RE: Ferrari - Geneva 2015

RE: Ferrari - Geneva 2015

Tuesday 3rd March 2015

Ferrari - Geneva 2015

Battling the scrum to see the 488 GTB!



Well of course Ferrari is busy. There's an FF, California T and a beautiful F12 that pays homage to the Ecurie-Francorchamps 250 GTO. But the crowds are really there for the first look at the 488 GTB.

Arguably its best view
Arguably its best view
It doesn't disappoint. In the modern Ferrari way it's not what you would call classically beautiful but it's sharp and has a few really nice touches, the rear lights in particular looking great. The two show cars are in Rosso Corsa Metallic with "black and red technical fabric cabin trim" and Grigio Ferro Metallic with Black and Beige Tradizione leather. Grey with traditional beige may not sound like the most inspiring colour combo but to these eyes it's a really successful colour combo, classy and cool without being too subtle. But who buys grey mid-engined Ferraris?

Anyway, there were also some new technical details released on the 488 from the show. The vortex generator is from the 458 GT racer, contributing to a claimed 325kg of downforce at 155mph. Interestingly too Ferrari says the XX development team was "pivotal" in the GTB's creation, because it has "a unique knowledge of the dynamic behaviour of extreme cars driven by non-professional drivers." The new turbocharged V8 was also discussed at length; on top of the incredible performance Ferrari is promising a "deep, seductive soundtrack" for the 488.

There isn't a price or on-sale date for Ferrari's latest V8 Berlinetta as yet, but expect those to follow soon. Is it unrealistic to predict a price beginning '2'?


Click here for the PH Geneva news hub!

Author
Discussion

thatguy11

Original Poster:

640 posts

122 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
Is anyone else slightly disappointed by the styling? It's gorgeous, yes, but it just looks purely like a facelifted 458 rather than an all-new design.

Dave Hedgehog

14,541 posts

203 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
even more fugly than than the 458, that took some doing

Hollowpockets

5,908 posts

215 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
I don't rate it much, the front bumper looks like the Murcielago front bumper from the early 6.2 cars, very square, not a pretty car, the 458/Speciale was much nicer out the box

British Beef

2,191 posts

164 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
Maybe its a grower, but my initial thoughts are its a step backwards from the 458 styling.

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
thatguy11 said:
Is anyone else slightly disappointed by the styling? It's gorgeous, yes, but it just looks purely like a facelifted 458 rather than an all-new design.
It probably is, just as the 430 was a face-lifted 360 and the 355 was a face-lifted 348.

j_s14a

863 posts

177 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
The rear end is a nice improvement over the 458, but in every other way it looks worse, and I already thought the 458 was hideous.


Roberty

1,179 posts

171 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
thatguy11 said:
Is anyone else slightly disappointed by the styling? It's gorgeous, yes, but it just looks purely like a facelifted 458 rather than an all-new design.
Isn't that because it is a facelifted 458!

Just like the 328 was a facelifted 308

The 355 a facelifted 348

And the 430 a facelifted 360

That aside that first picture of the front looks a little bit like a Gallardo! Not sure that's something we need to see again.

soad

32,829 posts

175 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
Don't like it, not keen on a 458 either. Modern Ferraris do little for me. frown

daytona365

1,773 posts

163 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
Trouble, (if you can call it that) is that these kinds of cars have such outrageous performance now, such that beautiful form has to play second fiddle to aerodynamic function, just to keep the damned thing planted on the road. This is what you want, this is what you get !!

P4ROT

1,219 posts

192 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
HMMM not very imaginative - looks too much like the 458 (But I suppose that's not really a bad thing is it?).


Really like those side intakes - lets you know what's feeding the engine (and how huge said turbos are).

Esseesse

8,969 posts

207 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
They spend their time worrying about vortex's, not how their cars look. Performance is great, but on a road car shouldn't be put ahead of making the thing nice to look at (and listen to).

In a way I don't mind the front so much, at least it's kinda simple. The back is a mess.

daytona111r

762 posts

203 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
the angles and solid red don't do it favours

StottyEvo

6,860 posts

162 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
That seems like a hell of a lot of downforce thumbup

It appears modern supercars are producing lots of downforce whilst being controllable at high speeds. I expect they don't act like Formula 1 cars and they continue to make downforce whilst generating a slip angle.

em177

3,127 posts

163 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
StottyEvo said:
That seems like a hell of a lot of downforce
Imagine Ferrari making imaginary downforce claims hehe


bubney72

1,097 posts

152 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
Stunning! Star of the show.

redroadster

1,729 posts

231 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
Well for what its worth I like it much rather have this than McClaren 650.

OwenK

3,472 posts

194 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
I seem to buck the trend on recent Ferrari because I thought the 458 was OK at best and mostly pretty dodgy and ugly.
This thing is beautiful. A lot more classically styled with modern touches, and a lot less of the weird alien features.
Well done Ferrari, more along these lines please!

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
I'm a bit non-plussed by this, I much prefer the 458's styling, and even that was hardly beautiful. Wouldn't say no to a free one though! biggrin

StottyEvo said:
That seems like a hell of a lot of downforce thumbup

It appears modern supercars are producing lots of downforce whilst being controllable at high speeds. I expect they don't act like Formula 1 cars and they continue to make downforce whilst generating a slip angle.
Actually I'd expect them to be less yaw-sensitive than F1 cars, otherwise the margins will be razor-thin when going quickly. An F1 driver can cope with that, but not your average supercar driver.


daytona365

1,773 posts

163 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
redroadster said:
Well for what its worth I like it much rather have this than McClaren 650.
....You're not alone.....For what it's worth.

FeelingLucky

1,082 posts

163 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
redroadster said:
Well for what its worth I like it much rather have this than McClaren 650.
No such thing, learn the rudiments before posting nonsenserolleyes