In a literal sense it is still a long way off, but metaphorically we are on slippery ice today. According to Ferrari (fans), the Ferrari 488 is not a facelift version of the 458 at all, but according to our definition it actually is.
The Ferrari 488 GTB – the coupé version – was presented in 2015, closely followed by the mandatory Spider variant. When presenting a new model with a new name, a brand like Ferrari does of course not elaborate on which parts have been taken over from the predecessor, but rather draws attention to the news. That was enough. The 488 got a real turbo engine, making it the first Ferrari since the legendary F40 with a blown V8 behind the seats. Compared to the 458, the power increased from 605 to 670 hp, enough to make the car sprint from 0 to 100 in three seconds. The chassis and aerodynamics have of course been refined and, electronically, a lot has been added to make the car more responsive to the conditions.
Strategy
All very impressive, but at the same time everyone can see that a 488 is in fact just a drastically modified 458. That also fits well in the strategy of Maranello, more specifically in the strategy around the V8 mid-engine models of the brand. An F355 is basically a tough 348, an F430 a heavily updated version of the 360 Modena.
It is therefore no surprise that the 458 and the 488 are related. On the outside, the similarity can mainly be seen in the roof line, the side windows and the basic layout of the whole, where headlights and rear lights are, for example, in the same place. However, there are also more than enough differences. The entire nose was overhauled in 2015. The 458 nose, which is fairly tight and tidy for Ferrari standards, was replaced by a copy with more and larger cooling openings. This applies to the front bumper, but also, for example, to the front cover. In addition, more modern light units appeared, with a subtly different shape.
Huge opening
The most striking change is striking enough on the side. Behind the doors, a huge cooling opening appeared on both sides, of course with the aim of supplying that new V8 with as much air as possible. The lower window line continues upwards on the 488, with the final result that the rear window, under which the engine block is clearly visible, ends a lot narrower.
The rear of the 488 most closely resembles that of the 458. Yet here we also see other (but still round) light units, housed in a slightly smoother-looking opening. The car got a letterbox-shaped opening between the rear lights and of course the diffuser is also drawn differently.
All in all, this model series seems to fit nicely in Ferrari’s tradition, but there is an important difference with previous update rounds. With the F8 Tributo, Ferrari chose for the first time in modern history to refresh a model not just once, but twice. Yes, Ferrari’s current mid-engine model is still based on the 458. We’ll leave that car out of consideration today, so as not to unnecessarily scare the guys in Maranello.