Simply Abu Dhabi XXXVI

2 1 9 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I Using lessons learned from both the 488 Pista and the 488 Challenge race car, the radiators housed in the nose have been repackaged to allow room for the new front diffusers which provides the a further 25 per cent of aero benefits. While the engine spins freely to its redline, it’s still 1,000rpm lower than the naturally aspirated 4.5-litre V8 from the older 458 Speciale and still takes some re-acclimatisation to click the upshift paddle before the rev limiter cuts in. Despite its 2.9 seconds to 100km/h time and 340km/h top speed, the F8 is not a track day special and it’s out on the open roads where it truly excelled, still in rainy and misty conditions but it dealt with the rigours of everyday traffic and rough road surfaces far better than a 710bhp sports car should. It soaked up bumps, helped by the powered, leather seats much better than the track-focused Pista yet still delivered an endless surge of power whenever it was needed. Using Ferrari’s Variable Boost Management which increases torque progressively, wiping out turbo lag, the F8 delivered all 770Nm of torque the moment the right foot was planted and regardless of gear. Its upshifts were lightening quick and I couldn’t help but laugh each time I popped it back down a ratio for a corner helped by a blip of the throttle and an explosive crack from the exhausts. At low revs it delivers a baritone note that has the ability to scare small animals but press on and it morphs into a metallic thrash, high-pitched scream that sends chills down the spine as you upchange the paddle shift box searching for more of the same. Needlessly, you end up unnecessarily rifling up and down the set of seven gear ratios, playing the transmission and throttle like a mechanical organ to just soak in the symphony of notes delivered through its lightweight pipes. The F8 Tributo continues Ferrari’s tradition of delivering spinetingling performance from its mid-mounted V8s that are worthy of their many accolades and I just hope the SF90 and future versions will continue this trend with their electric-powered assistance.