My FH5 Log: F8 vs. SF90

At long last, it's time to end the Ferrari de Mayo takeover before getting ready for the German takeover in Forza Horizon 5 with the duel between the F8 Tributo and the SF90 Stradale. It's been a long time coming and now here it is.

For a quick recap, the F8 Tributo is the ultimate midship V8-powered Ferrari ever built; a fitting tribute to the best midship V8-powered Ferraris in history. Using the same 720PS 3.9L V8 Twin Turbo engine from the hardcore 488 Pista, while mated to an F1-style double-clutch gearbox, the F8 goes from 0-100kph in less than 3 seconds and onwards to 340kph.

The SF90, meanwhile, features a plug-in hybrid setup, a first for Ferrari, where the turbocharged F154 4.0L V8 engine, producing 780PS of power, is connected to three electric motors, two on the front axle and one between the engine and the 8-speed double-clutch gearbox, resulting to a monstrous 1,000PS of total power output that pushes the SF90 to a 0-100kph time of 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 340kph.

So, the ultimate in ICE-powered Ferrari is up against its electrified cousin, facing each other. Which one is the best? To find out, it's time to head back to the Horizon Festival Mexico main site and find out which of these two modern-day Ferraris is the best.

With the venue set, the duel of the V8-powered Ferraris is on. Will the ICE hero prevail over its electrified rival or is the future really here with the Ferrari that embraced electrification? Roll the tape!

After a quick lap, here are the results;

F8 - 1m05.799s

SF90 - 1m05.265s

It's a close result! The SF90 defeats the F8 by a near 0.6-second gap! Guess electrification has trumped the internal combustion after all but I'm not quite happy about the results because...

...because this is not the Ferrari way I hoped for. Sure, Ferrari did a great job embracing the age of electrification with cars like the LaFerrari and the SF90 Stradale but I prefer the way Ferrari was; being on top of the supercar food chain with its raw, gritty, Italian iron fist approach and the F8 demonstrated that the Ferrari I knew is no more. It has moved on.

Although I had to end it on a sad note, I'm very glad I got my dibs on the two Ferraris that became the omega and the alpha of Maranello's approach. The F8 signalled the end of the era where internal combustion made Ferrari great while the SF90 signalled the beginning of the era where Ferrari braced electrification to make it greater than before, although the LaFerrari spearheaded that trend.

Whichever path it went, Ferrari is still Ferrari. They are still the kings of the road, whatever it takes.

Forza Ferrari!

My FH5 Log: Ferrari de Mayo (Part 5)

The Series 7 update in Forza Horizon 5 celebrates Ferrari taking over the entire series playlists in time for Cinco de Mayo celebrations. Here is the last one in the Ferrari de Mayo takeover in FH5; the ultimate V8 midship Ferrari ever made. It's called the F8 and it's yours to drive after hitting the 20-point mark on the Hot Season Playlist. What a way to wrap up the Ferrari takeover.

Since the F8 Tributo is new to Forza, how about a little introduction first, shall we? Served as the replacement for the 488 GTB, the F8 Tributo is the ultimate midship V8-powered Ferrari ever built; a fitting tribute to the best midship V8-powered Ferraris in history. Using the same 720PS 3.9L V8 Twin Turbo engine from the hardcore 488 Pista, while mated to an F1-style double-clutch gearbox, the F8 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.

Here we go again with the F8 Tributo. Having familiarized with the ultimate V8 Ferrari from other video games that featured it, it's great to know that it's the Forza franchise's turn to give the F8 the minute to win it, although it takes more than a minute to win the approval from players, even me, anyway, it's great to have the F8 featured in the world of Forza, especially in FH5. Having stuck with numerous 488 models, including the range-topping Pista, for a long period, we finally had the chance to drive what is known to be the ultimate Ferrari midship V8 masterpiece ever crafted. Every noise it makes, every turn it makes, every moment it delivers, the F8 really is the proper send-off to the era of ICE-powered Ferraris as the switch to electrification, as demonstrated by the LaFerrari and its protege, the SF90 Stradale, is inevitable.

Now that the entire Series 7 Ferrari collection's complete, it's time to give the F8 the ideal thriller it deserves and with that, a thrilling street race against the fastest supercars ever assembled. It's going to be a rough ride to the finish line as always. Ready? Roll the tape.

What a rush for Ferrari's grand finale.

The F8 Tributo truly marked the end of an era for proper ICE-powered Ferraris but nevertheless, this grand finale will go down in history as one of the all-time greats. A future classic, if you may.

I may consider this the end of our Series 7 journey but I had a brilliant idea. Since we got the SF90 on the deck, looks like the F8 wants to have a duel against its electrified cousin. With that, consider this meeting adjourned.

