Ferrari has launched the 488 GTB in Sydney at its Australasian launch today, with Kiwi customers already ordering the all-new Italian sports car.
The 488 GTB has a 3.9-litre, V8 engine and moves from naturally aspirated to turbo charged.
The last time Ferrari had a mid-engine V8 was 40 years ago with the iconic 308.
The all-new 488 GTB follows on from the 448 Italia but is 85 per cent different than its predecessor.
It also has 45 per cent more torque than the 458 Italia and is 21 per cent faster than that car from 0-200km/h, with the figure of 8.3 seconds and the 0-100km/h figure 3.0 seconds.
The 3.8-litre turbo engine has 492KW of power and 760Nm of torque with a weight distribution of 41.5 per cent at the front and 58.5 per cent at the rear.
Ferrari Australasia’s CEO Herbert Appleroth told the media that the reason the company moved to naturally aspirated was “we needed more power so we used a turbo engine … and it helped reduce emissions”.
The car is priced from NZ$449,888 with “an unprecedented demand in New Zealand”, Appleroth told Driven exclusively.
“The market in New Zealand is quite strong … with sales this year up on last year,” he said.
There will be 20 Kiwi Ferrari owners at tonight’s customer cocktail launch party at Sydney’s Inglis Stables, with more than 300 guests expected, most of them owners of the Italian sports car.
“The New Zealanders that are here are passionate about the car and don’t want to wait six weeks until the New Zealand launch to see the car,” Appleroth told Driven.
The 488 has a more aggressive appearance than the 458 and took inspiration at the front from the La Ferrari, said Appleroth.
The scalloped sides of the new Ferrari were inspired by the 308 GTB while the rear has a low, sporty appearance.
