Ferrari 488 Pista breaks cover in Australia

Ferrari has pulled the covers off the first Australian example its most focused 488 ever, but it’s not just the price that will stop you from getting aboard one.

10

Since its listing on the US stock exchange, Ferrari officials have become very cagey about just how many cars it plans to sell. We do know that – just like its main rival, the Porsche 911 GT2 RS – Ferrari is being very selective about whose money it’ll take for the $645,000 488 Pista, with potential owners needing a bit of Ferrari loyalty before they can park one in their collection.

It’s also understood that Australia’s allocation of Pistas has increased in line with a reported lift in the number of cars emanating from the Maranello factory.

10

“The reaction from our Australasian clients and collectors to the Ferrari 488 Pista has been nothing less than stunning,” said Herbert Appleroth, the CEO of Ferrari Australasia.

“This is an incredible car and we are thrilled that so many of our clients will be taking it to roads and tracks across Australia in the new year.”

10

Launched in a new $10 million Ferrari service centre in the northern Sydney suburbs, the Argento Nurburgring (or silver) example will live its life as a verification vehicle for the company in Australia, according to Appleroth, before customer examples arrive halfway through 2019.

10

The 488 Pista (which means ‘track’ in Italian) is 90kg lighter and $130,000-odd more expensive than the 488 GTB, and sports a lot of technology from the motorsport side of the business.

Its 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, for example, has been rebuilt with bits from the company’s 488 Challenge race car, resulting in a 537kW/770Nm monster. It has a carbon fibre intake system, an exhaust manifold made from Iconel – used by F1 teams for its lightness, strength and astronomical price – and a whole host of small but impressive changes which make it the most powerful V8 engine the company has ever made.

10

It’ll do 0-100km/h in 2.8 seconds, 200km/h in 7.6 seconds and hit a projected top speed of 340km/h.

10

As well, the aerodynamic package around the car is absolutely state of the art; the radiators, for example, are laid flat in the nose of the car, which allows that slotted bonnet to increase downforce on the front, while directing hot air down the sides to tidy up the airstream.

Carbon fibre bumpers, bonnet and rear spoiler are standard, as well.