Driving Ferrari’s modern F40 tribute

Ferrari is one of the world’s premier supercar makers, and its latest addition pays tribute to the classic F40 and is faster than a V8 Supercar.

The Ferrari F8 Tributo shocks with its speed. Blasting through the 0-100km/h benchmark in less than three seconds, the F8 takes just another 4.9 seconds to hit 200km/h, the latter sprint taking less time than it does to read this sentence.

Professional testers clocked almost 270km/h on the front straight at Sydney Motorsport Park, which is faster than the V8 Supercars. This speed builds in relentless fashion — the lag-free engine adds power with each gear change, defying physics to surge ahead ever harder.

2020 Ferrari F8 Tributo was faster than a V8 Supercar at SMP’s front straight.

With outputs of 530kW/770Nm, this might be the zenith of petrol-fuelled supercar engines unassisted by electric performance. Crowned the best motor of the past 20 years by International Engine of the Year judges, the 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 powers a range of Ferraris including the 488 GTB, which the F8 replaces.

It barks to life with a flat blare, sounding refined and purposeful but nothing like as musical as operatic ancestors.

2020 Ferrari F8 Tributo can hit 100km/h from a standstill in just 2.9 seconds.

Masterfully honed electronics keep all that power in control, allowing drivers to set their degree of slip — and risk — to experience its ferocity without making a $484,888 mistake.

Increased downforce lends confidence at speed. Carbon ceramic brakes respond with extraordinary power yet easy modulation.

And the quickest steering found in modern cars changes the coupe’s direction with a response that, while other-worldly, takes little time to get accustomed to.

This is Ferrari at its best, which is pretty damn good. The stable has a back catalogue to rival The Beatles, among the most memorable being the 308 of the 1970s, F40 of the 1980s, F355 of the 90s and 458 Italia from the previous decade.

The F8 Tributo is the latest in a long line of legendary Ferrari mid-engined supercars

Homage to all of Ferrari’s mid-engine heroes, as the name implies, the F8 Tributo blends aspects of each to create something sensational.

Retro design touches include quad tail-lamps acknowledging several classics and an ultralight clear Lexan engine cover, saluting the F40). Star-pattern alloy wheels are a nod to the 348 and 458.

The clever “S-duct” drawing air over the bonnet comes from its most recent GT class winner at Le Mans and the reworked engine borrows items from Ferrari Challenge race cars.

The F8 Tributo has a driver focused cabin with a small, squared-off steering wheel.

If the exterior style is a metaphorical glance in the rear-view mirror, the cabin has a determined forward gaze.

The focus is the tiny, squared-off lozenge of a steering wheel covered in jewel-like buttons. Taking inspiration from Formula 1 racers and jet fighters, the F8 has controls for the suspension, traction control, headlights, indicators, windscreen wipers, phone and more at your fingertips.

Enormous paddle-shifters fixed to the steering column enable drivers to pick from seven forward ratios in the deliciously quick automatic transmission. Twin digital displays flanking the central tacho present myriad readouts.

The F8 Tributo replaces the 488 GTB.

On the optional motorsport-spec steering wheel, coloured LEDs at the top of its rim flash to life as you approach the V8’s 8000rpm redline.

There’s a lot to take in. You can get lost in the complexity of its aerodynamics, the electronics, its half-million-dollar cost and the fanfare of a new Ferrari model.

Or you can thumb the starter button, pluck a gear and experience a truly special car.

Ferrari F8 Tributo vitals

Price: From $484,888 plus on-roads

Warranty/servicing: 3 years/unlimited km, 7 years’ free service

Safety: Not yet rated, 6 airbags, stability control, AEB optional

Engine: 3.9-litre V8 twin-turbo, 530kW/770Nm

Thirst: 12.9L/100km

Boot: 200L

What’s next

A roofless “spider” version of the F8 Tributo makes its local debut at the Australian Grand Prix. Extraordinarily wealthy customers can pay almost double the F8’s ask for the hybrid-powered Ferrari SF90 Stradale, arriving in the second half of the year priced from $846,888 plus options and on-roads. Sharing its core chassis and V8 fundamentals with the Tributo, the Stradale adds hybrid tech boosting its total output to 745kW. Hybrid power is rumoured to feature in the F8’s eventual successor, as is a V6 turbo. Ferrari calls the F8 Tributo the “end of a bloodline”, as it might be the brand’s last non-hybrid V8 supercar.