36 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 7 AUGUST 2019
Δ the Pista gets retuned SCM-E
adaptive dampers and coil springs
s t i f fe ne d b y 10%. It a l s o h a s a
new electronic lateral dynamics
controller called the Ferrari Dynamic
Enhancer (FDE), which uses subtle
brake interventions to trim the
car’s cornering line and operates
in addition to the influence of the
torque-vectoring e-diff.
The brake servo also comes from
the 488 Challenge racing car, as does
the inspiration for many of its special
aerodynamic features. Among the
latter are the downforce-generating
S - duc t at t he le a d i n g e d ge of t he
bonnet; the winglets and air ducts
at the lateral extremes of the front
bumper; the various changes to
the aerodynamic underbody; and
the enlarged rear wing and ‘active’
rear diffuser. Downforce is 20% up
compared with the 488 GTB, with no
associated drag penalty.
INTERIOR
AAAAB
Ferrari’s weight-saving regime for
the 488 Pista is one whose legacy is
evident everywhere you look around
the interior. There’s carbonfibre
panelling on its sills and centre
console as standard – and our test
car’s optional specification added
an instrument cluster, air vents,
f loor covers, lower door covers and
mor e at e x t r a c o s t – s ome of w h ic h
very likely added weight to the car
as dressing.
B e t h at a s it m ay, t he c a r c e r t a i n l y
‘looked light’ from the driver’s seat.
The seat itself was broader and
h a rde r i n t he c u sh ion t h a n s ome
testers would have preferred, but it
made all acceptably comfortable,
even allowing for the slightly
offset pedal box.
The audio and navigation system,
usually relayed by a right-sideddisplay screen of the car’s instrument
binnacle and controlled by a console
to the right of the steering wheel, has
b e e n s t r ipp e d out; s o, t o o, h av e t he
Pista’s audio speakers.
Where storage is concerned,
Ferrari has dispensed with the
standard GTB’s glovebox but has
left the smaller cubbies of the
centre console in situ. Among them
is a smallish cupholder up front,
while a couple of trays further aft
are big enough to house wallets or
sunglasses and provide a USB jack
and a 12V power outlet for charging
wired devices. Elastic storage nets
i n e a c h do or a nd b e h i nd b ot h s e at s
are also handy for swallowing exiled
pocket cargo.
All up, then, the 488 Pista lookssparse and stripped out at first
glance, and yet it has the practical
fe at u r e s y ou’ l l w a nt w he n y ou
go looking for them. The perfect
compromise? Well, if not, then
it’s very close.
PERFORMANCE
AAAAA
The Pista’s V8 isn’t the sort of engine
t o blud ge on y ou w it h a hu ge t ide of
boost-heavy torque that suddenly
explodes through the middle of the
r e v r a n ge. It i s u n l i k e mo s t mot or s
of its kind because it revs so freely ◊
The 488 does enforce a bit
of a pedal offset (althoughi t ’s m u c h m o r e n o ti ce a b l e i n
right-hand-drive cars). Both
the brake and accelerator are
about 50mm further left than
you’d ideally like and that’s
enough to feel it in your hips
over longer journeys.
HEADLIGHTS
Same units as the GTB,
so high-intensity projector
lamps with LED running
lights. Test conditions
afforded no opportunity
to try them out.
PARKING
DIMENSIONS
z Conventional doors make it easy enough to get into the car and the driver’s seat
offers good support and decent comfort, although both could be improved.z There’s room for soft bags behind the seats and some useful cargo nets to keep
odds and ends from rolling around the tub.
Height 440-
620mm
Width
470–980mm
Length
440-650mm
z Boot in the nose is a very good size (170 litres). It won’t swallow a large suitcase
but a smaller one will fit – and there’s plenty of space hidden behind the front lip.
1156mm 2650mm 799mmKerb weight: 1385kg4605mm(^12)
0
6
m
m
113
0 m
m^ m
ax
93
0
m
m
m
ax
170 litres
2270mm (with mirrors)
3900mm
Typical parking space width (2400mm)
T
yp
ic
a
l
g
a
ra
g
e
(^) h
e
ig
h
t
(^18)
0
0
m
m
100mm
30mm
Centre
WHEEL AND PEDAL
ALIGNMENT
Weights and measures