The vast majority of sports car manufacturers have a formula for revealing new models: first comes the standard coupe, followed approximately a year later by the convertible, and then they finish off with special editions or higher performance iterations.
Ferrari is following form, and so a Spider version of the new 488 GTB has been expected. And the 488 GTS, as it will be called, will reportedly be revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. If you’ve read up on the 488 GTB, you can likely guess its specs and design characteristics, but I’ll share them with you anyway. We here at Digital Trends do the exhaustive research so you don’t have to.
Slotting under the GTS’s hood will be the newly developed 3.9 liter twin-turbocharged V8 from the GTB, producing 660 horsepower and 560 pound-feet of torque. In the GTB, 0 to 60 mph takes just 3.0 seconds and top speed is rated at 205 mph. Of course, slightly marred aerodynamics and a bit of extra weight from the power folding roof will slow the 488 GTS, but don’t expect your Hellcat to get any closer to the GTS’s bumper than the GTB’s.
As with the 458 Italia Spider, the lure of an open-top 488 GTS, or really any roofless Ferrari, will be un-obstructed access to its sonorous Italian heart. While turbocharged engines don’t quite compare to a naturally-aspirated V12 wail, the GTS should appease any desire for a symphony of Ferrari soul tunes.
If you’re of the “more power” camp, I have some positive news for you as well. Ferrari is reportedly planning a 488 GTB Scuderia version (see formula above) that will feature added grunt, a more aggressive body, weight reduction, suspension tweaks, and stronger brakes.
We don’t have a confirmed release date for the Scuderia, but don’t expect a hotter GTB until 2017 at the earliest.
