Introduction
Thanks to turbocharging and clever hybrid systems, speed is no longer enough to make a great poster car. Instead, the vehicles that are now parked are the ones that manage to pull the driver’s heartstrings. Whether it’s because of their sharp looks or the intoxicating sound, these six-digit machines have to offer more than ever when simultaneously road-driving performance pushes the boundaries of what vehicles can do.
Write this week’s tester, the Ferrari F7 Tribute, the latest in a long line of V8-powered machines mounted on horseback. Thanks to its arrow-focused design, excellent performance and rewarding driving experience, the F8 is a car that awakens all your senses. However, one of the most exciting aspects of this supercar is not how the full throttle behaves but how it invites its driver to travel miles.
Design
A glance at the Ferrari F8 Tribute immediately reveals how its designers focused on aerodynamics. The F8 is the most angular of all the cars that the Italian carmaker has introduced in the last decade, full of eclipses, vents, and clever arrows throughout. Take, for example, the front end, which borrows from the 488 pistachio with its clever S-Duct that starts out like a small opening on the front bumper but cuts through the hood, allowing air to flow more easily over the car. Although the system is impressive from an engineering point of view, Ferrari incorporates it in such a way that it blends in nicely with the overall design of the vehicle, almost hidden from view.
The farther you look at the F8, the smaller the ducts and intakes you’ll notice, such as being cleverly positioned above the headlights. The result of this change is the 108 percent more aerodynamically efficient car than the 488 GTB that has been replaced, providing more downforce without the increased drag coefficient. However, the most notable design achievement of the F8 is that it adopts all these functional components and implements them in a way that gives the car a very aggressive look, apparently distinguishing itself from its previous models.
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The rear is probably the biggest example of this, ditching old dual tail lights in exchange for a set of small quad lamps neatly attached to the bottom of the rear spoiler. The position of the lights adds depth to the rear of the F8, which almost invites pedestrians to take a closer look at all its intricate details. Like the front, there are plenty of clever 488 pistachio-inspired arrows.
Although historically, most of the cars wearing printing horses left the factory wearing red coats, my tester did not. Instead, it ends in Blue Corsa, a very vibrant shade of blue that helps accentuate the car’s body lines while reflecting a ton of light, resulting in a very bright finish. Throw in the optional set of 20-inch wheels, and my tester is probably one of the best-specific F8 I’ve ever seen. Combined with all the design improvements and arrow elements, you have a car that is not only impressive, but truly beautiful.
Performance / drive
Another gift from the 488 Pistar to strengthen the Ferrari F7 Tribute. It produces a 3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 with 710 horsepower and 568 pounds of torque. Thanks to its sub-3,200-pound carb weight, the F8 hits 62 miles per hour in 2.9 seconds before continuing at a top speed of 211 miles per hour. While these figures are undoubtedly hypercar fast, they don’t tell the whole story of the F8 because perhaps the most impressive thing about this mid-engine Ferrari is how it delivers that performance.
Lower your legs anywhere in the rev range and move the F8 Tributeo rocket forward. If you’re at stoplights or triple-digit speeds, the Twin-Turbo V8 always has something more to offer, as if the steam never runs out. Despite peak torque of 3,250 rpm, there is virtually no turbo lag The power that a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission transmits to the rear wheels is equally fast and incredibly responsive. With instant upshifts and crispy downshifts, the F8’s transmission and engine are perfectly matched to make full use of the available power.
Thanks to a huge set of standard carbon-ceramic brakes, the F8 can not only slow down from its mind-boggling run but it can repeat, without any noticeable discoloration no matter how much it is pushed into multiple hours of driving.
Turn an angle, and the steering of the F8 will reward you with an excellent response with a very nimble front edge grip endlessly. It’s a car that you can throw very quickly at an angle of ten miles per hour and it can still somehow hold on to your favorite life. Of course, we got all the arrow bits mentioned to thank for it. However, in addition to the sheer handling performance, the F8 provides an incredibly composite drive. It was virtually impossible to misuse the F8 during multiple runs through the canyon. All of its stability and traction systems are nicely tuned to keep you on the side of a hill, despite the fact that a normal road can really handle the kind of speed it pushes.
Once things slow down a bit, and F8 is tasked with navigating a crowded city like Los Angeles, it reveals another aspect of his personality. This is because, thanks to its magnetic dampers, its suspension is quite comfortable, soaking up even the most significant imperfections on the road. Despite the lack of a lift system in front of my tester, it was no problem, cleaning the driveways even if there was only a penny wide space left. The secret behind the F8’s comfort is its bumpy road mode, which softens the suspension, no matter what driving mode you’re in.
Internal
The interior of the Ferrari F8 Tributo looks like nothing else on the market. All of its infotainment and driver-friendly controls target the person behind the wheel, making them not only easy to operate but also quickly accessible. The star of the show is undoubtedly the steering wheel, which has more buttons than the cockpit of an aircraft. In addition to the big red start button, the wheel keeps your indicator, drive mode, suspension mode and windshield wiper settings. While the attack of the buttons is frightening at first glance, their purpose becomes clear as there is more room for the F8’s great large fixed pedals.
In terms of entertainment, the F8 may have the smallest infotainment screen I’ve ever seen. However, thanks to the optional Apple CarPlay connection, there is no lack of features. While its size is a flaw, the fact that it integrates nicely with the dash is a major plus, eliminating the need for an extra screen on the dashboard. Overall, the F8’s interior design is smooth and incredibly well combined, with enough leather to go around and reverse stitching.
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My tester came with the F8’s flagship chair, a Daytona carbon-backed sport seat. Since these are the most aggressive options, they are far from the most comfortable available. However, inside a 710-hp supercar, they fit perfectly for their intended purpose. There is a lot of side support, keeping the driver in good position without too much pressure.
The interior offers surprisingly good sound insulation on the highway, nicely complementing the magnetic suspension mentioned above. The result is that the F8 is just a nice place. Owners of such cars will want to drive miles.
Pricing
The Ferrari F8 Tributo is a premium product that provides a premium experience and its price tag must reflect that. Despite having a base price below 27 277,000, optional accessories like stunning paint, optional wheels, carbon fiber trim, and Apple CarPlay quickly surpassed 350,000. However, the F8 is a vehicle that delivers on virtually every front, delivering outstanding performance while at the same time pulling the driver’s heartstrings as a proper supercar. While competitors offer similar performances for the same amount of money, F8 Nails is offering a $ 350,000 experience.
The latest thought
Whether it draws you in with its angular appearance or impressive power figures, there is a lot of love about the Ferrari F8 Tribute. The term “daily driver supercar” is widely used these days. However, F8 is a true embodiment. Although its twin-turbo powerhouse with an engine provides enough speed to scare experienced drivers, its suspension and interior are comfortable enough to withstand the worst roads in the city. As a result, the F8 is a car that makes driving accessible regardless of speed, inviting its driver to spend more time behind the wheel. Thanks to its endless charm and power, the F8 stands out as a perfect V8 Ferrari that draws on its tradition while embracing modern technology in search of insane performance.