Ferrari F8 Tributo

From the 308 GTB to the 488 GTB, the lineage of V8-powered Ferraris has proven that despite being called the baby or the mid-child of the range, they can still upset through their V12-powered big brothers in terms of style and performance, and for this year, the Prancing Horse delivered their biggest salvo yet which is going to be the end of an era but a prelude to another new chapter. Let's get to know the ultimate V8 Ferrari known as the F8 Tributo.

Ferrari F8 Tributo

True to its name, the Ferrari F8 Tributo is a fitting tribute to all of the greatest V8-powered Ferraris in history from the 308 to the 488 because this is the ultimate midship V8 Ferrari to rule them all. It costs about 230K Euros and while the expensive price tag puts you in a difficult position, there's something special about Ferrari's last hurrah to the V8 bloodline.

For starters, they've retained the same 720PS 3.9L V8 Twin Turbo engine from the hardcore 488 Pista so with the F1-style double-clutch gearbox in place, it goes from 0-100kph in less than 3 seconds and onwards to 340kph. In other words, it can easily trump the Lamborghini Huracan Evo by a long shot but it can be easily spooked by Britain's V8 champ, the McLaren 720S. Both of them have similar performances but while the 720S is a proven joker on the road and the track, the F8 is something more of a precious muse on the run.

On a clean run, the beating of the turbocharged V8 engine is about as smooth as a grass whistle with thorns but when the turbos kicked in, the F8 completely tears time and space like an amped-up Millennium Falcon getting away from its hostiles. In other words, this supercar really rattles the minds of drivers with its swooping performance that will leave them breathless to the final lap.

Apart from the mind-blowing performance, the F8 is lighter and more aerodynamically efficient compared to the 488 GTB it replaces and it's armed with a cutting range of tech such as the improved Side Slip Angle Control and the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer Plus, among many other improvements from the predecessor.

It managed to shed 0.5 seconds from the Pista when it went around the Fiorano and while the half-second feat is worth a surprise, the dramatic dynamics really put the F8 a class apart. It brakes dramatically, it handles dramatically, and above all, it's a dramatic supercar that drives as beautifully as the moonrise. There are no other words to describe this beauty, although the interior is much of an Achilles' Heel to some due to being a carryover from past models since the 458 as well as the Exige-esque rearview.

Despite its questionable faults, the F8 is a clear reminder that Ferrari's V8 engineering has reached its peak and as years pass by, the F8 will shine bright on the road and track through the very end.

Photo: Ferrari