Ferrari 488: which version to buy and why
If you are choosing a Ferrari 488 rather than reading a model overview, the short answer from this catalogue is: among the seven Coupe versions on file, the lightest 3.9 DCT at 670 hp and 1370 kg (first generation, ceramic brakes, 155 mm ground clearance) is the most efficient 670 hp car by weight; the 720 hp 3.9 DCT at 1380 kg is the strongest power-to-weight among the 720 hp pair; and in the sec…
If you are choosing a Ferrari 488 rather than reading a model overview, the short answer from this catalogue is: among the seven Coupe versions on file, the lightest 3.9 DCT at 670 hp and 1370 kg (first generation, ceramic brakes, 155 mm ground clearance) is the most efficient 670 hp car by weight; the 720 hp 3.9 DCT at 1380 kg is the strongest power-to-weight among the 720 hp pair; and in the second generation the lighter 3.9 DCT Pista at 711 hp and 1385 kg is the one that actually uses the Pista numbers without the 95 kg extra of the heavier Pista. There is no Spider in this dataset — every generation here is Coupe. Production years: first generation 2015-03-01 to 2019-01-31, second generation 2018-01-01 to 2020-12-31. Fuel consumption is not measured on first-generation versions; second-generation figures exist.
Ferrari 488 generations compared (not a restyling list)
First generation (2015-03-01–2019-01-31), Coupe, 4 versions, all named 3.9 DCT. They are not four names; they are four packages of the same label, so buy by horsepower, kerb weight, top speed, CO2, clearance, and brakes.
Second generation (2018-01-01–2020-12-31), Coupe, 3 versions: two 3.9 DCT Pista (both 711 hp, split by 1385 kg vs 1480 kg) and one 3.9 DCT GTB (670 hp, 1370 kg). The generations overlap in calendar years; they are not a restyle counted as a third generation.
Shared hardware you should not treat as a differentiator: 3902 cc Gasoline, 8 cylinders V-shaped, 4 valves per cylinder, Turbo, Central engine, Direct injection (direct), bore and stroke 86.5 × 83, 98 fuel, Robotic 7-speed, RWD, 78 L tank, wheels 245/35 R20 and 305/30 R20, independent spring suspension front and rear. Displacement in cc is 3902 on every version (engine size searches: that is the only figure here). Engine oil capacity, oil type, engine bay layout, sound, and “engine control system failure” are not measured.
Ferrari 488 specs table (engines, hp, torque)
| Version | Generation | hp (kW @ rpm) | Nm @ rpm | cc | Fuel | Cyl. / layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.9 DCT 720 hp, 1385 kg | 1 | 720 (530 @ 8000) | 770 @ 3000 | 3902 | Gasoline | 8 V-shaped | Turbo | Robotic 7 | RWD |
| 3.9 DCT 670 hp, 1370 kg | 1 | 670 (492 @ 8000) | 760 @ 3000 | 3902 | Gasoline | 8 V-shaped | Turbo | Robotic 7 | RWD |
| 3.9 DCT 720 hp, 1380 kg | 1 | 720 (530 @ 8000) | 770 @ 3000 | 3902 | Gasoline | 8 V-shaped | Turbo | Robotic 7 | RWD |
| 3.9 DCT 670 hp, 1525 kg | 1 | 670 (492 @ 8000) | 760 @ 3000 | 3902 | Gasoline | 8 V-shaped | Turbo | Robotic 7 | RWD |
| 3.9 DCT Pista 711 hp, 1385 kg | 2 | 711 (522 @ 8000) | 770 @ 3000 | 3902 | Gasoline | 8 V-shaped | Turbo | Robotic 7 | RWD |
| 3.9 DCT GTB 670 hp, 1370 kg | 2 | 670 (492 @ 8000) | 760 @ 3000 | 3902 | Gasoline | 8 V-shaped | Turbo | Robotic 7 | RWD |
| 3.9 DCT Pista 711 hp, 1480 kg | 2 | 711 (522 @ 8000) | 770 @ 3000 | 3902 | Gasoline | 8 V-shaped | Turbo | Robotic 7 | RWD |
Compression ratio splits the engine family: 9.6 on every 720 hp and every Pista; 9.4 on every 670 hp car including 3.9 DCT GTB. Peak rpm is 8000 for power and 3000 for torque on all seven.
