Although it's been around for only six years (2009 to 2015), the 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia is already an iconic supercar.->ke177 The 2012 Ferrari 458 Spider, the 2014 Ferrari 458 Speciale, and several one-off versions helped increase its appeal, but so did the various race-spec variants it received during its life, including the 2011 Ferrari 458 Challenge, 2013 Ferrari 458 GT3, and the 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia GT2. These race cars->ke148 followed in the footsteps of their predecessors, which were based on the 1989 Ferrari 348TB, 1995-1999 Ferrari F355, 1999-2004 Ferrari 360, and 2006 Ferrari F430, and it seems the 458 GT3 will get a successor based on the 458 Italia's replacement, the 2016 Ferrari 488 GTB.

That's the word from TopGear, which claims, quoting an unnamed Ferrari spokesman, that the race car should arrive in early 2017. Apparently the 488 will follow Ferrari's normal development cycle, with the Challenge version to arrive about a year after the standard model, which means we should see it in the metal by the end of next year. Since both the Challenge and the GT3 are developed together, the track-only version shouldn't be too far behind, making a 2017 launch more than plausible.

Much like the 458 GT3, the 488 GT3 will be eligible for competitions such as the FIA World Endurance Championship, GT3 Asia, Blancpain, and British GT Championship, including the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans->ke1591 race. But until the actual car breaks cover about two years from now, let's speculate over what it may bring to the table.

Continue reading for the full story.

2017 Ferrari 488 GT3

Specifications
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  • Model: 2017 Ferrari 488 GT3
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Pros
Cons

Exterior

Note: Standard 488 GTB shown.

Knowing what Ferrari did to turn the 458 Italia in a GT3-spec race car, it's not hard to imagine the exterior of the 488 GT3. While most of the road car's styling cues will remain in place, Maranello will likely make it lower, wider, and add a menacing aerodynamic kit to improve performance and cornering. Expect a revised front bumper with side canards, vented front fenders, revised side skirts, a modified rear diffuser, and a huge rear wing. Of course, Ferrari will want the 488 to lose even more pounds on its way to the track, which means the GT3 will sport lighter body panels and windows, race-spec BBS wheels and side mirrors, and significantly more carbon-fiber than its road-going counterpart.

Not only quicker and more agile, the 488 GT3 should be a good-looking race car! Just wait until it starts hitting race tracks the world over with all sorts of colorful liveries.

Interior

As with most GT3-spec cars, the 488's interior will be stripped of any unnecessary equipment (read luxury features, the standard dashboard, and the door panels) in order to shed as much weight as possible and comply to the FIA's regulations for GT3 racing. The standard steering, the instrument cluster, and the fancy center stack will also be ditched for race-spec units, and an army of buttons and switches. A bucket seat, an FIA-approved rollcage, and a fire extinguisher will keep the driver safe on the track.

Drivetrain

This is where the 488 GT3 will have very little in common with the road car. Though most GT3 cars retain the engines of their road-legal siblings (with all the necessary upgrades of course), this Ferrari might use the 458 GT3's naturally aspirated 4.5-liter V-8 instead of the new turbocharged 3.9-liter V-8 in the standard 488.

Although turbocharging is permitted under GT3 regulations (the 2015 McLaren 650S GT3 uses turbo power), there's a big chance Ferrari will prefer the 4.5-liter V-8, a unit that's not only very reliable, but it has brought the 458 GT3 numerous victories and championships. Furthermore, it is not yet known whether Ferrari wants to send the new 3.9-liter V-8 racing and I wouldn't be surprised if Maranello would decide against it.

The chassis is also set to receive extensive updates, including adjustable shocks, adjustable ABS, race-spec brakes, and a pneumatic jacking system, among others.

Competition

2015 McLaren 650S GT3

The GT3 class is one of the most disputed events in today's motorsport, bringing together race cars from manufacturers such as BMW->ke178, Audi->ke14, Bentley->ke15, Lamborghini->ke44, Nissan->ke62, Mercedes-Benz->ke187, and Aston Martin->ke13. McLaren->ke284 is also a strong competitor in this league, now using the new 650S GT3. Based on the road-going 2015 McLaren 650S, the GT3 sports and aerodynamic kit and a number of upgrades that make it eligible for GT3 racing. Highlights include carbon-fiber body parts, a race-spec interior built on the brand's MonoCell chassis, and a revised twin-turbo, 3.8-liter V-8 engine.

The 650S GT3 made its racing debut in 2015 in various competitions, including the Blancpain Endurance Series. McLaren built only 15 examples of the 650S GT3 and sold each for £330,000 (around $515,000) before taxes.

Read more about the McLaren 650S GT3 here.

2016 Mercedes-AMG GT3

Also based on a road-going sports car,->ke506 the Mercedes-AMG GT3 comes to replace the aging 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 is set to make its debut in 2016 with a naturally aspirated 6.3-liter V-8 under the hood. The engine is identical to the SLS AMG GT3's, although the standard Mercedes-AMG GT3 features a newly developed, turbocharged, 4.0-liter V-8. Mercedes says the naturally aspirated mill was chosen for its “user-friendly technology, excellent reliability, long maintenance intervals, and low running costs," which means the 4.0-liter V-8 won't hit the track anytime soon.

Visually, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 is as menacing as they get. The front-engine layout helps with the muscular looks, but so does the extensive aero kit that basically reshapes the sexy and elegant road-spec 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT into an aggressive-looking track machine.

Find out more about the Mercedes-AMG GT3 here.

Conclusion

With its predecessor, the 458 Italia GT3, having scored more than 50 outright wins and more than 80 class wins since 2011, the 488 GT3 has a pair of big boots to fill. Granted, its mission is far from easy, but with all the new tech in the 488 GTB we should see a race car that's lighter and handles better.