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Packing the most powerful V8 Ferrari ever produced, the 488 Pista is one of the hottest supercars to come from Maranello.
Ferrari has always produced powerful cars, and people enjoy buying these insanely popular sports cars partly because of their speed. Lately, the engineers at Ferrari have upped their game to keep up with the ever-competitive and ever-expanding supercar market. Thus, we now have some of the most insane cars to come out of Maranello. Headlining the lineup and in tune with changing times is the first ever Ferrari to feature PHEV architecture, the SF90 Stradale. But they haven’t forgotten how to build them well in the traditional way, as evident by the 488 Pista.
Ferrari introduced the 488 Pista in 2019 to join a long line of venerated mid-engine Ferraris as a trim of the successful Ferrari 488. It came with high expectations but did not falter, delivering the hottest Ferrari 488 street car we have seen for being snappy, fast, pleasant to the eye, and quite rare, with only 40 examples produced. It is a car made of every enthusiast’s dream, and here’s why we think the Ferrari 488 Pista is awesome.
Under the hood of a Ferrari 488, Pista lies the most powerful V8 engine in Ferrari’s history and is also the most powerful mid-engined Ferrari road car ever. When the 488 GTB first appeared in 2015, it delivered the most intense performance from a Ferrari, earning plaudits, including winning Top Gear Supercar of the Year and Motor Trend’s Best Driver’s car. Ferrari improved on it with about 50% new parts to gain 49 hp in the Pista.
This increment was the biggest leap in engine power for a Ferrari Special series car. The turbocharged 3.9-liter V8 generates 711 horsepower and 567 lb-ft of torque and is the benchmark for ICE engines.
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You expect nothing but power and poise from a Ferrari-branded car. The fire-breathing 711-hp V8 helps the Pista sprint to 60 mph in an incredible 2.7 seconds thanks to the expertly engineered launch control systems. This is at par with the McLaren 720S.
Besides the rocketlike acceleration, the Pista keeps on giving more power, and regardless of the point in the rpm range or number on your speedo, it just wants to go faster. Ferrari claims a top speed of 211mph
One of the many things you won’t forget about driving the Pista is its excellent handling dynamics. After tests at the Pista del Fiorano test track, the Pista was 1.5 seconds faster than the 488 GTB, mostly thanks to the superior handling. It doesn’t sound a lot, but in a circuit race, it is enough to shame your opponents and make them look slow.
The 488 Pista employs adaptive magnetorheological dampers that shift from soft and comfortable settings to a sporty and aggressive attitude in an instant, which makes a massive difference in how the car handles when racing. Also, steering is direct and responsive. When you want to throw the rear around, the Side Slip Angle Control and Ferrari’s Dynamic Enhancer jump in to make for controlled drifts.
Leather, suede, and carbon fiber dominate the Ferrari 488 Pista’s interior. It is stripped of modern conveniences compared to luxury grand tourers because of its racing roots. Still, you will find the cabin posh, quiet, and spacious for an insane road racer. Surprisingly, it has more space than you will find in many typical two-door sports cars.
As standard, you get lightweight carbon racing seats with an option for Daytona carbon racing seats. Diehard performance enthusiasts won’t find it an issue using the 488 Pista daily because there are sufficient comfort offerings for the occupants, and the space makes it surprisingly practical.
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In Italian, Pista means racetrack, and Ferrari’s private racetrack goes by Pista di Fiorano. That explains the thinking behind the fitting Pista name. Ferrari built it upon the experience gained from racing the 488 Challenge and 488 GTE on the world’s most competitive circuits.
Also, according to Ferrari, the name goes beyond the car’s ability and demeanor on the racetrack and points to the amount of technology borrowed from racing cars. It has all the makings of a circuit racing beast, from its posture to the brakes. But Ferrari reckons that most will never see track day besides parking in the VIP section at an F1 race.
The car’s aero and racing car technology aids the Pista feels incredibly stable at high speed. The cool hole in the hood is Formula One tech, and it acts as a downforce generator dubbed the S-duct. The Pista is straight out of a 488 GTE endurance racer.
These generate up to 529 pounds of downforce at 124 mph making the Pista feel very planted even on a flying lap.
The brains at Ferrari used innovative elements to give the Pista a sculpted, sporty form and racing livery under a carbon soul. The rear features a muscular dolphin tail spoiler which appears suspended to provide a sense of lightness and efficiency. Overall, the car is a true example of Italian craftsmanship, blending magnificence with track muscles.
Also, the Pista comes exclusively with dashing black and white racing stripes down the middle, which are some of the best-looking go-faster stripes in a supercar.
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Starting at $331,000, only people with deep pockets could dare approach Ferrari with the intent to buy the Pista. And since the people at Ferrari are a clever bunch, they made the Pista with high potential for customization. By the time the customer takes delivery, the bill will have burgeoned after playing with the long list of expensive optional amenities.
Ferrari can change anything to your liking. From the colors of the wheel, brakes, and exhaust pipes, to a matt carbon fiber interior, Daytona racing seats, and carbon floor plates with mats. That doesn’t mean the Pista lacks in amenities seeing plenty of goodies like keyless entry, dual climate control, cruise control, heated mirrors, and rain-sensing windshield wipers come standard.
Videos of valets struggling to get into supercars are premium content for easy online laughs. Supercars are among the most impractical cars and are a nightmare for anyone over six feet. But despite being built with the soul of a racer, the 488 Pista is surprisingly roomy and easily accessible, with sufficient headroom for tall people.
For a low-slung supercar, ingress and egress maneuvers are a bit easier. While inside, visibility is much better for a supercar, and you will have an easier time maneuvering the Pista in congested areas.
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Yes, there is a drop-top version of the Ferrari Pista Coupe, and it is sumptuous. The Pista Spyder, they call it and is the Prancing Horse brand’s best-performing Spyder ever. It blends all the racing tech and attitude of the Pista coupe with an open-air supercar driving experience.
The open-top experience doesn’t sacrifice the car’s mechanical performance. Although it was developed mostly for road use, it only loses a little dynamically and delivers as much driving pleasure on the track s its coupe sibling.
Bryan is a content marketer who works as a staff writer for HotCars.com where he covers a variety of topics, from the first Motorwagen to the latest Electric vehicles. A writer by day and a programmer by night. When he is not writing about cars, catch him tinkering with his old motorcycle.