Caught: Ferrari 488 GTO spotted undisguised
Hard-core Prancing Horse model busted while testingPictures have surfaced overnight of what is claimed to be Ferrari's fastest-ever V8-powered model.
Posted on the Spanish car site Motor.es, the new images of a car caught testing in an undisclosed location are said to capture the Ferrari 488 GTO -- an even faster, track-focused version of the 488 GTB.
The GTO will be pitched against the McLaren 720S and the most revealing picture is the one of the two prototype 488s parked up, because the red car has had its drapes pulled back to reveal its nose.
The undisguised small Ferrari clearly shows significant revisions over the standard car.
Instead of the 488 GTB's large three-chamber air intakes, the 'GTO' appears to have just two intakes which flank a new one-piece splitter thought to channel air directly to an underbody diffuser.
The Spanish magazine claims significant changes elsewhere on the body increase downforce and reduce drag at high speed.
Developed for wealthy Ferrari enthusiasts who love to drive their cars on track, the 488 GTO will replace the last generation 458 Speciale.
Under the rear boot lid, the twin-turbo 3.9-litre V8 is expected to have power and torque boosted from the current car's 482kW/760Nm to around 530kW/850Nm.
Combined with some serious weight savings, thanks to the addition of plenty of carbon-fibre parts, the GTO should hit 100km/h in less than 2.8 seconds -- making it more than 0.2sec second quicker than the standard model.
To help it compete on track with cars like the Lamborghini Huracan Performante, it's thought the 488 GTO might have to employ new active aerodynamics which could include a DRS feature to 'stall' the rear wing for a higher top speed.
Others suggest that, to achieve the huge power increases needed to challenge its rivals, the 488 might use Ferrari's Kinetic Recovery System (KERS) and follow the LaFerrari to become the second road-going Ferrari hybrid.
If it eventuates, the use of the iconic 'GTO' name will no doubt upset purists who would prefer the track-ready 488 to be called the Challenge Stradale, Scuderia or Speciale.
It's thought the 488 GTO could be set for a reveal at the 2018 Geneva motor show next March.
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