Power per litre (hp ÷ 3902 cc as litres): 720 hp versions 184.5 hp/L; 711 hp Pista 182.2 hp/L; 670 hp versions 171.7 hp/L. The Pista is 9 hp below the first-generation 720 hp 3.9 DCT and 41 hp above the 670 hp cars. Torque: 770 Nm on 720 hp and Pista vs 760 Nm on 670 hp / GTB — a 10 Nm gap.
Ferrari 488 horsepower, 0–100, and mpg (performance and economy)
0–100 km/h (this catalogue does not give 0–60): 2.85 s on both first-generation 720 hp 3.9 DCT cars and on both 3.9 DCT Pista; 3 s on every 670 hp car including 3.9 DCT GTB. The extra 50 hp of the 720 vs 670 (or 41 hp of Pista vs GTB) is 0.15 s on this test. Pista does not beat the first-generation 720 hp 3.9 DCT on 0–100: both are 2.85 s.
Top speed is where the four first-generation 3.9 DCT cars actually differ:
- 340 km/h: both 720 hp first-generation 3.9 DCT, and both 3.9 DCT Pista.
- 330 km/h: first-generation 670 hp 3.9 DCT at 1370 kg, and second-generation 3.9 DCT GTB.
- 325 km/h: first-generation 670 hp 3.9 DCT at 1525 kg — 5 km/h slower than the other 670 hp car, on the same 670 hp and 760 Nm.
CO2: 263 g on the 1385 kg 720 hp 3.9 DCT and on both Pista; 267 g on the 1380 kg 720 hp 3.9 DCT (4 g more for 5 kg less kerb weight); 260 g on every 670 hp car.
Fuel consumption: not measured (city / highway / mixed) for all four first-generation 3.9 DCT. Second generation:
- 3.9 DCT Pista (both weights): city 17, highway 8.8, mixed 11.8.
- 3.9 DCT GTB: city 16.6, highway 8.4, mixed 11.4.
GTB uses 0.4 less in city, 0.4 less on highway, 0.4 less mixed than Pista. Eco class is not measured on every version.
Ferrari 488 weight kg, clearance, tank, wheels (dimensions)
Gross weight is not measured on every version. Overall length / width / height and weight distribution are not measured. Tank is 78 L and tyre sizes are 245/35 R20 / 305/30 R20 on all seven.
Kerb weight and kg per hp (kerb ÷ hp):
| Version | Kerb kg | hp | kg/hp | Clearance mm | Brakes F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.9 DCT 720 hp | 1385 | 720 | 1.92 | not measured | Ventilated disc / Disc ventilated |
| 3.9 DCT 670 hp | 1370 | 670 | 2.04 | 155 | Ceramic ventilated / Ceramic ventilated |
| 3.9 DCT 720 hp | 1380 | 720 | 1.92 | not measured | Ventilated disc / Disc ventilated |
| 3.9 DCT 670 hp | 1525 | 670 | 2.28 | 150 | Ventilated disc / Disc ventilated |
| 3.9 DCT Pista | 1385 | 711 | 1.95 | 105 | Ceramic ventilated / Ceramic ventilated |
| 3.9 DCT GTB | 1370 | 670 | 2.04 | 155 | Ceramic ventilated / Ceramic ventilated |
| 3.9 DCT Pista | 1480 | 711 | 2.08 | 105 | Ventilated disc / Disc ventilated |
The two first-generation 720 hp 3.9 DCT cars are 5 kg apart (1385 vs 1380). The two first-generation 670 hp 3.9 DCT cars are 155 kg apart (1370 vs 1525) — that is the largest weight gap in the model. The two 3.9 DCT Pista cars are 95 kg apart (1385 vs 1480). 3.9 DCT GTB matches the lightest first-generation 670 hp car at 1370 kg.
