200mph in an open car might sound like a hairdresser’s worst nightmare, but the newly-announced Ferrari 488 Spider looks like it will deliver a more sophisticated convertible hypercar experience.
Scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2016 at a likely price of just over £200,000, the Spider is powered by a screaming twin-turbo V8 producing 660bhp from just 3.9 litres.
That gives it a top speed of 203mph, the same 3.0-second 0-60mph time as the 488 GTB coupé – and the title of most potent mid-engined open-top Ferrari ever.
Slightly softer suspension reflects Ferrari’s expectation that the Spider won’t be taken to as many trackdays as the GTB.
The exhaust has been toned down too, though a glass wind-stopper behind the seats can be lowered or lifted irrespective of roof position to modulate the amount of engine noise allowed into the cabin.
Surprisingly, the folding hard-top (which deploys in just 14 seconds) is 25kg lighter than a canvas hood.
Overall, the Spider is a little heavier than the GTB, but its complex spaceframe chassis gives it 23% extra rigidity over the 458 Spider predecessor.
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