It’s finally time for the Ferrari 488 Spider to move over and make room for a new convertible in the Ferrari family. The Italian automaker has just revealed the F8 Spider, which represents the newest evolution of Ferrari’s open-roof lineup. And while the style won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, we fully expect the F8 Spider to be one heck of a fun convertible.

F8 Spider Reveal

Ferrari must be riding high after a week of big wins. First, its Formula One team won the Italian Grand Prix for the first time since 2010. Right on the heels of this big win, the Ferrari F8 Spider was unveiled during a #UniversoFerrari livestream from Maranello in northern Italy. The reveal was first teased by Ferrari on September 6, 2019.

The official announcement then came on September 8, 2019, touting the “most astonishing rear-mounted V8 in #Ferrari history.”

F8 Tributo Convertible

As with its hardtop sibling, the Ferrari F8 Spider is a marked improvement over its predecessor, the 488 Spider. Like the F8 Tributo, the Spider uses a twin-turbo 3.9-liter V8 engine that is mounted behind the driver. The F8 Spider comes with ample revving potential with a redline of 8,000 rpm. With 711 hp, 568 lb-ft of torque, and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, expect the F8 Spider to be very, very quick.

The F8 is also 44 pounds lighter than the 488 Spider thanks to lighter crankshaft, flywheel, exhaust manifolds, and connecting rods.  While the vehicle is lighter, one thing that hasn’t changed from the 488 Spider is the 0-to-62 mph time. This remains steady at 2.9 seconds. The top speed of the F8 has, however, jumped up by 6 mph to 211.

Despite its massively powerful engine, the F8 has been developed with Euro 6 emission standards in mind. It includes a new gas particulate filter which helps it meet increasingly strict emissions requirements. Rather than accepting power compromises due to adding the filter, Ferrari made sure it recovered any power losses elsewhere in the vehicle design.

While the performance statistics are impressive to car buffs, the design is eye-catching for almost any car lover. The F8 boasts a retractable hardtop. Taking only 14 seconds to deploy, the hardtop can operate while the vehicle is moving, up to 28 mph. When the driver chooses to cruise with the wind in their hair, the hardtop is stored under a tonneau cover above the engine.

Supercar Technology

Don’t expect a tech-free supercar, either. The most visible modern feature in the cabin is a 7.0-inch touchscreen in front of the passenger seat. But most of the technology Ferrari included is meant to help drivers get the most out of the F8’s power.

The F8 comes with Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer +, which adjusts brake pressure coming out of corners to allow drivers to take corners faster and with more control. This feature can now be enabled in the car’s Race setting. Ferrari’s Side Slip Control system is also built in and helps drivers maintain vehicle control even if the rear end gets unwieldy.

F8 Spider Price

An upgrade in design and specs rarely comes without an uptick in price, as well. Ferrari Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer Enrico Galliera announced that Ferrari will increase the price of the convertible supercar by 11% compared to the 488 Spider. This puts the price tag at $289,000.  Production will begin in early 2020 and deliveries are anticipated to start in summer 2020.