The 2018 Ferrari 488 Spider marries looks and performance like few others.
By Matthew S. Adams
Photography by Michelle Stancil
Life on the Gulf Coast is one of contrasting dualities, with weather that goes from clear and sunny to torrential downpour in minutes, and days that transition from lounging on the beach in the morning to spending time in traffic running errands that afternoon. To this end, potential car buyers are often torn between high-performance handling aspects and the cruising-speed luxury that comes from manufacturers like Bentley and Rolls-Royce. While some vehicles excel in performance and others focus more on the luxury “feeling” of driving via plush interiors and other design elements, the 2018 Ferrari 488 Spider combines the two in a way that exudes the conflicting nature of our coastal experience.
The two-door, two-passenger convertible is a car for the multitasker, blending high performance and high fashion in a way that is uniquely, unequivocally Ferrari. The car’s 3.9-liter V8, for example, is one of Ferrari’s highest performing engines, delivering upwards of 661 horsepower at 8,000 rpm, with 560 pounds per foot of torque at 3,000 rpm, making it a true powerhouse on the open road.
Capable of top speeds of 205 mph and going from 0 to 60 in three seconds flat, the 488 Spider may not be as formidable as some other exotics, but it more than makes up for the missing mph with excellent road grip and cornering capabilities, vastly improved by the car’s side-slip control system for maintaining a good center line through corners. The suspension system itself is something of a dream, allowing the car to push past 200 mph without some of the harsher vibrations found in other high-performance vehicles at similar speeds. Engine sound is also an important feature in establishing the 488 Spider’s dynamic personality, as engine noise rises from a low growl at lower rpm to a high-pitched, powerful scream when approaching redline, expressing its immense power to anyone within earshot.
The 488 Spider is also a great choice for those looking to take it easy in style. Featuring a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission, the Spider can go from high-functioning road warrior to fashionable day-tripper at the push of a button. The car’s interior consists of a leather and carbon fiber steering wheel (with increased thickness at 3 and 9 o’clock for better handling), leather racing seats with formed carbon shells, instrument panel navigation, and a polished carbon-fiber-trim cockpit sure to impress anyone that climbs inside. The cockpit itself opens at the push of a button, putting the top up or down in seconds and making it the perfect convertible choice for anyone familiar with the unpredictable nature of coastal weather.
With spring just around the corner, bringing with it the allure of clearer skies and good driving weather, the 2018 Ferrari 488 Spider may be just the thing to make the most of all the season has to offer, regardless of who’s behind the wheel or by what scale they judge it, be it style, raw power, or a combination of the two. Whether taking a leisurely beach cruise, running errands around town, or testing all 661 horsepower of the 488 Spider’s powerful engine on the open road, nothing beats a Ferrari.
See the 2018 Ferrari 488 Spider at …
Eastern Shore Luxury Cars
29721 Frederick Blvd.
Daphne, AL 36526
(251) 270-5977
easternshoreluxurycars.com
