Skip advert
Advertisement
Best cars & vans

Ferrari 488 GTB - Best Ferraris ever

Current mid-engined flagship uses turbos and tech to deliver a thrill ride

Ferrari 488 GTB 2016 - rear tracking

Years: 2015-presentEngine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8, 661bhpTransmission: Seven-speed dual clutch, rear-wheel driveTop speed: 205mphNumber built: Still in productionCurrent value: £184,000

In the past, Ferrari's road cars have had some sort of connection with their racing counterparts. In the 1950s and 1960s the link was obvious, as the road cars largely used the same V12 engine as the racers. But over the years, the road and race connection has been lost, especially when it comes to Ferrari's Formula One machines. Today, however, there are a couple of connections between F1 and Ferrari's latest 'small' model, the 488 GTB.

Advertisement - Article continues below

First, the 488 GTB features a raft of electronics, just like the F1 cars, and it also gets turbo power. Of course, there are big differences between the hi-tech 1.6-litre V6 hybrid unit used in Ferrari's current F1 car and the 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 in the 488, but with 661bhp on tap, the GTB is a serious roadgoing performance car.

The raft of electronics on board are designed to make the most of the car's potential. A graphic on the dashboard shows when the engine, tyres and brakes are all up to optimum working temperature, while the rotary Manettino switch on the steering wheel selects from a number of preset driving modes, depending on road or track conditions.

Whichever setting you choose, the 488 GTB delivers a thrilling driving experience. The super-fast steering rack needs barely any input to point the nose where you want to go, while the twin-turbo V8 has huge reserves of power that are easily accessible thanks to the lightning-fast shifts of the seven-speed paddleshift gearbox. The V8 isn't quite as vocal as the naturally aspirated engine in its predecessor, the 458 Italia, but the GTB still delivers a spine-tingling experience, and is arguably the best road car that Ferrari has ever built.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Senior test editor

Dean has been part of the Auto Express team for more than 20 years, and has worked across nearly all departments, starting on magazine production, then moving to road tests and reviews. He's our resident van expert, but covers everything from scooters and motorbikes to supercars and consumer products.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best cars with pop-up headlights
Best cars with pop-up headlights - header image

Best cars with pop-up headlights

Safety laws and modern tech have largely extinguished the pop-up headlight so let’s take a look back at the all time greatest cars to feature them.
Best cars & vans
3 Sep 2026
Most expensive cars ever sold at auction
Most expensive cars - header image August 2026

Most expensive cars ever sold at auction

The rarest and most desirable cars ever made fetch eye-watering sums when going under the hammer. These examples attracted the highest auction prices …
Best cars & vans
17 Aug 2026
New Ferrari CZ26 is a surprise one-off hypercar based on the SF90 Stradale
Ferrari CZ26 - front

New Ferrari CZ26 is a surprise one-off hypercar based on the SF90 Stradale

One lucky American client just got the keys to an all-new, one-off Ferrari
News
14 Aug 2026
Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2026, 2027 and beyond
Best new cars coming soon 30/06/26

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2026, 2027 and beyond

Here are the most important new cars from Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more
Best cars & vans
30 Jun 2026

Most Popular

New Dodge Charger 2026 review: real US muscle makes some UK sense
Dodge Charger Sixpack - front cornering

New Dodge Charger 2026 review: real US muscle makes some UK sense

The Dodge Charger is both characterful and practical, but it's likely to be a rare sight on UK roads.
Road tests
17 Sep 2026
New Mercedes C-Class Electric gets a bittersweet range boost
Alastair Crooks with the Mercedes C-Class Electric

New Mercedes C-Class Electric gets a bittersweet range boost

New model has launched in Germany but won’t be coming to the UK
News
17 Sep 2026
Car Deal of the Day: A fully-loaded Range Rover Evoque is now just £455 a month
Range Rover Evoque P300e Autobiography - full width front

Car Deal of the Day: A fully-loaded Range Rover Evoque is now just £455 a month

Not often do we feature a Range Rover, but today is an exception. The top-spec Evoque is our Deal of the Day for 18 September.
News
18 Sep 2026