The 488 Pista is the 2018 successor to Ferrari’s V8-engined special series – the 360 Challenge Stradale, 430 Scuderia and 458 Speciale – which have received critical acclaim for their performance and undiluted handling.
The Ferrari 488 Pista marks a significant step forward from the previous special series in terms of both sporty dynamics and for the level of technological carry-over from racing. The name is, in fact, a direct homage to Ferrari’s unparalleled heritage in motorsports.
The supercar’s development evolved directly from the company’s involvement in the FIA World Endurance Championship and its 25 years’ experience in running the Ferrari Challenge one-make series.
The 488 Pista’s extensive weight-saving solutions, along with engine, vehicle dynamics and aerodynamic developments, all derive from Ferrari’s racing cars: the 488 GTE and the 488 Challenge. The result is a car with an uncompromising mission: to offer impeccable track-like performance on and off the road, even when in the hands of non-professional drivers.
The new model weighs an impressive 90kg less (1280kg dry) than the 488 GTB. This fact, combined with the largest ever increase in engine power for a special series car (+50hp), sets a new benchmark for Ferrari’s V8 sports cars. Its engine is the most powerful V8 in Ferrari history and is an extreme evolution of the turbo unit in the 488.
It punches out 720hp with the highest specific output of in its class (185hp per litre) and is now lighter too, thanks to solutions adopted from the 488 Challenge. As a result, it has a top speed of 340km/h and sprints from 0 to 100km/h in 2.85 seconds and from 0 to 200km/h in 7.6 seconds.
The engine sound is unique and unmistakably Ferrari, as such a special supercar warrants. Both the sound quality and the intensity are higher than the 488 GTB in all gears and at all engine speeds in proportion with the progressive increase in power.
The 488 Pista makes full use of Ferrari’s motorsports experience for maximum aerodynamic performance even on the road. Among the racing solutions adopted is the front F1-inspired S-Duct and the design of the front diffusers which feature a ramp angle that was optimised for the 488 GTE to create strong suction for increased downforce. Additionally, the rear blown spoiler is higher and longer, and its shape has been optimised. The final result of all these interventions is an impressive 20% increase in downforce compared to the 488 GTB.
The vehicle dynamics were designed to enhance driving pleasure and make the car’s full potential available to all drivers, professional or otherwise. The objective was to make the car’s performance on the limit easier to reach and control.
This was achieved by synergies between the development of the mechanical setup and the electronic dynamic controls integrated into version 6 of the Side-Slip Angle Control system. SSC 6.0 incorporates all the following systems: E-Diff3, F1-Trac, the magnetorheological suspension (SCM) and, for the first time ever, the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer. The FDE features a world-first: it uses Ferrari software to adjust the brake pressure at the callipers.
The design of the 488 Pista is focussed on functional aerodynamic concepts, while the cockpit is pared back in keeping with its very sporty vocation. Ferrari Design used innovative elements, such as the aerodynamic S-Duct at the front, as an opportunity to visually shorten the car’s nose, creating an original floating-wing effect.
The racing livery colour scheme is an integral part of the design of the car and the way it dives into the S-Duct underscores the berlinetta’s compact yet imposing form. Contrasting edging on the aerodynamic elements on the bumpers and flanks adds structure to the exterior design.
The concept of the front is echoed in the dolphin-tail rear spoiler which appears suspended to provide an impression lightness and efficiency, while the rear volumes add a sense of power to the tail. 
