2017 Ferrari 488 GTB review, road test

For the first time, Ferrari’s mid-engine V8 is put to the ultimate test that is Indian roads. Can it still deliver the magic?

Published on Sep 28, 2017 07:00:00 AM

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F1-style aero pillar manages longitudinal and transverse airflow.

Special channels on the bonnet deflect air and reduce front-axle lift.

Scuderia Ferrari insignia is optional and will cost a cool Rs 5 lakh a pair.

Because the 488 GTB shares its adaptive dampers and steering rack with the 458 Speciale, you could assume that the two would feel alike. But, in truth, the 488 is more rounded and less track- car-like than even a regular 458 Italia. It is a more rounded car, very easy to drive on the road and not at all intimidating.

Hit the bumpy ride button on the steering wheel and ride quality is deft and forgiving. You have to drive with great care to preserve those rubber band-like low-pro tyres, but the ride is just unbelievable for a supercar. It will ease through potholes, and sharp edges too are rounded in a way you cannot imagine.

Ferrari actively encourages all customers in India to opt for the nose lifter system that gives you the ability to raise the front ride height and tackle speed breakers with ease; it takes just about 5sec to raise the nose. No doubt, this is an essential piece of kit despite the eye-watering price of Rs 18 lakh.

On faster sections of the expressway, we found straight-line stability to be rock solid. The car can almost be driven in a ‘hands off’ manner, with a light hand on the wheel. The Ferrari also changes lanes beautifully, with a mere flick of the extremely quick wheel.

To really get to the good stuff you have to find a quiet road and switch the steering-mounted Manettino to ‘Race’. This balances the car beautifully and allows you to enter corners at speed that would otherwise seem silly. Understeer is dialled out by Ferrari’s Side Slip Control System (SSC2) in this mode for the most part; this setting even allows you to enjoy a bit of tail-out fun as you exit corners on the throttle. And the better you get to know the car and the road conditions, the more you can lean on the throttle and the rear axle.

The manner in which Ferrari blends technology and performance to dish out real honest-to-god driving pleasure is really something else.

Systems like F1-Trac (progressive traction control), an electronically controlled differential (E-Diff), and SSC2 keep working hard in the background, but you just can’t tell.

Braking is massively efficient, the 488 comes standard with a Brembo system derived from the LaFerrari. We managed to stop in a mere 2.13sec/23.41m .