Naza Italia unveils the Ferrari 488 GTB in Malaysia, yours for a cool RM1 million!

NAZA Italia, the official importer of the Ferrari brand in Malaysia, has just taken the wraps off the new Ferrari 488 GTB, which will be sold in Malaysia at an introductory base price (excluding duty and options) of RM1,068,800!

The Ferrari 488 GTB’s Malaysian debut comes just a few months after the model’s international premiere in Geneva. For your information, the 488 in the car’s moniker indicates the engines’ unitary displacement, while the GTB stands for Gran Turismo Berlinetta, a reference to its deep roots in Ferrari history.

At the heart of the 488 GTB lies a twin-turbocharged 3.9-litre unit (3902cc) that produces 661bhp at 8000rpm and 760Nm of torque at 3000rpm.

The mighty new engine in the 488 GTB drives the rear wheels through a revised 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox derived from the 458. It features a new ‘Variable Torque Management’ system which, Ferrari says, “unleashes the engine’s massive torque smoothly and powerfully right across the rev range”. The gear ratios are also tuned to deliver incredibly progressive acceleration when the driver floors the throttle.

As a result, the 488 GTB makes a century sprint in just 3.0 sec, 0-200 km/h sprint in 8.3 sec whilst reaching a top speed of 330 km/h.

Ferrari drew extensively too on its experience in both Formula One and endurance racing, bringing to the road the technology that delivered victory in two editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the title in the WEC (World Endurance Championship). Also pivotal was the XX programme in which Ferrari’s technicians have developed a unique knowledge of the dynamic behaviour of extreme cars driven by non-professional drivers.

Designed by the Ferrari Style Centre, the Ferrari 488 GTB’s sculptural forms are completely new. They accentuate the car’s sportiness yet retain the classically clean, pure lines typical of Ferrari’s legendary styling. The seamless interweaving of form and function is clear in every detail, in fact. Certain design elements are also obvious nods to the past, not least the 308 GTB-inspired styling of the flanks.

The Ferrari 488 GTB’s revolutionary aerodynamics incorporate patented solutions, such as the blown rear spoiler, as well as innovative features like the 458 GT-derived aerodynamic underbody with vortex generators. The result is a new efficiency record for a Ferrari; 11.4-litres/100km. Downforce increases to 325 kg at 250 km/h, thanks in part to active aerodynamic devices which reduce drag whilst simultaneously generating downforce when required.

The Ferrari 488 GTB’s dynamic vehicle controls have also been further evolved. It sports a new version of the Side Slip Control System (SSC2) which, aside from just integrating with the car’s F1-Trac and E-Diff, now also controls the active dampers. This renders the Ferrari 488 GTB’s dynamic behaviour during complex manoeuvres even flatter and more stable, so that less expert drivers can enjoy its potential to the fullest, resulting in an astonishingly engaging driving experience.

“The Ferrari 488 GTB provides a breathtaking 661bhp – the highest specific power output of any road-going Ferrari. Exceptionally powerful with greater fuel economy, this model is bound to be a new Malaysian favourite,” said Datuk Wira Hj. SM Faisal Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin, Group Executive Chairman & Group CEO, NAZA World Group of Companies.

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