The iconic luxury sports manufacturer from Maranello, Italy has always maintained a sort of exclusivity by limiting its production output to a certain number of vehicles. That figure stood at 7,000 units worldwide throughout most of the 2010s, but with an increase in interest from China, the Italians finally broke the 8,000 unit margin in 2016. Afterwards came another Ferrari’s record-breaking year, when the prancing horse emblem found its way to exactly 8,398 cars in 2017. Although they’ll likely slow things down a bit, the growing sales trend is expected to continue for the Italians. Regardless of the aforementioned limit, the U.S.A. has traditionally been one of the most important markets for Ferrari. They’ve been selling north of 2,000 vehicles in the U.S. since 2014, and they’ve now broken the record in 2017 with 2,518 sold Ferraris. The only question now is; what exactly does the 2019 Ferrari lineup have to offer?
MY 2019 marks the year in which the Ferrari California T and LaFerrari Aperta are heading into well-deserved retirement. On the other hand, the Italians are introducing only one new model to fill the void, and that’s the most powerful version of the 488 Berlinetta to date – the Ferrari 488 Pista. Having received a major powertrain overhaul compared to the 488 GTB, the Pista has also become the most powerful road-focused V8 model in the company’s history. Apart from that, the remainder of the Ferrari lineup for 2019 remains intact. Considering most of the currently available models date from 2016 or 2017, they’re all still very much relevant in the sports luxury world. Getting one, however, is far from easy. Apart from their exorbitant stickers, you’d have to compete with priority (read: returning) customers which always get priority. If, by chance, you are one of them, here’s what to pay attention to when it comes to the Ferrari models in MY 2019. If not, well, feel free to take a look as well, just know this is going to be more of a window shopping affair for you.
You might also be interested to see how Ferrari’s arch-rival Lamborghini will be holding up in the coming model year.
What’s Hot In the New 2019 Ferrari Lineup
5. 2019 812 Superfast
The mid-front-engine rear-wheel-drive grand-tourer aptly named Superfast is one of the most powerful Ferrari cars ever produced. It succeeds the F12berlinetta which bowed down in 2017 and raises its predecessor’s power output by another 59 ponies. As if F12’s 730 horsepower wasn’t impressive enough already? Apart from boasting an otherworldly 789 horsepower and 530 pound-feet of twist, the Ferrari 812 Superfast also sports an almost entirely new 6.5L V12 mill with 75 percent new parts compared to the F12’s 6.3L V12 unit. Power comes in spades as the rev counter reaches its redline and, speaking of which, the redline sits at 8,500 rpm. Even from a standstill, the Superfast is more than capable of accelerating to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds, in no small part thanks to short gear ratios. It’s also able to hit a top speed of 211 mph. What’s more, although weighing as much as 3,900 pounds, the grand tourer is extremely dexterous in the corners as well.
The new Ferrari 812 Superfast’s frame is almost entirely made out of aluminum, with carbon-fiber playing the second – and mostly optional – fiddle. This is one of the numerous similarities the 812 shares with its predecessor. Another one is the F12tdf’s exquisite rear-wheel steering system which is what helps the 812 Superfast be so nimble. The 812 Superfast is also the first Ferrari fitted with EPS (Electronic Power Steering). The ride, as is usually the case with low-slung supercars, can be choppy at times, but not to the level where the 812 Superfast wouldn’t be acceptable as a daily driver. If you can afford one, that is, since pre-options bidding starts at $315,000. Not exactly an exorbitant price tag as far as Ferraris go, but definitely not an insignificant one either.
4. 2019 488
As much as people loved the Ferrari 458, every good thing comes to an end. Luckily, the Italians have quickly answered with a replacement that’s even better in almost every conceivable way. The Ferrari 488, available as either a Berlinetta GTB or a Spider, is more striking, more powerful, much quicker and, of course, more expensive than its predecessor. Unlike the 458, the new everyday-driver Ferrari sports a turbocharged engine. The potent 3.9L twin-turbocharged V8 generates as much as 661 horsepower and 561 lb-ft of torque compared to 458’s 597 hp and 398 lb-ft. Like it was the case many times before with the Maranello company, it’s the engine itself that gives the car its name; specifically, its metric displacement of 488 cubic centimeters per cylinder.
The 2019 Ferrari 488 GTB and Spider should carry over without too many changes, which will be the new Pista track model’s responsibility. More on that later, however. Sticking with “conventional” 488s, they are both good enough for the 0 to 60 mph acceleration in a flat 3 seconds. Their twin-scroll turbos have a lot to do with that result, or so the Italians claim. Apparently, they come with “zero lag” which is an extraordinary achievement. Finally, the 488 is also capable of reaching a top speed of 205 mph. The interior, surprisingly, doesn’t come with a touchscreen display, but neither does it sport too many knobs and buttons. Most controls (even lights) have migrated to the new multi-functional steering wheel. Options like a 1,280-watt sound system make the otherwise barren 488’s interior more hospitable. Then again, for $250,000 ($270,000 for Spider) and beyond, you’re not buying a plushy interior. You’re buying a status symbol and one of the best sports cars out there.
03. 2019 GTC4Lusso
The Ferrari GTC4Lusso is one of those oddball cars you never imagined would actually exist on the market, but it also has its fair share of perks and strong points. This highly potent Ferrari shooting brake is practically only a couple of doors short of being one of the most outrageous station wagons in automotive history. It’s available in conventional GTC4Lusso and GTC4Lusso T forms with the main differences being in their respective powertrains. There’s also the fact that the former comes with an all-wheel drive configuration, while the T-labeled model spins the rear wheels alone. Speaking of engines, the GTC4Lusso sports a naturally aspirated 6.2L V12 mill under its hood, while the GTC4Lusso T makes do with a twin-turbocharged 3.9L V8 unit. The former generates a whopping 680 hp and 514 lb-ft of torque, while the latter “only” makes 602 hp and 561 lb-ft. Regardless of the grand tourer of choice, both come with a dual-clutch 7-speed automatic gearbox, and both handle the asphalt extremely well.