To be continued!

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.

Ferrari F8 Spider and 812 GTS

The fastest Ferrari convertibles on the road, the F8 Spider and the 812 GTS, are uncaged and ready to stun the world with its speed and style with or without the roof. If you were to choose between the newest open-top Ferraris available, which would you like to have a go at?

2020 Ferrari 812 GTS

First, let's get to know the 812 GTS and at last, a V12 open top supercar from Ferrari after five decades. For starters, the GTS delivers the same performance as its hardtop equivalent with the retractable roof that can be opened in just 14 seconds at cruising speeds of 45kph.

It still comes with the rather wonderful 6.5L V12 engine which sounds so wonderful while driving with the roof down and this engine produces an Aventador-crushing 800PS of power and 718Nm of torque. It is mated to a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox which fits perfectly for its flagship open-top Super GT and despite being a convertible, it is almost as quick as the hardtop because not only the weight is almost as close to it, it goes from 0-100kph in less than three seconds and onwards to over 340kph, similar to the hardtop 812 Superfast can do.

The 812 Superfast is the flagship Ferrari grand tourer that works brilliantly on the road and on the track and with the open-top GTS, it still bears the same experience as its hardtop equivalent, allowing playboys to drive this super grand tourer faster and harder for longer until they are fully satisfied.

2020 Ferrari F8 Spider

If drivers are fully satisfied with the 815 GTS, they can move on to another fast Ferrari convertible and this time, it's a midship V8 one that can easily tickle their fancies even more. Of course, the Ferrari F8 Spider offers the same charismatic thrill as the instant classic F8 Tributo but with the roof down, drivers will love it even more.

The 488 Pista-derived 3.9L V8 Twin Turbo engine may produce 80PS less than the 812's but because it's mid-engined and armed with a 7-speed F1 DCT, it does 0-100kph in 2.9 seconds and onwards to 340kph. That's almost the same as the 812 GTS can do although it is heavier compared to its hardtop equivalent but nevertheless it still works just like the F8 Tributo. It zooms into the unknown at breakneck speeds and handles nearly perfectly on the road and on the track with precision and poise, putting this open-top mid-engined supercar in a different league.

Going back to the question above; if you were to choose between the newest open-top Ferraris available, which would you like to have a go at? It depends on the outcome but because the 812 GTS and the F8 Spider delivered similar speeds and performance even with the roof down, it's fair to say that these two open-top supercars have reached an honorable stalemate. No contest but these two are worth driving.

Photo: Ferrari

Ferrari F8 Tributo

From the 308 GTB to the 488 GTB, the lineage of V8-powered Ferraris has proven that despite being called the baby or the mid-child of the range, they can still upset through their V12-powered big brothers in terms of style and performance, and for this year, the Prancing Horse delivered their biggest salvo yet which is going to be the end of an era but a prelude to another new chapter. Let's get to know the ultimate V8 Ferrari known as the F8 Tributo.

Ferrari F8 Tributo

True to its name, the Ferrari F8 Tributo is a fitting tribute to all of the greatest V8-powered Ferraris in history from the 308 to the 488 because this is the ultimate midship V8 Ferrari to rule them all. It costs about 230K Euros and while the expensive price tag puts you in a difficult position, there's something special about Ferrari's last hurrah to the V8 bloodline.

For starters, they've retained 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. In other words, it can easily trump the Lamborghini Huracan Evo by a long shot but it can be easily spooked by Britain's V8 champ, the McLaren 720S. Both of them have similar performances but while the 720S is a proven joker on the road and the track, the F8 is something more of a precious muse on the run.

On a clean run, the beating of the turbocharged V8 engine is about as smooth as a grass whistle with thorns but when the turbos kicked in, the F8 completely tears time and space like an amped-up Millennium Falcon getting away from its hostiles. In other words, this supercar really rattles the minds of drivers with its swooping performance that will leave them breathless to the final lap.

Apart from the mind-blowing performance, 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 the predecessor.

It managed to shed 0.5 seconds from the Pista when it went around the Fiorano and while the half-second feat is worth a surprise, the dramatic dynamics really put the F8 a class apart. It brakes dramatically, it handles dramatically, and above all, it's a dramatic supercar that drives as beautifully as the moonrise. There are no other words to describe this beauty, although the interior is much of an Achilles' Heel to some due to being a carryover from past models since the 458 as well as the Exige-esque rearview.

Despite its questionable faults, the F8 is a clear reminder that Ferrari's V8 engineering has reached its peak and as years pass by, the F8 will shine bright on the road and track through the very end.

Photo: Ferrari