The Ferrari 488 Pista (Pista is Italian for “track”) is the successor to Ferrari’s previous special series cars, the 360 Challenge Stradale, 430 Scuderia and 458 Speciale, each of which featured undiluted performance and handling. The Ferrari 488 Pista marks a significant step forward from the previous special series cars in both performance dynamics and for the level of technology derived from Ferrari’s racing efforts.

The car’s development has evolved from Ferrari’s 25 years of experience running the Ferrari Challenge one-make series, and from its involvement in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Ferrari has won five Manufacturers’ titles in the GTE class in the six years since the series’ inception, and it won 29 out of 50 races. The 488 Pista’s extensive weight savings, along with engine, vehicle dynamics and aerodynamic developments, all come from Ferrari’s 488 GTE and the 488 Challenge race cars. The 488 Pista weighs198 lbs (90 kg) less than the 488 GTB. The 488 Pista offers track-like performance on and off the road.

Powering the 488 Pista is a 90° twin turbo 3,902 cc V8, which generates 710 hp at 8,000 rpm and 568 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm in 7th gear. It is the most powerful V8 in Ferrari history and is an extreme evolution of the turbo engine that won the International Engine of the Year award titles in 2016 and 2017. Torque is higher than the 488 GTB at all engine speeds, with even faster turbo response times. The engine is lighter too thanks to solutions adopted from the 488 Challenge, including Inconel exhaust manifolds and lightweight crankshaft and flywheel, as well as additional features, including titanium con rods and carbon-fibre intake plenums. The 488 Challenge also supplies the turbos with integrated rev sensors. The design of the air intake line has been moved to the rear spoiler area for cleaner airflow.

The 488 Pista will accelerate from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.8 seconds and from 0-200 km/h (124 mph) in just 7.6 seconds. It has a top speed of 340 km/h (211 mph). For the first time ever on a road-going Ferrari, the 488 Pista will be fitted with 20″ carbon fiber rims. The suspension set-up is completed by new tires developed specifically for the car by Michelin. Other carbon-fibre parts include the engine cover, bumpers and rear spoiler.

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. The underbody vortex generators have also been redesigned, and the rear diffuser incorporates the same double kink as the 488 GTE to increase the air extraction and downforce generation compared to a traditional diffuser. The rear spoiler is higher and longer, and the shape has been optimised to generate 20% increased downforce.

Ferrari’s objective was to make the car’s performance on the limit easier to reach and control for any driver. This was achieved by synergies between the development of the mechanical set-up 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. This additional level of control fine-tunes the 488 Pista’s performance around corners making the car’s handling even more intuitive and predictable.

The racing livery colour scheme is an integral part of the design of the car. Contrasting edging on the aerodynamic elements on the bumpers and flanks add structure to the design. The concept of the front is echoed in the dolphin-tail rear spoiler, which appears suspended to provide an impression lightness and efficiency. According to Ferrari, the engine sound will be unique and unmistakably Ferrari. Both the sound quality and the intensity are higher than the 488 GTB in all gears and at all engine speeds.