Rumors have been rife for some time now that Ferrari is busy working on a hardcore, track-focused version of the 488 GTB. Recently leaked details from an internal presentation suggested that an official reveal could be imminent, and now a photo posted on Instagram by ferrariphotopage via verssenspotting claims to give us our first look at Ferrari's Porsche GT2 RS fighter in the metal, shown in what appears to be a private preview event in Italy. And it looks absolutely savage.
Rumors have suggested it will be called the 488 GTO as a nod to the original 288 GTO, but the presentation slides referred to the supercar as the "New V8 Sport Special Series," so its official name still hasn't been confirmed. It could also simply be referred to as the 488 Speciale, since it will essentially be a successor to the track-focused 458 Speciale. Or it could of course be named something else entirely. Like its predecessor, the hardcore 488 features a central racing stripe and what appears to be new weight-saving carbon fiber bumpers and aero-enhancing body parts. Why should you be excited about the new Ferrari 488 GTO?
According to the presentation, it will pack the most powerful V8 ever fitted to a Ferrari production car, delivering over 700 hp. For comparison, the standard 488 GTB is powered by a 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 developing 661 hp. The engine is also said to be 10 percent lighter than the 488 GTB's V8 powertrain, so it could have an even better power-to-weight ratio than the flagship V12-powered 812 Superfast. The 488 GTO, or whatever Ferrari ends up called it, will also have a lot in common with its race-bred sibling, the 488 Challenge with race-derived technology including a "race gearshift," an "extremely direct steering ratio", new Michelin Sport Cup 2 tires, and a 488 GTE-inspired rear diffuser.
It also features a new aero package that makes the car 20 percent more aerodynamically efficient than the standard 488, along with new 20-inch alloy wheels that are 40 percent lighter. With the leaked image now out in the wild, hopefully it's only a matter of time before the Ferrari 488 GTO is officially revealed. After all, the Geneva Motor Show is just around the corner in March.
