Ferrari launches 488 Pista Spider

Pebble Beach deemed the perfect place for the world premier of 720hp open-top Pista

We drove the 488 Pista a few months ago, and concluded that it was among the two best driver's cars on sale - the other being the 911 GT3 RS. Over the weekend, Ferrari added another string to the 488's bow - the choice of a drop-top model, the Pista Spider.

The manufacturer has plenty of recent form here. A decade ago there was the 430 Scuderia Spider 16M. Then the 458 Speciale A - both limited to 499 examples. Now there is the 488 Pista Spider. That a convertible version exists is less remarkable than the progression of power output across three generations, which goes 510hp, 605hp and now, 720hp.

That's the same amount extracted by the coupe from the twin-turbocharged 3.9-litre V8, yet it still warrants a double take when seen on paper. Naturally it is the business of the drop-top to bring you closer to that fantabulous engine, although Ferrari is at pains to point out that the car's primary objective was to maintain the Pista's "perfect marriage of aerodynamic efficiency, purity of form and racing spirit."

Peeling off the roof does rather impact one of those elements, you'd imagine - but with a 1380kg dry weight (with all the lightweight carbon fibre content optioned) it's clear that Ferrari is serious about the 'efficiency' side of things. Indeed, the manufacturer claims that the Spider is so closely aligned to the coupe, that it offers "the highest level yet of technological transfer from the track to a road-legal drop-top car".

If that sounds like it'll be on the spritely side of things, then you'd be right. Ferrari quotes the same 2.85 seconds to 62mph as it does for the coupe. Only in the race to 124mph does its maker concede that the Spider would be 0.4 seconds down on the conventional Pista. Max speed remains the same for both at 211mph.

To better harness this level of impatience, the engineers have fitted something called the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer (FDE), a new 'lateral control system' which is said to make on-the-limit driving more intuitive and controllable.

We're all for that in our 720hp mid-engine open-top, frankly. Ditto the new diamond-finish 20-inch alloy wheels which feature a 10-spoke interpretation of Ferrari's traditional berlinetta-style rims. Although it's the optional one-piece carbon fibre wheels which gain you a 20 per cent weight reduction. So thems the ones you want, along with everything else that puts the Spider on near level pegging with its sublime sibling. Prices, spec and everything else when we have it...