Reviews
Gallery 1
Purity or perfection? By definition there is nothing wrong with the latter, however in performance car circles it is increasingly the former that is being mourned with each passing generation.
Can the two possibly co-exist? Unlikely. Not when the purists call for DIY gearshifts, minimal electronic interference and engines that breathe atmosphere and rev to the stratosphere; concepts at odds with engineering’s demands for uninterrupted cog-swapping, unlimited grip levels and ever higher power figures with ever lower consumption and emissions.
For the first two-thirds of its 68-year history, Ferrari was the poster child for the no-frills philosophy, putting the driver first and foremost and to hell with the compromises.
This last step is arguably the most contentious of the lot, but installed in the back of the new 488 Spider, Ferrari’s new 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 goes a long way towards satisfying both purist and perfectionist. The superseded 4.5-litre naturally-aspirated V8 found in the 458 Speciale may have revved higher and screamed louder, but by any objective measure the new turbo engine is the superior powerplant.
In-gear acceleration bests its free-breathing predecessor by 25 per cent and fuel consumption is improved, however more important for our purposes is the improved throttle response (naturally, Ferrari has a graph to prove it).
And the noise? Well, suffice to say that above 4000rpm we can only assume that the exhaust certification authorities must have been on sick leave the day the 488 Spider was tested. Its racket is sufficient to have the ever-enthusiastic Tifosi demonstrating their appreciation whenever its eye-watering acceleration is unleashed on the roads between Naples and Palermo.
Nor can any be found in the driving experience. With lid in place it’s virtually indistinguishable from that of the Coupe, but 14 seconds is all it takes for that perception to change markedly. That’s the time taken by the roof panel to stow itself (at speeds up to 45km/h) and the world to come alive. All of a sudden volume is up, temperature is down and the work rate at the wheel increases.
Yet a Ferrari drop-top no longer need be a prima donna. Auto does a reasonable job of muffling that exhaust and shuffling through the gears with finesse, while the adaptive dampers deliver a ride capable of tackling all but the worst road surfaces. There’s even 230 litres of luggage space with further storage capacity available behind the seats.
5 OUT OF 5 STARS
SPECS Engine: 3902cc V8, dohc, 32v, twin-turbo Power: 492kW @ 8000rpm Torque: 760Nm @ 6750rpm Weight: 1420kg (dry) 0-100km/h: 3.0sec (claim) Price: $526,888 Like: Performance; handling; looks; character; feel-good factor Dislike: Long wait list; um, we can’t all have one?
