with renovated headlights with LED equipment. Enlarged air ducts from the engine compartment are located next to the headlights. The rear bumper has been changed a lot - now the exhaust pipes are inserted into it for a cooler look. The diffusor is in the same position as before. The resulting car can easily stand up for the title of one of the most elegant sports cars ever.
Interior and equipment
The interior of the 2015/2016 Ferrari 488 GTB looks newer. It received an upholstery with high-quality leather in 2 colors. Alcantara is used in some areas. The coupe is equipped with two seats with sporty side support and electric adjustment. The seats themselves are finished with perforated leather. These sports seats are comfortable to sit on, as they perfectly hold the torso during turns. There is quite enough free space inside the car for a sports model. This is the only reason why Ferrari 488 GTB is positioned as a car for daily use.
The sports steering wheel has three spokes. It looks familiar for those who have seen previous models, except that the shape of the keys for the most necessary functions has been changed. The steering wheel has buttons for turn signals, engine start, driving mode switching, and shock absorber stiffness. Round indicators, associated with the tachometer, are integrated into the rim of the steering wheel as before. Switching gears is very convenient in manual mode.
For Ferrari 488 GTB, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 3 seconds. The top speed of the car is 330 km/h
The dashboard hasn’t changed a lot. In the center, there is a well with a massive visually analog engine speed gauge, as well as an embedded electronic speedometer. On both sides of it, there are displays for the data of different parts of the mechanism. For example, the left display indicates heating and overheating of the engine, gearbox, tires, and brakes.
The central console accommodates as much equipment as possible. There is an entertainment system with 2 knobs and 3 buttons on top. The separate climate control unit is underneath. Its controls are knobs and buttons as well. The air duct nozzles received aggressive design because they slightly changed their shape.
The center tunnel received the most changes. It has been equipped with a different gearbox control rack. It has been changed not only in color but also in shape. The emergency stop button is located next to it. In front of it, there is a cupholder. As a result, the interior of 2016/2017 Ferrari 488 GTB is convenient, high-quality, and comfortable.
The standard version of the Ferrari 488 GTB sports electric power steering and electrically powered dampers. The dampers are filled with magnetorheological fluid. The braking system received carbon-ceramic discs of 398 mm on the front axle and 360 mm on the rear axle.
Engines and equipment
The new coupe is equipped with a gasoline bi-turbo engine of V8 design, 3.9 L, and 670 hp with an output of 8000 rpm and a torque of 760 Nm. The engine operates with a 7-speed double-clutch automated manual transmission. The fuel consumption of the 488 is reported to be 11.4 L per 100 km. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 3 seconds. The top speed of the car is 330 km/h.
