Ferrari F8 Spider: the new reference among open-top supercars

The Ferrari F8 Tributo is “uncovered” to become the Ferrari F8 Spider, which takes the place of the 488 Spider in the range.

Ferrari presents its news in a double feature. And this time, moreover, two models that allow you to enjoy all the sportiness of the Italian brand with the sky as its roof: the Ferrari F8 Spider and the Ferrari 812 GTS.

The new Ferrari F8 Spider is the convertible version of the Ferrari F8 Tributo that we were all expecting. This means, among other things, that we are looking at the convertible supercar with one of the most award-winning engines in its class.

A V8 engine that keeps piling up awards

Indeed, the F8 Spider retains the V8 engine in the mid-rear position of the F8 Tributo. An engine that has been awarded the “International Engine of the Year” title for four consecutive years.

It keeps the performance figures of the closed version: 720 CV at 8,000 rpm, with a maximum torque of 770 Nm at 3,250 rpm. That makes it 50 CV more than the 488 Spider it replaces, and the F8 Spider is also 20 kg lighter.

The technical characteristics of the 3.9-litre V8 are the same as those we discussed when talking about the F8 Tributo. What changes in the Spider is that the engine’s air intakes have been moved to the rear area, to increase the speed of the airflow towards the intake. Among its main features it includes turbocharging, a particulate filter, titanium connecting rods…

Power is delivered to the wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The performance says it all: 2.9 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (same figure as the closed F8), just 8.2 seconds to reach double that speed (versus 7.8 in the Tributo) and a top speed that stays at 340 km/h.

Ferrari F8 Spider: open or closed in 14 seconds

The most distinctive feature of the F8 Spider, logically, is the new bodywork design to accommodate the retractable roof. And as has been usual for Ferrari in recent years, the solution adopted is once again a retractable hard top.

In this way, the F8 Spider goes from having a roof to having the sky above its occupants’ heads in just 14 seconds. And the operation of stowing the roof can be carried out on the move, at speeds of up to 45 km/h.

The “transformation” requires some additional changes to the exterior design of the F8 Tributo, especially to meet aerodynamic requirements. Here, Ferrari once again applies the experience gained in competition, to boast of putting on the market the convertible with mid-rear engine with the best performance. Among many other measures, the aerodynamic efficiency compared with the 488 Spider it replaces has increased by 10 percent.

The F8 Spider also includes the FDE lateral dynamics control, which debuted on the 488 Pista and, in its “plus” version, is now also fitted to the F8 Tributo.

Another highlight of the F8 Spider is the maintenance programme offered by Ferrari, which includes in the price of the vehicle – yet to be revealed – coverage of all the work required during the scheduled maintenance of the vehicle during the first 7 years of its life, at annual or 20,000 km intervals.

Image gallery Ferrari F8 Spider