So well in fact, that the turbocharged version accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. The “no replacement for displacement” saying rings true here, though, as the V12 version does the same in 3.4 seconds. You might want to bear in mind that the faster model also weighs 100 pounds more due to its all-wheel-drive system. Also, both of them weigh quite a lot too (4,250 pounds versus 4,150 pounds). Despite packing a lot of heat and weight, both models drive like, more or less, any other Ferrari. Not only that, but they’re also more practical than the rest of the Ferrari lineup, given they support seating for up to four people. Finally, unlike the track-focused Ferrari vehicles, the GTC4Lusso and GTC4Lusso T boast quite a luxurious cabin with as many contemporary touches as you might have imagined. Thing is, they both cost north of $300,000, and that’s only the beginning.
02. 2019 Portofino
The beloved Ferrari California T is another in the long line of recently discontinued Ferrari cars, but fear not, for the replacement is showing even more upside. Enter the recently introduced Portofino 2+2 convertible – one of the latest offsprings of the new Ferrari turbocharging era. As you might have expected, the 2019 Ferrari Portofino also finds its motivation behind the contemporary marvel of a 3.9L twin-turbo V8 engine. In the Portofino’s case, however, the eight-banger manages to scrape “only” 591 ponies and 561 pound-feet of torque. All 591 horses and 561 lb-ft are sent to the rear axle via a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Maybe Portofino was intended as a pleasure sports car that melts seamlessly with roads overlooking rivieras across the globe, but it still manages to hit 60 mph from a standing start in around 3.5 seconds or so and maxes out at 199 mph.
If its predecessor was a looker, the Portofino is a stunner. More aggressive and sharper lines make it look like the early Star Wars Harrison Ford compared to the, for instance, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Harrison Ford, which the Ferrari California would be. It’s also 1.1 inches wider, 0.7 inches longer and 0.1 inches lower than its predecessor, giving it a drag coefficient of 0.31. An electronic differential and F1 traction control system are here to ensure that the Portofino doesn’t break a sweat even on the most curvaceous of roads. The electrically assisted steering, which made its debut in the 812 Superfast, helps in flinging the convertible into corners. Finally, the 2019 Portofino’s centerpiece can be opened and closed at speeds up to 25 mph. The power-folding hardtop is larger than before, but the Italians compensated by making it lighter as well.
01. 2019 488 Pista
Mentioned above already, the all-new Ferrari 488 Pista is the latest track version of the GTB Berlinetta. Aptly named (pista means track in Italian), this track-focused beast of a 488 aims to continue the legacy of three mid-engined track-oriented V8 Ferrari 2-seaters that came before it: the 2004 360 Challenge Stradale, the 430 Scuderia, and the 458 Speciale. Needless to say, it does one hell of a job at doing just that. It shares the same 3.9L twin-turbocharged V8 mill of its more conventional 488 siblings, albeit with 50 percent new parts. The compression ratio, for instance, has risen from 9.4:1 to 9.6:1 while the crankshaft, flywheel, and connecting rods are all lighter, as well as the new Inconel exhaust manifold. The engine alone weighs 40 pounds less than the original while finding an additional 49 horsepower and 7 lb-ft of torque for the grand total of 710 hp and 568 lb-ft. In total, the 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista has shed as much as 198 pounds compared to the 488 GTB if ordered with optional carbon-fiber wheels.
All the extra power and weight savings immediately show on the scoreboard. The new Ferrari 488 Pista can hit 125 mph from a standstill in just 7.6 seconds and 60 mph in less than 3 seconds. But it’s not the drag strip where it excels the most – it’s the track, as its name would so appropriately suggest. The Italians have recorded a 1:21.5-second run at the in-house Fiorano track which is only 1.8 seconds slower than what they measured in the LaFerrari. Having had almost 800 horsepower and a highly advanced KERS system, the LaFerrari hypercar was an entirely different beast altogether. Yet, the 488 Pista has still managed to give it a handful. The $350,000 sports car sports a number of all-new high-tech goodies like the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer (FDE) which counters the loss of grip in corners. The Pista also comes with new Michelin Pilot Sport Cup K2 tires and various body revisions which help it generate 20 percent more downforce than the regular 488 GTB. All in all, the Ferrari 488 Pista is probably the peak for the Maranello company’s V8 2-seaters. For now.
Unless you’re of an opinion that roadsters are the ultimate expression of sexiness in a sports car, in which case the even newer Ferrari 488 Pista Spider unveiled at the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is the place to look for the ultimate Ferrari 2-seater. The spider version of the new car from Maranello uses the same powertrain and shares the same specifications as its fixed-roof sibling. It should also match the coupe’s 0 to 60 mph acceleration of 2.85 seconds and top speed of 211 mph. This is particularly impressive due to the fact the spider weighs a whole 220 pounds more than its coupe counterpart. Most of that extra weight goes on its retractable hard top roof and necessary support components. Prices still haven’t been disclosed but expect them to settle deep in the $300k range.
What’s Not In the New 2019 Ferrari Lineup
Nothing at the moment. MY 2018 marked a new beginning for the Maranello company, and the new Ferrari lineup for MY 2019 is well-balanced with a number of highly-advanced state-of-the-art luxury sports cars. Until their next failed experiment, which we might end up waiting for a very long time, here are some of their most infamous blunders from the past – the top 5 worst Ferraris ever made.
