The 488 Pista arrives in a weird time for the Italian mid-engine berlinetta. The basis of the model (the 458 Italia) is almost 10 years old this year and that shows in certain areas, but on the other hand, it still manages to be one of the most impressive mid-engine supercars on the market.
The the McLaren 720S certainly applied pressure to Ferrari, while the superbly executed Porsche 911 GT2 RS didn’t help things either.
They needed a response to that competition and that response is the Pista. The changes include the engine from the 488 Challenge race car, which translates into 711hp (720PS) and 568 lb-ft (770Nm) of peak torque, 20 percent more downforce and up to 200lbs (90kg) less weight than the car it’s based on.
As you would expect from a special series Ferrari, the performance numbers are pretty insane: 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 2.85 seconds, 0-124 mph (0-200 km/h) in 7.6 (!), and a top speed of “over 211 mph” (340 km/h). To put them into perspective, the Pista is just a little bit slower than the LaFerrari, the brand’s flagship hypercar.
If you, however, expect the rawest driving experience, this Ferrari might surprise you with its friendly manners, as pointed out by Chris Harris in his latest review. There’s an accessibility to its ridiculous performance that allows less experienced drivers to explore it safely on track while it remains a really good road car thanks to its smart suspension and cutting-edge electronics.
Combine that with probably the best turbocharged V8 in the market and you’ll see why the Ferrari 488 Pista is one of the greatest supercars available right now.