When Ferrari replaced the 488 GTB with the F8 Tributo in 2019, there was a question worth asking: was this a genuine step forward or an incremental update dressed in new sheet metal? The answer, after a few years and some serious time in the car, is clear. The F8 Tributo is better than the 488 GTB in every measurable way – and it may be the last pure expression of Ferrari’s twin-turbo mid-engine V8 formula before electrification changes everything.
The Tributo Name
Tributo means tribute. Ferrari chose the name to acknowledge the 308 GTB – a car from the late 1970s that established the mid-engined V8 layout as Ferrari’s signature sports car format. The F8 Tributo is the latest in that lineage and, with the hybrid 296 GTB following it, effectively the last traditional entry in the series.
That context matters. The F8 Tributo is not just a better 488 – it is the endpoint of a formula that Ferrari has been refining for nearly 50 years.
Engine and Performance
The 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 produces 530 kW (720 hp) in the F8 Tributo – the same output as the 488 Pista. Ferrari achieved this by bringing over the Pista’s engine improvements to the standard car: larger turbos, titanium connecting rods, and revised intake geometry. Torque is 770 Nm.
The 0-100 km/h time is 2.9 seconds. Top speed is 340 km/h. These are near-identical to the Pista’s figures but delivered in a car that is significantly more comfortable day-to-day.
The F8 is lighter than the 488 GTB by 40 kg and has more aerodynamic downforce despite a cleaner exterior design. The S-Duct under the front bumper channels air to increase front downforce without adding drag – a solution borrowed directly from the 488 Pista.
Driving Experience
The F8 Tributo drives with a precision and urgency that the GTB pointed toward but the Tributo fully delivers. The steering is sharper, the engine response from low revs is more immediate, and the SSC6.1 stability system gives drivers noticeably more latitude before intervening.
In Sport mode on a clear road, the F8 is a genuinely exciting machine. The engine note – a combination of intake induction roar and exhaust bark – is among the best sounds in any current production car. The chassis feels alive in a way that requires active participation from the driver, which is exactly what you want in a Ferrari.
In Comfort mode, the F8 is usable daily. The ride is firmer than a GT car but not punishing on well-surfaced roads. Air conditioning, a competent audio system, and a digital cluster with good readability make it liveable for commuting.
Australian Pricing and LCT
The Ferrari F8 Tributo was priced at approximately $450,000 to $520,000 new in Australia. LCT adds around $120,000 to $140,000 to the base price at that level, bringing delivered costs to $570,000 or more for a well-optioned car.
On the used market in 2026, clean F8 Tributos with under 15,000 km are trading from approximately $400,000 to $500,000. The F8 Spider (convertible variant) commands a $60,000 to $80,000 premium over coupe pricing for equivalent specification.
Ferrari Australia’s allocation of F8 Tributos was limited, and demand was strong throughout its production life. It is not yet at the collector premiums of the 488 Pista, but supply is constrained enough that good examples hold value well.
The Spider Version
The F8 Spider uses the same powertrain and shares the F8 Tributo’s chassis and aerodynamic work. The retractable hard top opens in 14 seconds and the car drives very close to the coupe in dynamic terms – a tribute to Ferrari’s structural engineering. Some rigidity is lost, but it is imperceptible except at the absolute limit of the car’s capability.
For Australian buyers who plan to use the car on long coastal drives or in the warmer northern states, the Spider is worth the premium.
Verdict
The Ferrari F8 Tributo is the best expression of Ferrari’s twin-turbo mid-engine V8 formula in a road car format. It is faster than the 488 GTB, more refined than the 488 Pista, and better to drive day-to-day than both. As the last of its kind – the last pure petrol mid-engine Ferrari before the 296’s hybrid system took over – it will be remembered as a high point. Buy a clean one now before that recognition fully arrives in Australian prices.