My GT7 Log: Ferrari's V8 Tribute

The 458 Italia is by no means one of the greatest V8-powered masterpieces crafted by Ferrari. With the perfect balance of style and performance, it's no wonder the 458 Italia is the ultimate tour de force Ferrari has ever made. Even the opposition couldn't keep up against its charms.

Fast forward to a decade later, the 458 has grown up into the ultimate V8 masterpiece Ferrari has ever made; the F8 Tributo.

So, what's it all about the Ferrari F8 Tributo, you may ask?

The F8 Tributo says it all. It is a fitting tribute to all of the greatest V8-powered Ferraris in history from the 308 to the 488. For starters, the F8 retains the same 720PS 3.9L V8 Twin Turbo engine from the hardcore 488 Pista so with the F1-style double-clutch gearbox in place, it goes from 0-100kph in less than 3 seconds and onwards to 340kph. Apart from that, the F8 is lighter and more aerodynamically efficient compared to the 488 GTB it replaces and it's armed with a cutting range of tech such as the improved Side Slip Angle Control and the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer Plus, among many other improvements from its predecessor. It managed to shed 0.5 seconds from the Pista when it went around the Fiorano.

While downright beautiful to look at compared to the 458, except for the rearview that was stolen unashamedly from the Lotus Exige, the F8 drives like a race car because of its Scuderia Ferrari know-how implied in this ultimate V8-powered Ferrari. Give it a twirl and it sure loves to handle through the corners like a racing machine. Come to think of it, I'm already familiar with the way the F8 Tributo moves but still, this is GT7 and you're fine to introduce or re-introduce yourself to the F8 Tributo any time you want because when you give it a go, it will soon become your favorite Ferrari to drive in the game.

Speaking of which, let's find out how much Ferrari went through the years from the making of the 458 to the F8 Tributo, and with that, I went to Bathurst to conduct this serious experiment.

With Bathurst as its main testbed for the two V8-powered Ferraris, it's time to proceed with the experiment. Roll the tape!

After a quick lap around Bathurst, here are the results;

458 - 2m26.931s

F8 - 2m22.751s

It took nearly four seconds to evolve from the 458 to the F8! Kudos to Ferrari!

As the world shifts from the time proper ICE-powered vehicles becoming a thing of the past and electrification's the new normal, it's best to say that the F8 Tributo is becoming one of the all-time greats as it becomes the ultimate ICE-powered Ferrari ever built, although that designation belongs to its V12-powered big brother, it is still this is the ultimate V8-powered Ferrari ever built, no questions asked.

It's been an honor to drive the F8 Tributo in GT7. This is by no means the ultimate V8-powered Ferrari masterpiece, a tribute to the best V8-powered Ferraris in history. As the world shifts to the new normal, it will soon become an instant classic.

Forza Horizon: The same goodness of the 458 Italia...now in Spider variant

If I'm honest, the best Ferrari I have ever driven in the history of Forza was the 458 because someone told me in the telly that this is one of the all-time greats and I can't argue with that unless someone got a Mercedes-Benz with a gullwing door on it. The SLS AMG I was referring to but we're not into that, we'll leave that in future discussions. Anyway, there was a new model that has the same goodness of the 458 Italia...now in Spider variant!

A 458 Italia...minus the roof?

Yes, this is the Ferrari 458 Spider, brand new from Ferrari and it is essentially an open top version of the ever-favorite 458 Italia supercar. It has the same F1 dual-clutch transmission, the same direct-injected V8 engine from the Italia, the same mid-engined rear-wheel-drive layout, and the same awesomeness that you felt in the hardtop version (which I can't tell you until the right time comes).

Ignore the bees stinging your front, man!

Normally speaking, people told that convertible versions are heavier than their hardtop coupe versions probably because the manufacturers did some stiffening stuff to the bodywork but here on the 458 Spider, despite the added weight and the fact that is slower than its hardtop equivalent, it handles perfectly. It really handles like its hardtop equivalent.

A stunning scenery

Even without the roof, it's still the most dramatically designed Ferrari ever made and it's still the most enjoyable Ferrari to drive on Horizon. I cannot think of any words to describe its coolness even though this is the convertible version of the best Ferrari ever made. Even with the arrival of its rival, the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Spyder Performante, it's still the beauty of the beholder. It's really the best open top Ferrari ever made.

