Over the last three months, life moved into the slow lane. Rushed meetings, incessant phone calls, never ending deadlines, missed meals all dissipated almost overnight with the lockdown coming into effect. Even WFH was more of an acronym for me than being an act of getting work done from home as cities globally started to enforce lockdown measures. I learnt to bake better, read more books and even gave drawing a go. Life was good and unhurried. But there were moments when I missed meeting people, working against a deadline, taking a car out for test drive…
The auto gods must have heard me. One sunny afternoon, post lockdown, I got a call from Alfardan Motors, Muscat, to check if I would be interested in taking the Ferrari F8 Tributo for a drive. Yes, please! And with that I said good-bye to my pretty laidback life of three months. Nothing like getting into work life than with one of the fastest sportscars in the world.
Launched in 2019, the Ferrari F8 Tributo bears testament to the Italian marque’s commitment to creating beautiful, performance-oriented cars. The moniker, F8, pays homage to all V-8 Ferraris – back to the 308 GT4 Dino.
It goes without saying that Ferraris pack in quite the punch with their powerful engines and exemplary capabilities. Yet, the F8 Tributo does not cease to surprise both on road and track. I had the opportunity to test drive the F8 Tributo on the Fiorano Circuit in Maranello, home of Ferrari, late last year at the media launch. The F8 Tributo packs the power of a 488 Pista, which has been made for the track, and is a uber-worthy successor of the outgoing 488GTB. The new mid-engine, V-8 powered sports car ushers in a new era for Ferrari as a model that is as excellent on road as it is at the circuit.
The F8 Tributo is powered by a twin-turbo V8, which translates to indisputable power and a pleasant exhaust tone. The engine has 50 extra horsepower, an additional 10Nm and is 18kgs lighter than the motor in the 488 GTB, with an overall 40kgs reduction in weight. No wonder the two-seater Berlinetta moves with impeccable power and sportiness!
For lovers of details, here is a bit of technical data about the F8 Tributo: the multi-award-winning Ferrari V8 turbo has been voted the best engine of the last 20 years by experts from the automotive industry. Nominated for the Engine of the Year title for the third consecutive year in 2018, it went on to win with more than double the points of its closest contender. The F8 Tributo is powered to deliver 720 cv at 8,000 rpm.
Driving on Muscat roads was quite a treat as the capital was just coming out of lockdown and the streets were empty. Push it to its max, and F8 Tributo moves with deft agility and smoothness.
Even at top speed, the car is easy to handle and put the driver in complete control. The steering is nothing short of being astonishing and extremely quick. In fact, I would delay the turn in at a corner relying on the car to take do the needful, which it did. The power, versatility and the beautiful soundtrack of the F8 Tributo makes for an unparalleled drive.
Ferrari refers to the F8 Tributo as the most powerful V8 supercar. It doesn’t just stop at that – this is definitely one of the best creations from the luxury automobile manufacturer. Intuitive, powerful and technologically ahead, the F8 Tributo is the leader of the pack.