Watch out McLaren, the Ferrari F8 Spider is now here in Malaysia



The Ferrari F8 Spider we checked out during its launch in Maranello has now made its way onto our shores. Just like the F8 Tributo which this car is based on, we are the first country in the region to launch the Ferrari F8 Spider – lucky us!

Dubbed “less extreme than the 488 Pista Spider but sportier than the 488 Spider” which this model replaces, the F8 Spider gets the same award-winning 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, packing 720 hp and 770 Nm of torque. The output figure matches the 488 Pista Spider, and puts it squarely against its main rival, the McLaren 720S Spider.

Power from the twin-turbo V8 is sent through a seven-speed dual-clutch F1 transmission to the rear wheels, which helps propel the F8 Spider from naught to 100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds; 0-200 km/h is done in just 8.2 seconds, onward to a top speed of 340 km/h.

The F8 Spider completes the century sprint 0.1 faster than its predecessor. This is largely thanks to the 50 hp increase in power and 10 Nm increase in torque, all while being 20 kg lighter than the 488 Spider – 18 kg of which is from the engine itself.

To keep all that power in check (and the car on the road), Ferrari is employing a whole arsenal of electronic assistance, including the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer Plus (FDE+) with Side Slip Control, now in version 6.1, which allows the driver to easily carry out controlled slides, also known as drifts.

The century sprint time is pretty much identical to that of the F8 Tributo, but that’s assuming if you’d want to keep the Retractable Hard Top (RHT) on. Ferrari says that the Spider is designed in parallel with the Tributo, which means the F8 Spider’s lines have been crafted with the RHT in mind.

Crucially, Ferrari designers say that the separation between body and roof is shifted higher to above the B-pillar, compared to the conventional position at the beltline. This has made the roof more compact, allowing it to be split into two parts and stowed on top of the engine. The process takes just 14 seconds, and can be done at speeds of up to 45 km/h.

The Ferrari F8 Spider is now available starting at the base price of RM1,178,000, before customisation options, tax, and insurance. Fortunately, the price also includes an extended seven-year maintenance programme, which covers all regular maintenance for the topless supercar for the first seven years of its life.

The F8 Spider is available for private viewing from now until the 31st of May. Alongside the launch of the F8 Spider, Ferrari Malaysia has also introduced the Ferrari 812 GTS in the country.


IMAGE GALLERY