2016 Ferrari 488 Spider
The drop-top version of the Ferrari 488 GTB is coming soon to a Ferrari dealer near you, and it'll be Maranello's most powerful midengined convertible ever. That's right; the 2016 Ferrari 488 Spider will pack a twin-turbocharged 3.9-liter V8 producing 660 hp and 561 lb-ft of torque, good for 3-second sprints to 60 mph and a breezy top speed of 203 mph.
The 488 Spider will feature a folding hardtop just like its predecessor, the 458 Spider, but one of the differences the company is most proud of is that it will have the same torsional ridigity as the 488 GTB hardtop. Making the difference will be a spaceframe chassis that uses 11 different aluminum alloys as well as magnesium, all of which the company claims will yield a 23 percent improvement in stiffness over the 458 Spider.
Ferrari also says that this will be the most aerodynamically efficient Spider model that they have ever created, with the flying buttresses behind the seats designed to route air to the engine bay.
Despite the extra metalwork to help it retain the handling attributes of the hardtop, the Spider will only be 110 pounds heavier than the 488 GTB, weighing in at a relatively lithe 3,362 pounds dry. That makes it 22 pounds lighter than the 458 Spider it's replacing.
In addition to the aerodynamic adjustments to make the Spider work, Ferrari has also retuned the suspension to make the droptop a slightly more forgiving handler. The Spider will also feature a powered rear glass window which can be set in three different positions in accordance with how much noise the occupants want to intrude into their personal bubbles, and the window itself can be lowered when the roof is up in order to enjoy the soundtrack.
Speaking of that soundtrack, Ferrari has turned the engine volume down a bit compared to the hardtop model, just to maintain some parity. The Spider will also keep the hardtop's adjustable rear diffuser that responds to throttle input and speed.
How soon will you be able to stroll into the dealership and kick some tires? The Spider is expected to start deliveries in the spring, with the company likely to announce pricing for the drop-top when it makes its official debut at the Frankfurt motor show this September. The price premium versus a 488 GTB is expected to be around $30,000, so plan to show up with a suitcase containing around $270,000; the way real Ferrari buyers used to purchase their cars.
Jay Ramey grew up around very strange European cars, and instead of seeking out something reliable and comfortable for his own personal use he has been drawn to the more adventurous side of the dependability spectrum. Despite being followed around by French cars for the past decade, he has somehow been able to avoid Citroën ownership, judging them too commonplace, and is currently looking at cars from the former Czechoslovakia. Jay has been with Autoweek since 2013.
