Like every drop-top Ferrari, the 488’s roof can only be operated when the vehicle is stationary for safety reasons, but it can then be neatly and electrically stowed under the new flying buttresses in 14 seconds.
Advertisement
The new vehicle replaces the mechanically-similar 458 Spider in the Ferrari stable and makes its official world debut this September at the 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show.
Virtually all of the other mechanical bits are common to the 488 GTB as well, such as the aluminum spaceframe chassis, seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, active aero components and Side Slip Control 2 handling feature. It goes all the way to 203mph yet Ferrari claims a half decent, by supercar standards, 24.7mpg and Carbon dioxide emissions of 260g/km. This is the 488 Spider, a turbocharged folding hardtop convertible from Ferrari. The glass wind deflector at the rear, for example, can be adjusted to one of three positions to guarantee maximum comfort when the top is lowered. Some of the features include a blown spoiler and an aerodynamic underbody incorporating vortex generators. That move allowed Ferrari to keep the added weight of the folding roof to a minimum – about 55 lbs. – and therefore not affect performance or mess with aerodynamics much; it will still hit 62 miles per hour in three seconds flat.
Ferrari claims, however, that the Spider will not only match the GTB in a straight line, but through the corners too.
Ferrari has a long and illustrious history of developing fast, loud, mid-engined V8, open-top supercars.
Advertisement
Pricing hasn’t been revealed yet but expect it to be an extra £20k over the hard-top which means going over the £200,000 mark. We list the highlights of the Spider family, from the 348 Spider of 1989 right up to what could be the last of the naturally aspirated Ferraris, the 458.
