“bellissima!” She pointed at the car and kissed her fingers 63
like a chef.
I shouldn’t have been so surprised; the F8 Tributo is the
most devastatingly beautiful car Ferrari has made in a decade.
It combines winning elements from previous models into a new
package, pulling from a storied history to make an automobile
that’s simultaneously familiar, reassuringly elegant, and aggres-
sivelymodern.Towit:Thenewdualroundreartaillightsare
likethosefromtheF40ofthelate1980sandearly’90s,asare
thelouversinthecoveratopthelegendaryV-8engine. Made
from ultralight Lexan, the clear screen has three slits at the
CARS BloombergPursuits September 30, 2019
centerthathelpextracthotairfromtheenginecompartment
andallowforadmirationoftheengineitself.
Elsewhere,theverticalheadlightsofthe 488 GTB are now
brilliant horizontal LEDs and have another practical purpose—
to let new brake-cooling intake vents be placed outside the
bumper.Theairintakes,whichwereetchedontheflanksof
otherrecentFerraris,havebeenmovednearthespoiler.A
single massive engine air intake duct on the hood increases
downforce by 15%, redirecting high pressure flowing up from
the bumper and passing it over the front of the car. Forged
“starburst” wheels are the exclamation mark on the whole
thing. The F8 Tributo looks feminine and
strong, happily formidable, even playful.
But the car will be serious for Ferrari’s
bottom line. It’s one of a record five model
revamps this year, overhauls that will allow
it to charge more for most of its cars. The
marque is also making more of them; it
hopes to ship 10,000 in 2019, up from 9,251
last year, says Chief Executive Officer Louis
Camilleri. All this is aimed at higher profits.
With the F8 Tributo, Ferrari has taken
its beloved diamond V-8 engine, polished
it, and placed it in a new setting. Thank
God,somegoodthingsremain—thoughtop
brassdeclinedtotellme,it mayjustbethe
lasttimeweseea nonhybrid engine on a
Ferrari of this mettle.
All of Italy pays respect—and moves aside
The F8 Tributo succeeds the 488 GT, which Ferrari made from 2015 to 2019 in tribute. Deliveries start in December.