Forty years after the launch of the 308 GTB, the first mid-engined Ferrari built for the  road rather than for racing, Ferrari has unveiled the latest model in the line, the 488 GTB.

A replacement for the 458 Italia, it swaps that car’s 4,499cc naturally aspirated V8 engine for a 3,902cc turbocharged V8.

Power is up from 562bhp to 660bhp. But more significantly, maximum torque leaps 163lb ft to 561lb ft, and is available from just 3,000rpm compared with the Italia’s peak of 6,000rpm.

All of this helps the Ferrari 488 GTB accelerate from 0-62mph in 3.0sec and 0-124mph in 8.3sec, while top speed is 208mph.

Unlike its predecessors, the Ferrari 488 GTB uses a turbocharged engine

By comparison, the rival McLaren 650S matches the Ferrari’s 0-62mph time, but is 0.1sec slower to 124mph and has a fractionally lower top speed.

In addition to the improvement in performance, the 488 GTB is said to produce 50 per cent more downforce than the Italia and reduced drag.

Its eight-speed, twin-clutch paddle-shift gearbox features Variable Torque Management, a system which is designed to ensure the engine’s massive torque is unleashed smoothly across the rev range.

And Ferrari’s Side Slip Control 2 system, which improves acceleration out of corners, now controls the active dampers, which makes the car more stable during high-speed manoeuvres.

The price of the new Ferrari 488 GTB is still to be confirmed, but more details should be revealed in March when the car makes its public debut at the Geneva motor show.

SOURCE: By Steve Huntingford, 11:20AM GMT 03 Feb 2015, The Telegraph