Ferrari drops its top in Frankfurt with the 488

By Jeff Zurschmeide Published September 16, 2015

Close on the heels of last winter’s launch of the Ferrari 488 GTB coupe, Ferrari chose this week’s Frankfurt Auto Show as the time and place to unveil the follow-on 488 Spider.

With a body designed by legendary Ferrari coachbuilder Scaglietti and a 3.9-liter turbocharged V8 engine, the 488 Spider claims the same 660 horsepower and 560 pound-feet of torque enjoyed by the 488 GTB. Mated to Ferrari’s F1 seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox, the 488 Spider will get from 0 to 62 MPH in just three seconds – and by the time you’ve been on the gas for six seconds, you’ve gone from idle to the rev limiter in 4th gear. After just 8.7 seconds have passed, you’ll see 124 MPH.

Recommended Videos

Running a little counter to recent supercar trends, the 488 uses an aluminum space frame instead of a carbon fiber or composite monocoque, yet the chassis is as stiff as the 488 GTB, and 23% stiffer than the preceding 458 Spider.

The roof on the 488 Spider is a retractable hardtop design that can be raised or lowered in just 14 seconds at speeds up to 31 MPH. The top interacts with a glass wind-stop that adjusts to three different positions, so you experience only as much hair blowing action as you choose.

Like all modern Ferraris, the 488 uses magnetorheological dampers – that means the shock absorbers use a material made up of iron particles in a fluid suspension. Applying an electromagnet to the fluid causes it to firm up instantly, so shock absorber resistance can be controlled from the cockpit.

Jeff Zurschmeide/Digital Trends

The 488 also includes Ferrari’s latest traction and stability control system, called SSC2 Side Slip Angle Control. This system is designed to allow maximum yaw before kicking in to save you from overconfidence.

In addition to unveiling the 488 Spider, Ferrari also announced today that the Apple CarPlay system will be supported through the Ferrari product line. The AWD Ferrari FF coupe was the first car to adopt the in-car iPhone integration system. Ferrari displayed the system in the F12 Berlinetta on display in Frankfurt. Similar support for Android Auto was not discussed.

Jeff Zurschmeide

Former Contributor

Jeff Zurschmeide is a freelance writer from Portland, Oregon. Jeff covers new cars, motor sports, and technical topics for a…

Topics

Cars

Order an Uber and a self-driving Mustang might show up

Electronics, Phone, Mobile Phone

Ordering an Uber in London could come with a surprise today. Instead of a conventional car and driver pulling up, you might find a Ford Mustang Mach-E that can drive itself. Uber has launched London's first public robotaxi service in partnership with British autonomous driving company Wayve. The service is available through the Uber app, meaning you don't need to download anything new or book a special type of ride to try it.

There is one important caveat. Although the cars will handle the driving themselves, a trained safety operator will initially sit behind the wheel, ready to intervene if necessary. Fully driverless rides are planned for a later stage. The launch fleet consists of electric Mustang Mach-Es equipped with cameras, radar, and Wayve's AI Driver technology. These systems give the vehicle a 360-degree view of what's happening around it. And if anywhere can put that technology through its paces, London seems like a pretty good candidate.

Cars

Range Rover Electric arrives with 543hp, 600km range, and a starting price of the moon

The electric Range Rover is here, and your wallet may need CPR

Range Rover EV

The Range Rover has never been shy about luxury, size or price, and its first fully electric version is carrying that tradition into the EV era. Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) first battery-electric Range Rover is now open for orders, starting at £154,070, or about $208,420. That makes it one of the most expensive electric SUVs on the market.

The electric model costs almost £50,000 more than the standard combustion-engine Range Rover. It is priced in the same territory as the electric Mercedes-Benz G 580 and not far from ultra-luxury gasoline SUVs such as the Bentley Bentayga.

Cars

A solar ambulance has successfully tackled 500 miles of difficult terrain

Stella Juva

For years, solar-powered vehicles have largely lived in the world of prototypes, university projects and ambitious demonstrations. Now, one has completed the kind of test that matters far more than a flashy concept reveal: it drove hundreds of miles through difficult terrain while carrying medical equipment and generating enough electricity to operate independently.

Called Stella Juva, the vehicle was developed by Solar Team Eindhoven, a group of 23 students from Eindhoven University of Technology and two other educational institutions. According to a CNN report, the team describes it as the world's first solar ambulance. Unlike a conventional ambulance, however, Stella Juva is designed less to rush patients to hospitals and more to bring medical care to people who cannot easily reach it.