2020 F8 Tributo Shines Brightly Says Doug DeMuro
Ferrari’s 2020 F8 Tributo may not be revolutionary, but it’s got excellent performance and significant upgrades.
When it comes to mid-engine sports cars, Ferrari is hard to beat. The automaker’s rich heritage in that segment spans many decades. And the F8 Tributo only enhances their reputation for developing awe inspiring vehicles with incredible performance.
Doug DeMuro confirmed Ferrari’s engineering prowess when he sampled the new 2020 F8 Tributo. Overall, he found the new model to exhibit all the great characteristics of its predecessors. He also liked all the quality-of-life enhancements Ferrari included in the redesign. It may not have been the radical reinvention enthusiasts were hoping for, but it’s a smartly engineered vehicle ready for action.
Enhanced Interior
Exotic cars are known for their performance more than their interiors. But it’s important for these cars to come properly equipped for their drivers. Fortunately, Ferrari sweated the small stuff with the new F8 Tributo. While the car shares a lot of components with the 488, the company reworked some key areas that needed improvement. One of the most notable changes is the climate control system. The 488 contained controls that were too small and very confusing. By contrast, DeMuro praised the new controls. “You can see the new climate control panel is much simpler, much cleaner, and you have a little screen above the climate controls that give you pertinent information like the current fan speed and the current interior temperature,” says DeMuro.
Notably, there is one area where Ferrari stumbled a bit. While the F8 Tributo contains two cup holders, one of them is occupied by a key holder. And it’s not just any storage spot. It can’t be removed. Plus, it takes up an entire cup holder, which means the car only has one spot where drivers can put their drinks. Very odd. In any event, Ferrari quite possibly negated that decision with a certain button on the dash. It’s designed to simply raise the front end in the event a speed bump or raised surface threatens the scrape the car. “In a lot of older models you had to go into some screen, find the menu to raise the front end, then you could confirm, then it would start to raise up. It was a disaster,” says DeMuro. Kudos to Ferrari for that simple change.
Fast, Refined, and Amazing
DeMuro takes advantage of his time behind the wheel of the F8 Tributo. Unlike some enthusiasts, he can respect what Ferrari did with the car. “But on the road, I’m reminded that even if it is kind of cynical that they just made a few updates and called it something new…it doesn’t matter! It still drives like a dream. God I love this car,” says DeMuro. For DeMuro, it may not have the raw handling of the 488 Pista, but that just makes it more livable. Additionally, he found the F8 Tributo to exhibit incredible refinement. “The responsiveness is not lost at all by adding the turbocharger,” says DeMuro.
While the F8 Tributo may not be a game-changing redesign, it still exhibits everything a mid-engine Ferrari should have. DeMuro thinks it’s hard to resist, especially once you get behind the wheel. Make sure to watch the whole video to see his very spirited drive of the car.