Ferrari has revealed why the new F8 Tributo isn’t underpinned by an all-new platform as expected.

Underpinning the Italian supercar is a revised version of the aluminum platform used by the Ferrari 488 GTB, itself a revised version of the 458 Italia’s chassis.

Quizzed about why the company didn’t go for something new, Ferrari chief technical officer Michael Leiters told Road & Track that they wanted to ensure the F8 Tributo was usable on a daily basis.

Ferrari announced it was working on a new mid-engine architecture with a hybrid powertrain last year and many thought the 488’s successor would use this platform. However, in the pursuit of ensuring the F8 Tributo is comfortable and usable, Ferrari will reserve this architecture for a bespoke hybrid V8 model that slots above the F8 Tributo in its range.

Also Read: Ferrari To Follow Up F8 Tributo With Four New Models In 2019

The F8 Tributo will enjoy the same four-year lifecycle as many other existing Ferrari models. No details about its successor are known, but it will likely be a hybrid and, hopefully, an all-new model with a new platform and overhauled exterior and interior design.

While the F8 Tributo isn’t the all-new model many were hoping for, it does promise to give the McLaren 720S a run for its money. For starters, the F8 is powered by the same 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 as the 488 Pista and pumps out an impressive 710 HP (720 PS). Numerous weight saving measures also mean the F8 tips the scales at 88 lbs (40 kg) less than the 488 GTB.

Photos copyright Guido ten Brink – SB Medien for Carscoops.com