Ground clearance: 155 mm on the light 670 hp 3.9 DCT and on 3.9 DCT GTB; 150 mm on the 1525 kg 670 hp 3.9 DCT (5 mm lower); 105 mm on both Pista (50 mm below GTB). First-generation 720 hp clearance is not measured.
Which Ferrari 488 version to choose
If you want the 670 hp car with the least mass: first-generation 3.9 DCT at 670 hp / 1370 kg, or second-generation 3.9 DCT GTB at the same 670 hp, 492 kW, 760 Nm, 3 s, 330 km/h, 260 g CO2, 1370 kg, 155 mm, ceramic brakes. Arithmetic difference between those two: 0 hp, 0 kg, 0 s, 0 km/h. What the second generation adds on the GTB is measured fuel use (16.6 / 8.4 / 11.4) that is not measured on the first-generation twin.
If you want 670 hp but you are looking at the heavy first-generation 3.9 DCT: that 3.9 DCT is 1525 kg, 155 kg heavier than the 1370 kg 670 hp car, 2.28 kg/hp vs 2.04 kg/hp, top speed 325 vs 330, clearance 150 vs 155, and ventilated discs instead of ceramics. Same 670 hp and 760 Nm. That extra mass does not buy speed or clearance in this table.
If you want peak horsepower in generation 1: both 3.9 DCT at 720 hp / 530 kW / 770 Nm / 2.85 s / 340 km/h. Choose 1380 kg over 1385 kg for 5 kg less and the same power (1.92 kg/hp on both, rounded). The 1380 kg car is the higher-CO2 one (267 vs 263). Neither has measured consumption or measured clearance. Both use ventilated discs, not ceramics.
If you want a Pista: both 3.9 DCT Pista are 711 hp / 522 kW / 770 Nm / 2.85 s / 340 km/h / 263 g / 17 / 8.8 / 11.8 / 105 mm. The buy decision is weight and brakes: 1385 kg with ceramics vs 1480 kg with ventilated discs. 95 kg extra on the heavy Pista is 0.13 kg/hp worse (2.08 vs 1.95) and no extra speed. Versus GTB, a Pista adds 41 hp and 10 Nm, cuts 0.15 s and raises top speed by 10 km/h, uses 0.4 more fuel on each cycle, and sits 50 mm lower.
If you are comparing Pista to the first-generation 720 hp 3.9 DCT: Pista is 9 hp down, same 770 Nm, same 2.85 s, same 340 km/h. The light Pista matches the 1385 kg 720 hp car on kerb weight; it is 5 kg heavier than the 1380 kg 720 hp car. What Pista adds vs those 720 hp cars in this file: a name, 105 mm clearance (720 hp clearance not measured), measured mpg, and ceramics on the light Pista. It does not add 0–100 or top speed.
Spider: this catalogue’s Ferrari 488 generations are Coupe only. Spider specs, Spider horsepower, and Spider dimensions are not measured here.
Problems / reliability: not in the launch data — do not infer them from CO2 or kg/hp.
For sale / price: no sale or price figures in the data; this comparison is hp, kg, seconds, km/h, litres, millimetres, and grams only.
Practical ranking from the numbers, not from marketing names: lightest 670 hp 3.9 DCT or 3.9 DCT GTB for clearance and ceramics at 2.04 kg/hp; 1380 kg 720 hp 3.9 DCT for the best kg/hp (1.92) and 340 km/h if you accept not measured mpg and clearance; light 3.9 DCT Pista if you want Pista output with ceramics and will live with 105 mm; avoid treating the 1525 kg 3.9 DCT and the 1480 kg 3.9 DCT Pista as equal to their lighter namesakes — they share the badge and not the mass.