CarExpert on YouTube recently lined up two of Maranello’s greatest V8s for a drag race: the naturally aspirated Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta versus the twin-turbocharged 488 Pista Spider.
The 488 Pista Spider, the ultimate open-top Special Series variant of the 488, boasts a twin-turbo V8 producing 710 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque—making it the most powerful V8 in Ferrari’s history. With that, it rockets to 60 mph in just 2.85 seconds.
The 458 Speciale Aperta, however, represents one of Ferrari’s most iconic naturally aspirated V8s. Debuting at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, it features a lightweight retractable hardtop that opens or closes in 14 seconds, enhancing cabin comfort with reduced wind buffeting and improving high-speed aerodynamics compared to a traditional soft-top. Despite being 772 pounds heavier than the fixed-roof Speciale, it matches its 0–62 mph sprint in 3.0 seconds and reaches 198.8 mph.
Conditions weren’t perfect, as the race was held at a regional airport runway with wet tarmac. That meant traction was an issue from the start. The first drag saw the Pista rocket ahead while the Speciale struggled to put its power down. They tried again, ditching launch control on the 458. Still, the Pista surged away, proving just how massive the leap in performance was between these two generations. Rolling races told the same story—the 458 sounded better, but the 488 was untouchable in terms of speed.
