FERRARI’ S FAST SHOW
BaCK to school — but with a difference. i’m being taught to drive the latest Ferrari and even how to build its engine.
it’s all part of a fabulous grand tour in italy — on the road, on the track and even in the workshop — with the scintillating new 211 mph F8 Tributo, ahead of next week’s Frankfurt Motor show.
My driving partner in the most powerful V8 in Ferrari’s history is Yorkshire-born professional racing driver and coach abbie Eaton — who is also the test driver on amazon Prime TV’s The Grand Tour, hosted by the former BBC Top Gear team of Jeremy Clarkson, James May and richard Hammond.
The new leaner, meaner and lighter Tributo is successor to the 488 GTB and named ‘in tribute’ to the award-winning V8 engine beating at its heart — it has been named ‘engine of the year’ year four times and has a
pedigree going back more than 40 years — as well as to the legendary F40 Ferrari, to whose styling it gives a dignified nod.
Bosses say the 720 hp V8 engine — which has as much power as seven Ford Fiestas — marks the pinnacle of their endeavours to improve its performance. it’s linked to a very slick F1 sevenspeed dual- clutch automatic, with nimble paddle shift.
Yet, despite the sleek look and awe awesome acceleration (from rest to 62 mph in 2.9 seconds and to 124 mph in a cracking 7.8), it’s such an unexpectedly easy car to live with — dare one say, an ‘everyday’ Ferrari.
Of course, it tears down Ferrari’s factory test track, but it also proves a remarkably simple car to drive when dawdling through town amid low- speed traffic. On the open road, it is as comfortable and engaging as a grand tourer.
However, with a base price of £203,476, it’s aimed only at the super-rich customer, while a gas-guzzling 24.4 mpg and CO2 emissions of 292g/km mean it’s no green machine, either.
if you’re still keen, there’s a waiting list of up to 18 months.
Later, in overalls, at the factory in Maranello, i join a class overseen by a master, helping to build part of the V8 engine.
The good news for customers is it is a test engine — which won’t be fitted to anyone’s actual car.