Performance Review: Ferrari 488 GTB 3.9 V8 Turbo - [2015]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Ferrari 488 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Ferrari 488 GTB 3.9 V8 Turbo is the 7 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 2015. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2016 Bugatti Chiron 8.0 W16 Quad Turbo and the 2015 Koenigsegg Regera 5.0 V8 Turbo.This particular Ferrari 488 has a 3902cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 8 cylinders in a V formation.

Alternative Petrol V8's includes the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170

The 488 shares its Petrol V8 engine configuration with the likes of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 and the 2023 Ferrari SF 90 XX Spider 4.0 V8 Turbo. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the 488's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1370 kgs (3020 lbs) this makes the Ferrari 488 GTB 3.9 V8 Turbo in the same weight category as the 2022 Koenigsegg CC850 4.9 V12 Twin Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The Ferrari 488 shares the same bhp with the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 5.5 V8 C8 (670 bhp)

In terms of power the 3902cc 32V V8 engine produces 660 bhp (492 kW) @ 8000 rpm similar to the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 5.5 V8 C8 (670 bhp) or the 2023 BMW i7 M70 xDrive G70 (651 bhp).

The Turbo V8 throws out 561 lb-ft (760.6 Nm) @ 3000 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 3996 Bentley Continental GT 4.0 V8 Turbo Convertible (568 lb-ft) or the 2023 Ferrari Roma Spider 3.9 V8 Turbo (561 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Ferrari 488 you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 1997 McLaren F1 GT 6.1 V12 (506.5 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Ferrari 488.

The Ferrari 488 has a Power to weight ratio of 481.7 bhp per ton and 409.4 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2015 488 competing with the 1997 McLaren F1 GT 6.1 V12 (506.5 bhp per ton) or the 2018 Lamborghini SC18 Alston 6.5 V8 (506.0 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Ferrari 488 generating around 409.4 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2003 Pagani Zonda Roadster (432.0 lb-ft per ton) or the 1997 Nissan R390 3.5L V8 (428.0 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 3.00 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 3.1 secs, this made the Ferrari 488 GTB 3.9 V8 Turbo as fast as the 2023 Pagani Utopia 6.0 V12 Twin Turbo (3.00 secs) the 2022 Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica 5.2 V10 (3.00 secs) the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51 6.2 V8 C8 (3.00 secs) the or the 2021 McLaren Artura 3.0 V6 Turbo Hybrid (3.00 secs). This Ferrari 488 GTB 3.9 V8 Turbo is also faster than the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 992 (3.10 secs) the 2022 Lamborghini Urus Performante Twin Turbo (3.10 secs) the 2022 Aston-Martin DBX 707 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (3.10 secs) the and the 2021 Porsche Cayenne GT 4.0 V8 Bi-Turbo (3.10 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the 488 and the 1998 Ferrari 465 M GT

When talking about the performance of the Ferrari 488 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 10.56 secs @ 129.5 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1998 Ferrari 465 M GT (10.51 secs), the 2009 Jaguar XF R 5.0 V8 Supercharged (10.51 secs), and the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX FQ 320 (10.51 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2015 version of the Ferrari 488 GTB 3.9 V8 Turbo has a maximum speed of 205mph.

Top Speed of the 2015 488 equals the 2017 Ford GT 3.5 V6 Bi-Turbo (216 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2015 Ferrari 488 GTB 3.9 V8 Turbo then how about the 2017 Ford GT 3.5 V6 Bi-Turbo (216 mph), the 2023 Lamborghini Revuelto 6.5 V12 Petrol Hybrid (217 mph), or the 2020 McLaren Sabre 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (217 mph).

Related Links:

2015 488 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Ferrari

Car Comparison