Welcome Back: 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia

Trust us, it's faster than the moron's F430!

There is more than welcoming back the coolest Ferrari of them all, the 458 Italia. This Ferrari served as the cover car of Forza Motorsport 4. Why? Because the Pininfarina styling and the remarkable performance of the 458 Italia is just right. If you hear Jeremy Clarkson's comments about the 458 Italia on the game's AutoVista feature, guess that his point of view is just right, there's no denying that....

The beauty, the 4.5L V8 power, the noise, the grip, it's just one of the many reasons why I love this Ferrari 458. I still prefer it more than the Ferrari FF, 599, Enzo, or any Ferrari offered on Forza 4, not even waiting for this new Ferrari flagship coming soon on this game...

Even though it's not as better than the McLaren MP4-12C, Lamborghini Aventador, or the Noble M600 round the Top Gear Test Track, I still strongly believe that the 458 has something that those three doesn't have; innovation, flair, performance, and passion. This car is what Ferrari does...

Tights and Stockings with Seatbelts

Song played in my personal BGM: A Question of Honour by Sarah Brightman

From the Album: Diva - The Singles Collection

As seen on Top Gear Series 17 Episode 3!

Forgive me for this title because in one episode of Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson said during the MP4-12C test drive that the McLaren MP4-12C is like a pair of tights while the Ferrari 458 Italia is like a pair stockings. Remember that tights and stockings are not made to do the same thing but enough of the hosiery jokes and ask about those two.

Ferrari 458 Italia in Rome

The Ferrari 458 Italia continues the Modena-based carmaker's MR tradition and it served as the replacement to the F430. It was launched at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show and this V8 midship grand tourer is the evolution since the 348 in 1989, F355 in 1994, 360 Modena in 1999, and the F430 in 2004. Trust us, this one's faster than James May's actual F430 where Jeremy Clarkson's littering it with a chocolate bar wrapper and a bag of Doritos. In the hands of The Stig, it lapped the Top Gear Test Track at 1:19.1, and it was proven to be faster than the Ferrari 430 Scuderia. Even though the assembly of the direct injection V8 engine is done by hand, computerized equipment made sure that each step of the process is done accurately. To be precise, the 458 Italia's crankshaft is one of the few parts that's balanced to within one gram for each level of balance. What we also learned that while painting the 458 Italia's body, Ferrari uses a powder base coat process that produces zero emission and it uses "emu feathers" as the only kind of feather that can clean in an electrostatically charged environment.

If that wasn't enough, some say that Pound-for-Pound Boxing Champ and Saranggani Congressman Manny Pacquiao added the Ferrari 458 Italia to his personal car collection, costing 309,000 US Dollars.

McLaren MP4-12C in London

This here is the McLaren MP4-12C. Hmmm... MP4-12C... That name sounds more like a fax machine but some say it's faster than the 458 Italia. Why? At the Top Gear Test Track, this is the fastest McLaren ever made because of the 1:16.2 lap time. Can we consider that the MP4-12C is faster than the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4? Never mind, well the story of the MP4-12C began when McLaren's development team began testing prototype versions since 2007 and their final "sign-off" 1,000 mile drive was complete. The MP4-12C features a carbon MonoCell chassis that weighs only 75kg, making it a great contribution for the car's weight loss. It promises 0-100kph in 3.3 seconds but with racing tires, it can do 3.1 seconds and flatout, it will do over 330kph or in the church of England; 205mph. The high-performance 3.8L V8 twin turbo engine produces 592HP of power and 600Nm of torque, while the CO2 emissions are 279g/km and it delivers 8.5km/L (11.7L/100km) of fuel economy. It has a braking distance of 30.5 meters from 60mph-0. Now you know....

Hey James May! You said that the MP4-12C wasn't developed at the Nurburgring, right? Well you're wrong because the MP4-12C lapped the Nurburgring in 7 minutes and 28 seconds. Guess this fact made James "Captain Slow" May so angry, that he went home.

I guess this 458-12C rivalry is the hottest thing we get and even in Gran Turismo 5, it's still getting hotter than a super spicy extra hot steak I'm ordering at a nearby restaurant.