The Ferrari 458 is the last naturally aspirated V8 that Ferrari will likely ever produce and this is extremely sad given all the petrol-head benefits an NA engine brings (i.e. NOISE!!). Ferrari announced the 488 this year and it has been given the 3.9l twin turbo-charged V8 as seen for the first time in the California T, this time producing 661bhp. Styling has been changed both on the exterior and interior and many other additional upgrades have been made under the body.
Performance
From a performance perspective the 488 is definitely faster considering the BHP output compared to that of the 458 and the improved gear change times. The 488 receives the same brakes as the LaFerrari which considerably improves stopping distances by 9% compared to that of the 458.
Thoughts
The sound of the 488 is definitely muted compared to the 458 due to the turbos but the engine seems to open up at a much higher rev from that of the 458, also due to the turbos. Suspension wise, the 488 feels much smoother on the road even when ‘bumpy road’ mode is not engaged compared with the rickety feeling felt in the 458 when going over bumps or potholes, so this is a noticeable change when driving both and adds to the everyday usability of the car.
The design is disputed heavily online of the new V8 Ferrari but seeing both cars next to each other, you can’t help but feel that the 458 looks dated compared to the 488. The side intakes and door sculpting are definitely a welcomed introduction as they give a much sportier look when stepping up to the car. The front vents are a bit marmite but in my opinion make the car look much more aggressive from the front end and on the road.
What are your thoughts? Which one would you buy?
