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Ferrari 488 Spider Makes its Debut
The Ferrari 488 GTB is great enough in its own right, so what could possibly make it any better? In Ferrari’s eyes, ripping the roof off is one way to take things to the next level, which brings me to the recent introduction of the 488 Spider.
The 488 Spider is no surprise, as the public has expected it since the 488 replaced the 458. However, its unsurprising nature doesn’t take away from this drop-top supercar’s awesomeness. Turning the 488 Spider from a traditional coupe to an open-air experience takes just 14 seconds, as the two overlapping roof sections slide rearward and sit flush against the engine.
With the roof down, you get the full experience of that throaty V-8 and the iconic look of a Ferrari convertible, thanks to the two raised sections behind the seats.
One downside to most convertibles is the weight that the hardware adds. Sometimes this can result in reduced performance, and the loss of the roof structure can lessen its stability in corners. Fortunately, Ferrari kept the weight gain of the 488 Spider in check, as its 3,362-pound curb weight is just 110 pounds more than the 488 GTB. Additionally, its aluminum-alloy spaceframe and rigid construction prevent the convertible body from giving in the corners with the top dropped, resulting in cornering that is identical to the hardtop model.
Stuffed behind the seats is the same 3.9-liter turbocharged V-8 engine as the 488 GTB. This engine provides 660 horsepower and 561 pound-feet of twist to the rear wheels via a seven-speed F1 dual-clutch transmission. This results in a 0-to-62 mph time of three seconds, a 0-to-124 mph time of 8.7 seconds, and a top speed in excess of 203 mph. The 0-to-62 acceleration time is the exact same as the 488 GTB, but the top speed is listed 2 mph slower than the coupe and the 0-to-124 time is 0.4 seconds slower.
The Ferrari 488 Spider will make its official debut at the 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show in September, which is likely where we’ll learn its starting MSRP and release date.
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