When it comes to V8 supercars, Ferrari leads the way in both design and performance. The Italian manufacturer has produced some legendary supercars over the last few decades. Leaning into their motorsport heritage, Ferrari has been able to craft powerful naturally aspirated engines for both their GT and supercar lines.
Back in early 2014, Ferrari announced their new mid-engine sports car, the Ferrari 488. This model was designed to be the direct successor to the Ferrari 458. Designed and manufactured in Maranello, Ferrari announced a number of special editions and variants of the 488. In 2018, Ferrari unveiled the 488 Pista at the Geneva Motor Show. This performance version of the supercar built on the success of the 488 and improved both its performance and handling. Want to learn more about this special edition Ferrari? Here are 10 things gearheads forgot about the Ferrari 488 Pista.
10 Built On The 488 GTB
The Ferrari 488 Pista is based on the incredibly successful 488. This supercar was designed specifically as the track version of the standard 488, making it the ultimate V8 performance vehicle in their supercar range.
While the 488 Pista is based on the standard GTB, Ferrari managed to cut around 200 lbs. from the supercar, making it the lightest and most agile V8 supercar Ferrari ever produced at the time. The Pista came with exterior and interior upgrades and plenty of carbon fiber to justify the $330,000 price tag.
9 Supercar Of The Year
The 488 Pista took the entire 488 range to another level. While the standard Ferrari 488 competed directly with the Lamborghini Huracán, the Pista managed to leapfrog anything Lamborghini could throw at their Performante model.
The success of the 488 Pista was evident even before the car was delivered to its new owners. Initial car reviews by racing drivers and motorsport journalists were enough to list the 488 Pista as the standout supercar of the year in 2019.
8 Legendary V8 Power
The Ferrari 488 was designed to be the ultimate V8 supercar. While the standard GTB model included a turbocharged V8, this was slightly smaller than the 458’s naturally aspirated engine. Despite being a 3.9-liter engine, the 488 managed to produce 661 HP and 561 lb-ft of torque.
For the 488 Pista, Ferrari did not modify the engine at all but managed to get more performance out of the car through aerodynamic upgrades. The Pista model also included a lot of carbon fiber to shave off about 200 lbs. of weight from the supercar, which allowed it to accelerate from 0 to 60 in around 3 seconds.
7 7-Speed Transmission
The Ferrari 488 Pista came with the same 7-Speed gearbox as the standard 488 GTB. This 7-Speed system could be adapted depending on the driver mode selected within the cockpit. When in eco-mode, the car would shift optimally to stay as economical as possible.
The sport mode would tighten up the gear shift and allow you to quickly accelerate to 124 mph in just 8.3 seconds. The car also features a launch control mode that could effortlessly guide the Italian supercar to a quarter-mile time of 10.45 seconds.
6 Motorsport Design
The Ferrari 488 Pista included a number of modifications to make it more aerodynamic. This included a larger air intake for the engine cooling system and several more aggressive aero parts around the exterior of the car.
The motorsport design extended to the Ferrari’s styling as well. The Pista models are notorious for including Italian colors along the hood of the car. The 488 Pista is no exception as it features Italian racing stripes along the top of the entire car.
5 Racing Seats And Interior
The Ferrari 488 Pista was designed to be the performance version of the standard 488. This saw Ferrari make significant changes to the interior of the car as well. Carbon fiber was used generously throughout the cabin to help reduce weight and increase the supercar’s stability.
The Pista also featured carbon-fiber bucket seats with racing-style seatbelts. This was a fairly cosmetic change, but it made the car look and feel more like a specialist track car than a luxurious supercar.
4 Modern Infotainment
The Ferrari 488 Pista came with an upgraded version of Ferrari’s infotainment system. While many gearheads may not be too worried about the infotainment systems in such high-performance cars, Ferrari opted to incorporate Apple CarPlay into all their new models.
This lets owners seamlessly and wirelessly connect their phones to the car’s infotainment system. Ferrari also stuck to their traditional cockpit design, with a central instrument cluster and digital screens on either side of the rev counter.
3 488 Pista Spider
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While the 488 Pista was an elegant supercar, Ferrari decided to launch a convertible version of the supercar later in the year. The Spider version of the car featured the same powertrain and interior, but came with a retractable hardtop.
Despite the hardtop roof, the 488 Pista Spider weighed less than the standard Pista. The entire roof and all the convertible components were made from carbon fiber. The car also featured 20-inch diamond finish alloys that were 20% lighter than the wheels featured on the standard Pista.
2 488 Pista Piloti Ferrari
Back in 2017, Ferrari commissioned a special 488 Pista to be made to celebrate their win in the World Endurance Championship with the 488 GTE. This special version of the car featured a slightly wider body kit and a special livery to show off the racing heritage of the Italian brand.
The Pista Piloti came with matte black S-Ducts and a carbon fiber “dovetail” rear end. This was a modern touch to the car to help with its aerodynamics. This special-edition Pista also came with a modified interior that was covered in leather and Alcantara.
1 SP38 Deborah
One of the most unique versions of the 488 Pista was the SP38 Deborah. This version of the Ferrari had a modified body kit that paid homage to some of Ferrari’s iconic sports cars of the past. Revealed in 2018, the car is one of the most unique Ferraris ever made.
The SP38 was a one-off vehicle that was built on the foundations of the 488 Pista. The 488’s glass rear was covered with a carbon fiber panel to allow for better airflow and engine cooling. This was designed specifically to mimic the look of the iconic F40.