2018 Ferrari 488 Pista Spider Roadster. 2nd generation
The Ferrari 488 is a supercar designed for ordinary public roads. It was introduced to the market in 2015, and the second generation of the model was released in 2018. The company has deliberately named this model ‘Pista’, which means ‘race track’ in Italian, as this sports car for public roads really embodies Ferrari’s racing long-standing experience. The Pista comes in a coupe body, and the roadster is named the 488 Spider. The premium sports car of the Italian Ferrari brand is characterized by an excellent balance between power and handling. In our review, we will tell you about the 2018/2019 Ferrari 488 Spider roadster.
Design
Flattened, sharply embossed, aggressive like a shark happily squinting in anticipation of a bloody feast, the graceful 488 roadster is a real thoroughbred Ferrari, the result of a long purposeful evolution of sports cars. The new Ferrari 488 Spider roadster has a similar exterior design as that of the coupe, but more expressive, especially with the folded aluminum roof (it only takes 14 seconds to transform).
The interior is finished with the latest lightweight exclusive materials such as carbon fiber and Alcantara. The interior structure and trim are characterized by meticulous workmanship and even sophistication. Overall, the Spider a very silimar interior to that of the coupe, but has one curious difference: a small screen is implanted into the front panel in front of the passenger, displaying the readings of the speedometer, tachometer and the number of the engaged gear.
Options and functions
The new Ferrari 488 Pista Spider is standardly richly equipped with technical systems, including an integrated navigation system, a Bluetooth phone, Apple CarPlay integration, but has no Android Auto. The number of advanced safety options is limited and includes a standard rearview camera, a standard rear parking sensor, but there is no blind spot warning system.
Engine, transmission, power
The 2018/2019 Ferrari 488 Spider is powered by a 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that generates an incredible 711 hp and 767 Nm of torque. The power is transferred to the rear axle by a 7-speed automatic transmission. The roadster accelerates to the first 100 km/h in 2.7 seconds (just like the Pista coupe), so we don’t recommend blinking when accelerating. At the same time, the suspension is balanced in such a way as to provide a smooth ride both on the track and every day. With this uncompromising car, even an amateur can demonstrate their impeccable driving skills both on the road and on the race track. The top speed of the Pista coupe and roadster is identical: 340 km/h.
Positioning
The new special edition 488 Pista Spider is Ferrari’s 50th open-top model, which is a kind of anniversary number. The roadster is positioned as the most productive Spider in the history of the company with a record weight-to-power ratio of 1.92 kg/hp. The Spider’s main competitors are the Lamborghini Huracan Performante, the Porsche 911 GT2 RS and the McLaren 600LT.
