Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XIX

2 5 4 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I frightening lump like some supercharged supercars. Instead, the system creates a smooth application of engine torque. These figures allow the Ferrari 488 GTB to accelerate from 0- 100 km/h in 3.0 second flat and 0-200 km/h in an astonishing 8.3 seconds on the way to its top speed of 330 km/h. Being a Ferrari, the 488 GTB has to shout just as well as it accelerates. Unlike other turbocharged cars in the range, people will hear the Ferrari coming from far away. It’s more than loud, though; it sonorous and symphonic, which, like the lines of the exterior, can alter the way you feel and think. Hearing the 488 GTB can be enlivening and therapeutic all at the same time. Modern Classic The entire car was designed to create a symbiotic relationship between driver and machine, accenting its usability. Accordingly, everything the driver needs is close at hand in the interior, especially on the steering wheel: horns, turn signals, and start button. There is even a switch that turns up the stiffness of the suspension and turns off the traction control, which is not for the faint at heart. Unlike the dash of other supercars, the 488 has no centralised infotainment screen ruining the lines of the carefully crafted dashboard. Instead, two integrated digital screens directly in front of the driver flank the centralised tachometer. Branching out from there, we see a very beautifully sculpted dash, wrapped in leather, accented by air vents inspired by the exhaust chimneys of F1 cars of the early 2000s. You’ll also notice that the classic Ferrari elements, including the clear separation between the dash and the centre tunnel. The seats might not look it, but they’re incredibly comfortable and perfect for track-day driving or simply cruising through an urban metropolis. I especially love the red accent line that runs up the centre of the sport seats. I amalso quite fond of the large perforation accenting in the seats, which lends to the overall modern classic feel of the cabin. Some cars in the segment go for basic and others go for a more cartoonish look. The Ferrari stands as the understated gentleman in the class with classic elements that don’t detract from the driving experience but rather enhance it. Even with a powerful but graceful engine and intuitive interior, a Ferrari is not a Ferrari without an evocative body. After all, this is what onlookers and passers-by admire… and, at this elite level, the reputation of the car will be made or broken by its looks. Luckily, as I discussed earlier, the form of the 488 GTB is one for the ages. Designed by the Ferrari Styling Centre, the new car features flanks that aren’t just automotive in their design but arguably sculptural, which appear to have been shaped by an artistic master. Again joining together the past with the present, the 488 GTB’s large signature air intake scallop, which is divided into two sections, is an undisguised homage to the original 308 GTB. The wide front spoiler features a double sending thick, cool air to the radiators positioned at the sides. At the centre two pylons are combined with a deflector, which channels air towards the flat underbody that incorporates vortex generators. These sophisticated features reduce wind resistance and also make the car more stable. In the rear, the broad, low tail of the 488 is also dominated by aerodynamic solutions, including an innovative blown spoiler, which generates downforce without increasing drag. This works in conjunction with an aggressive ramp angle for the rear diffuser featuring active flaps. The greater height required for the diffuser was achieved by repositioning the exhaust tailpipes. The circular LED taillights have also been redesigned, again marrying modernity with classic beauty. I realise the looks, when taken in at a single glance, might be a bit polarising. Trust me, however, when I tell you it’s absolutely staggering in person. It’s truly a thing of beauty and no single image can capture the attention to detail and magnificence of its form. No matter what any one person thinks of the style, they can’t deny its presence. After all it is a Ferrari, one of the most exclusive and enviable brands in the world. Other brands can make gorgeous cars but none will ever have the cache or be quite as revered as Ferrari. Conclusion It was clear to me as a young boy and it’s even clearer to me now: a Ferrari is more than just one car; it’s a truly iconic machine. That prancing horse is recognisable from Abu Dhabi to Singapore to London. Just the name Ferrari strikes at the heart of any automotive lover's soul, no matter where they come from. That is the beauty of a supercar and the Ferrari nameplate; it transcends any one culture or place. Like Beethoven's Ninth or van Gogh’s Starry Night, it’s something we can all appreciate. With that gravitas carried behind the brand, creating a car that can live up to that heritage is no small feat. In the 488 GTB, Ferrari hasn’t just created a wondrous supercar – they’ve created a gorgeous work of art, an F1-inspired powerhouse, and an engineering masterpiece. Impressively, it is all of those thing and also a driving machine. There are other race cars for the road out there but they are harsh, unforgiving objects. Driving the 488, you can feel the souls of the people who designed and built it, and the ghost of every Ferrari for the last eight decades. It's that heritage and that soul that will ensure that a hundred years from now people will still be looking at the 488 GTB in awe. The 488 is like a Renaissance cathedral: engineering by da Vinci, and design by Michelangelo… because this Ferrari is truly an argument for why supercars should exist and are worth owning and admiring – at any age.