F8 Tributo

Make
Ferrari
Segment
Coupe

The artistic geniuses at ZeroACento Automobili and Manifattura Automobili Torino have collaborated on a new project called the 273 Potenza, which takes a Ferrari F8 Tributo and turns it into a modern interpretation of the Ferrari GTO (otherwise known as the Type F114 or 288 GTO). The latter Italian outfit is the same one that built a modern Lancia Stratos on the bones of a Ferrari F430 and recreated the utterly breathtaking Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, so it has some experience in creating masterfully retro supercars with blistering performance.

And blistering performance the 273 Potenza certainly has. Stock, the 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 produces a not-to-be-scoffed-at 710 horsepower, but ZeroACento decided to up the ante, and now it produces more than 800 hp. With a full carbon fiber body, this must be just as invigorating to drive as the car it references.

We reached out to ZeroACento to learn more about this stunning project, but it's just before the weekend, and Italians aren't known for putting in overtime. We'll update this story once we hear back, but in the meantime, we can tell you that the car features a titanium exhaust, the aforementioned carbon fiber body with a red tint, and forged centerlock wheels measuring 20 inches in front and 21 inches at the rear. The five-spoke design is pure Ferrari, even if it has been sourced from an aftermarket outfit, and combined with the flowing lines, sweeping curves, and perfect proportions of the car, they look right at home.

Several vents on the hood and fenders combine with a large side intake and another smaller recess behind the glasshouse, yet it doesn't look too overdone. Nobody looks at a 288 GTO today and says it has too many holes.

Another nod to the past is the shark-nose-shape front end with its square LED running lights that call to mind the Ferrari GTO's fog lights. There's also a subtle body line that runs from ahead of the front wheel, down the side, and to the rear bumper, where you will find a grille element in the area where the GTO's black bumpers were. A dual-exit exhaust finisher, a massive diffuser, and a beautifully formed integrated spoiler complete the look, giving the 273 Potenza just enough modernity while still adhering to its inspiration. Sadly, contemporary pedestrian crash regulations mean that pop-up headlights can't make a comeback, but the end result is still rather attractive.

Inside, carbon fiber, leather, Alcantara, and forged aluminum uplift the cabin, and because this is based on a modern supercar, you get plenty of amenities.

The F8-based cabin boasts inductive wireless charging, cruise control, ambient lighting, and a gauge cluster that is both digital and analog. The center console even houses a "manual" shift lever that communicates with the paddles on the refinished steering wheel, with a sequential-style shift action. You can even use this aluminum forged gear stick to shift into reverse.

We would have preferred a manual transmission, but this car is more about beauty than about reengineering one of the finest turbocharged supercars of our generation. And with GTO-worthy performance, it's probably best to keep both hands on the wheel for as long as possible.

Pricing and further details are yet to be revealed, but with drop-dead gorgeous good looks, 800 ponies of performance, and a masterful balance between the old and new, we doubt ZeroACento will struggle to find buyers.