488 GTB

Make
Ferrari
Segment
Coupe

Ferrari wants to stop Porsche stealing the spotlight with the phenomenal GT2 RS. Rumors suggest the automaker is preparing a hardcore version of the 488 GTB to fight the Porsche 911 GT2 RS, which could bring back the GTO moniker. We've already seen photos of a camouflaged test mule, but these latest spy shots shared by Motor.es show what looks like a near-production prototype of the hardcore 488 GTO. It's still partially covered, but we get a much clearer look at the 488 GTO's angrier front-end.

The location where the car was spotted isn't known, so we can only presume it was at a Ferrari testing facility in Italy. The track-focused Ferrari 488 GTO is expected to launch next year with more power and less weight than its standard 488 GTB sibling. Its 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 has reportedly been upgraded to deliver between 700 and 720 hp so we can expect a power increase of around 30 – 50-hp, but it remains to be seen if the torque has received a boost over the current 560 lb-ft. As well as a power increase, the Ferrari 488 GTO will also benefit from a substantial weight loss. Reports suggest that Ferrari has shed 75 kg, bringing the weight down to under 1,400 kg.

To achieve this, Ferrari has rationed the 488 GTO on a strict diet by thinning the glass of the windshield and side windows, removing the sound-deadening material, and installing ceramic brakes and forged wheels. These specifications should make the Ferrari 488 GTO a worthy rival to the Porsche 911 GT2 RS. As well as an improved power-to-weight ratio, Ferrari's answer to the Porsche 911 GT2 RS will likely have a more aerodynamic body to increase downforce. From the photo, the front bumper appears to have been redesigned and fitted with a carbon-fiber add-on. The Ferrari 488 GTO is expected to debut at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show in March, but we suspect it will be revealed sooner online.