Ferrari F8 Tributo: A celebration of excellence

The chaos that is Sandton traffic is simply not worth it. I would rather take a chance on a firing squad somehow missing me, than dodging impatient bomber taxi drivers and dozy yuppies that can’t spend 30 seconds away from their cell phone or use the handsfree car kit in their expensive corporate funded car.

But when the suicide mission involves spending some time with the team from Scuderia South Africa and their stunning new Ferrari sports car, the F8 Tributo, that made its official debut at an exclusive private preview last Friday, you willingly take one for the team and venture out to their Johannesburg showroom in Sandton.

Before I let marketing people at Ferrari bring you all the styling and technical details, I think you should know that the first shipment of cars are already spoken for and Ferrari says they will sell each and every single one they can get after this too, as is to be expected.

So, if you have R5 502 000 in your piggy bank and are prepared to wait a few years on a very elite list, you too can own a very special car. Now over to Ferrari for the details.

The F8 Tributo, is a car with unique characteristics and, as its name implies, is a homage to the most powerful V8 in Ferrari history. It makes the performance of the best eight-cylinder in the world accessible to all drivers, with unprecedented handling and superior ride comfort.

With a massive 530kW and a record specific power output of 136kW per litre, it is the most powerful V8 ever to be mounted in a non-special series Ferrari, achieving new heights not just for turbos, but for engines across the board. The turbocharged V8 has already been used in other models in the range with various power output levels, winning “Best Engine” in the International Engineof-the-Year awards three years running in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

In 2018, it was also awarded the title of the best engine of the last two decades. The F8 Tributo is said to deliver its 530kW without the slightest hint of turbo lag and produces an evocative soundtrack.

Instantaneous power is matched by exceptional handling thanks to the integration of state-of-the-art aerodynamics solutions derived from Ferrari’s track experience.

Designed by the Ferrari Styling Centre, the F8 Tributo is essentially a bridge to a new design language that will continue to emphasise Ferrari’s key characteristics of high performance and extreme aerodynamic efficiency.

In fact, the F8 Tributo is the most aerodynamically efficient series-production mid-rear-engined coupe ever designed. The F8 Tributo replaces the 488 GTB and, in the range, is the model with the highest performance matched by the greatest driver involvement. There are significant improvements across the board, aimed at providing even better control on the limit along with greater on-board comfort.

The F8 Tributo punches out 38kW more than the 488 GTB, is 40 kg lighter and benefits from a 10% improvement in aerodynamic efficiency along with the latest 6.1 version of the Side Slip Angle Control.

In honour of showcasing the F8 Tributo on South Africa soil, the official Ferrari dealer has M partnered with the Anne van DykCheetah Centre to commemorate another African icon too; an icon that shares many attributes with that of the Ferrari F8 Tributo.

“An African cheetah, officially named Tributo has been adopted by Scuderia South Africa to celebrate a likeness of beauty, performance, agility and, of course, speed.

“Both the F8 Tributo and our cheetah, boast strong aesthetics, handle corners with precision and both can reach 100km/h in just under 3 seconds. As the official Ferrari dealer in South Africa we are proud to support and endorse the conservation of these rare and glorious creatures.” adds Scuderia South Africa CEO, Mervyn Eagles.

The Ferrari F8 Tributo will continue its roadshow throughout South Africa as it is revealed at the official dealers in Durban and Cape Town later this month.

Tributo the cheetah will remain at her home at the Anne van Dyk Cheetah Centre where she can be visited by the Ferrari family and continue in her mission in educating communities about her fellow rare and endangered species.

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