Ferrari 488 GTO is in the works and we can’t wait to see it live, but until then we will settle with this mule that was spied testing on the Nürburgring and some roads that surround this famous racetrack. As we already mentioned this is a 488 GTO-based mule which is currently testing everything for the most hardcore 488 so far. As you probably know, the end of this mid-engine supercar run is nearing and Ferrari has also been spied running test mules that are supposed to replace the good old 488.
If you stack the 488 GTB and this one you will notice a few, although subtle, differences that start from the new intakes at outer edges of the front bumper. The changes continue to the side intakes which now appear to be slightly enlarged than on 488 GTB. Thanks to the Motor.es, a Spanish website, and their post from November we managed to catch a glimpse of a group of prototypes. Some of those were heavily shrouded in camo, but one was almost completely uncovered, and with it, we hit the jackpot!
Apparently, the rumors are, that this hardcore 488 will revive the company’s “GTO” badge that was last used on the 2010 599 GTO. The new GTO badge bearer will be an amazing successor, at least in spirit, to the 288 GTO of the 1980s which was another mid-engine model powered by a twin-turbocharged V8. The credibility here is solid since you know that Ferrari actually races the 488, so they are reliable on that front. Just a little FYI, the “O” in GTO stands for Omologato which is Italian word for homologated.
Since it is still early to know anything in detail, we presume that 488 GTO, as a hardcore variant, will be outputting somewhere over 700 HP, and if we consider that the 488 GTB with its 3.9 L twin-turbocharged V8 offers 660 horsepower, this is not far-fetched at all. To make the 488 GTO as hardcore as possible, the company will probably invest heavily in the aerodynamic and chassis upgrades as well. This could manifest in a big weight loss which wouldn’t hurt it since we all know that McLaren’s 720S is around 200 pounds lighter than the 488 GTB. If they want to match the British rival, Italians will have to employ some new technologies and think outside of the box.
One more thing is presumed, and it’s the fact that the 488 GTO might utilize a hybrid system similar to one that Ferrari used for the LaFerrari. The KERS-type hybrid system will greatly help the supercar’s engine by offering torque that always lacks at low revs and more boost at higher engine speeds. To recover the energy, they could utilize the engine itself and braking, which is more common here.
The Ferrari 488 GTO is expected sometime in 2018, which is basically one year before the 488 replacement is due. It really couldn’t get here fast enough, mainly because, when it arrives, it will have to face ready rivals like 911 GT2 RS and GT Black Series, plus we highly doubt that Lambo will be sleeping until then, and the Huracán Performante might also give it a run for its money!
