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

Figures & Specs Summary:

Ferrari 488 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Ferrari 488 Spider 3.9 V8 Turbo is the 7 speed / Paddle Shift 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, Cabriolet 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 1525 kgs (3362 lbs) this makes the Ferrari 488 Spider 3.9 V8 Turbo in the same weight category as the 2022 Ferrari 296 GTS Assetto 3.0 V6 Twin Turbo Hybrid 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 2022 Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica 5.2 V10 (456.8 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Ferrari 488.

The Ferrari 488 has a Power to weight ratio of 432.7 bhp per ton and 367.8 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2015 488 competing with the 2022 Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica 5.2 V10 (456.8 bhp per ton) or the 2017 Lamborghini Huracan Performante 5.2 V10 (455.8 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 367.8 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 2018 Aston-Martin DBS 5.2 V12 Twin Turbo Superleggera (392.2 lb-ft per ton) or the 2018 Aston-Martin DBS Superleggera Concorde Special Edition (392.2 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 Spider 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 Nissan NSX Type S 3.5L V6 (3.00 secs) the or the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51 6.2 V8 C8 (3.00 secs). This Ferrari 488 Spider 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 2008 Chevrolet Camaro SS 6.2 V8

When talking about the performance of the Ferrari 488 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 11.02 secs @ 124.2 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2008 Chevrolet Camaro SS 6.2 V8 (10.99 secs), the 1965 Iso Grifo GL 365 5.4L V8 (10.99 secs), and the 2014 Chevrolet SS 6.2 V8 (10.99 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2015 version of the Ferrari 488 Spider 3.9 V8 Turbo has a maximum speed of 202mph.

Top Speed of the 2015 488 equals the 2005 Pagani Zonda F (214 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2015 Ferrari 488 Spider 3.9 V8 Turbo then how about the 2005 Pagani Zonda F (214 mph), the 2006 Ascari A10 5.0 V8 (215 mph), or the 2017 Ford GT 3.5 V6 Bi-Turbo (216 mph).

Related Links:

2015 488 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Ferrari

Car Comparison