Ferrari unveils F8 Tributo in run up to Geneva

In what is now a well established annual tradition, Ferrari, as part of the run-up to this year’s Geneva Motor Show, has revealed the first official photographs of its next supercar — the F8 Tributo, its new mid-rear engined model. The name is an homage to both the model’s uncompromising layout and to the engine that powers it — with a massive 720 cv and a record specific power output of 185 cv/l, it is the most powerful V8 in Ferrari’s history for a non-special series car and sets the benchmark not just for turbos, but for engines across the board. An official statement from Ferrari says that the Tributo represents the highest expression of the company’s classic two-seater berlinetta.

In the automotive world, Ferrari’s V8 engine is seen as the very epitome of sportiness and driving pleasure. This is particularly the case when it is mid-rear-mounted in a two-seater. The new car replaces the 488 GTB, with improvements across the board, providing even better control on the limit along with greater on-board comfort. The F8 Tributo punches out 50 cv more than the car it replaces, is lighter and benefits from a 10 per cent improvement in aerodynamic efficiency along with the latest version of the Side Slip Angle Control, now in 6.1 guise.

The release also mentions that the F8 Tributo delivers its 720 cv without the slightest hint of turbo lag and produces an evocative soundtrack. Instantaneous power is matched by exceptional handling thanks to advanced vehicle dynamics solutions. These include a new version of the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer (FDE+), which can be activated in the manettino’s RACE position for the first time, a move designed to make performance on the limit easier to reach and control for an even greater number of drivers. The steering wheel rim is also smaller in diameter to enhance the level of tactility and make the car feel even more agile.

Ferrari says that the F8 Tributo, which has been designed by the Ferrari Styling Centre, is essentially a bridge to a new design language that will continue to emphasise Ferrari’s key characteristics of high performance and extreme aerodynamic efficiency. The front of the car is characterised by the S-Duct, a solution that made its debut on the 488 Pista, but which has been redesigned. The result is that the S-Duct alone contributes an impressive 15 per cent to the overall increase in downforce compared to the 488 GTB. The new, more compact, horizontal LED headlights allowed Ferrari’s aerodynamicists to incorporate new brake cooling intakes in combination with those on the outside of the bumper, the aim being to improve airflow throughout the entire wheel arch and thereby avoid having to increase the size of the braking system to cope with the car’s greater speed.

The new Lexan rear screen showcases the engine compartment and also brings a modern twist to the most distinctive design element from Ferrari’s most famous V8, the F40. The louvres help extract hot air from the engine compartment without impacting the efficiency of the blown spoiler, which has been further evolved to increase downforce generated at the rear. The spoiler wraps around the tail lights, visually lowering the car’s centre of gravity and allowing a return to the classic twin light cluster and body-coloured tail.

The cabin retains the classic, driver-oriented cockpit look typical of Ferrari’s mid-rear-engined berlinettas, but every element of the dash, door panels and tunnel, has been completely redesigned. The new generation HMI (Human Machine Interface), complete with round air vents, new steering wheel and controls as well as a new seven-inch passenger touchscreen display, significantly enhance the on-board environment.

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