Tuesday 2nd October 2018

Pista Spider at Paris - new details announced

Ferrari confirms Fiorano lap time, braking and kerbweight for drop-top 488 flagship

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From a distance, numbers still make the car. More power meant it was better, more expensive made it more desirable and a faster lap time made it more fun. Ferraris were always exceptionally good at the Top Trumps side of cars - and arguably even better at the real life driving stuff - a point that continues with new info about the 488 Pista Spider.

Following on from the Pebble Beach reveal, Ferrari has furnished us with a few additional details from the Paris floor. It's the 50th drop-top model released by Ferrari no less, so worthy of some fanfare. The numbers are pretty extraordinary, too...

The Fiorano lap time has been announced as 1:21.5, identical to the Pista Coupe (and 812 for that matter), just half a second off an F12 TdF and two seconds faster than its Speciale A predecessor. Which is pretty amazing. The kerbweight with the near-mandatory lightweight options is 1,485kg (to save you looking a 570S Spider Track Pack is 1,465kg Huracan Performante Spyder 1,507kg dry), the weight distribution 41.5 per cent front, 58.5 per cent rear and the boot capacity 170 litres. Well, we did promise numbers...

By adopting the aerodynamic measures first employed by the Pista coupe - 30mm higher (and 40mm longer) rear spoiler, front S-Duct, redesigned underbody, even a new arrangement for the front radiator - the Spider also boasts a 20 per cent increase in downforce over the standard car. (Ferrari hasn't yet released an exact figure; the Pista coupe makes 240kg at 124mph.)

There's more, too. It's said a 488 Pista Spider will brake from 100km/h in 29.5m and 200km/h in 116m. Retuned dampers and springs made stiffer by 10 per cent contribute to a 13 per cent improvement in longitudinal acceleration against a standard 488 Spider and a rework of the dual-clutch transmission means a shift time reduction of 30ms in Race mode.

A lot of numbers, then, to go along with the promise of the car's "extreme sporty spirit", "sheer fun behind the wheel" and "unparalleled engine", but one that's conspicuous by its absence - the price. Given a Pista coupe costs £252,765, we'd have to expect the Spider to carry a premium in the region of £20k - call it £300,000 with a smattering of options. Still, likely to be rather good, isn't it?

 

[frodo23]

I'm not a huge Ferrari fan, and yet to my eyes that's just about the most beautiful car I have ever seen.

[Audemars]

Lovely car.

I would buy that if they would sell it to me.

How can people like Porsche styling when cars like this exist. This is how a sports car should look.

[deadscoob]

I guess some people don’t wanna be shouty?

[LordOfTheManor]

What’s the point! it’s just a selected few that are offered the chance of buying one - Ferrari and Porsche shame on you, let’s hope it’s true and God treats everyone the same in the next world ...

[sidesauce]

To be honest I'm more impressed that the Hurucan's dry weight within 25kgs of the Pista seeing as it's 4wd!

[blasos]

sidesauce]To be honest I'm more impressed that the Hurucan's[sic said:

dry weight within 25 kgs of the Pista seeing as it's 4wd!

You're comparing dry weight with kerb weight - not the same thing

[nickfrog]

Audemars said:

I would buy that if they would sell it to me.

Yes sure although I assumed that have barred you to even enter the show room anyway.

[anonymous-user]

Fantastic!!
White not for me though

[PantsFire]

It is a stunner