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May 26, 2021
For Those Who Know the Joy of Weekend Circuit Runs ── Test Drive of the Ferrari F8 Tributo | Ferrari
Ferrari F8 Tributo
Test Drive of the Ferrari F8 Tributo
The F8 Tributo, the latest evolution of Ferrari's V8 mid-ship lineage, debuted at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. We took the wheel again of this car, considered by many to be the last V8 mid-ship Ferrari without hybrid assistance.
Text by OGAWA Fumio | Photographs by KAWANO Atsuki
A Drive That Makes You Say, "It's Still Amazing"
There's perhaps no car more fittingly described as a "dream car" than a Ferrari. While Ferrari today offers a diverse range of models to meet various user needs as a lifestyle brand, the mid-ship, high-speed models remain the ultimate dream for car enthusiasts. The "F8 Tributo" is precisely that.
The Ferrari F8 Tributo was unveiled in March 2019, coinciding with the Geneva Motor Show. The press drive event took place in the autumn of the same year at Ferrari's home base in Maranello, central Italy, where I was also present. The test drive included Ferrari's Fiorano test track and public roads (mountain passes and highways) leading to Bologna.
At that time, I was impressed by its agility, power, and all-around usability in any setting. Driving it again recently in Tokyo and its surroundings, I was once again struck by how truly "good" it is. My apologies for such a simple assessment of a Ferrari, but "good" is often the most fitting description.
The rear-wheel-drive car features a 3,902cc V8 engine producing 530kW (720ps), mounted mid-ship in a body measuring 4,611mm in length. Based on the 488 GTB (2015), it boasts a lighter body (-40kg), increased engine power (+50ps), and added devices to enhance handling.
These devices include the "Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer Plus (FDE+)," a system that optimizes brake pressure when the "Race" driving mode is selected. The "Side Slip Control," which enhances cornering speed, has also been optimized for improved performance.
Furthermore, compared to the 488 GTB, the exit speed from corners is 6% faster for the same steering angle. The steering system has been revised to create a slight oversteer tendency. Ferrari claims that a driver comparing the two cars would be able to extract more performance from the F8 Tributo closer to its limits.
All cars are equipped with a limiter to prevent over-revving the engine. The F8 Tributo is no exception. However, it features a unique concept called "Wall Effect."
The rev limiter is set at 8,000rpm. While many cars gradually restrict revs as they approach this limit, the F8 Tributo's limiter engages sharply at 8,000rpm. Ferrari's philosophy is that this approach allows for maximum performance extraction right up to the limit.
The styling, with its effective aerodynamic treatments such as the "S-Duct" that channels air drawn from the front over the bonnet to prevent the front wheels from lifting at high speeds, is not only functional but also possesses a unique character. This is characteristic of a mid-ship Ferrari.
Ferrari states that modifying the front mask, for example by changing the headlight shape, has improved airflow and aerodynamic performance. Overall aerodynamic efficiency is said to be 10% better than the 488 GTB due to a comprehensive review of its aerodynamic characteristics.