Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XIX

2 5 1 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I T he Ferrari 488 GTBmight well be the ultimate expression of the carmaker’s art and the embodiment of why I love cars. Just looking at the car with its bright red paint, gaping intakes and proud shoulders awakens a deeper, more primal place, full of passion, jubilation, and a smidge of fear. And, for as beautiful as it is, the bodylines aren’t just stunning; they’re functional, too. So much so, in fact, entire dissertations could be scripted on its aerodynamic form. However, the looks are just a small portion of the GTB tale. Beneath the bodywork lie the bones of a driving machine somenacing that it could put virtually any other to shame. The turbocharged V8, for instance, makes more power than a sandstorm and its cries are more evocative than those of a lion. Then there’s the carbon fibre- and leather- covered interior, the design of which was given more attention than most other cars receive in their entirety. All told, it’s a car that isn’t just enviable or noteworthy, but rather something the legend of which will outlast us all. Frankly, I could end the review here. But I should probably give you the whole story. So let me start at the beginning, for the 488 GTB is more than a new Ferrari; it’s an homage to the past, a modern classic, and also a cutting-edge look into the future of the brand.