Vehicle Spotlight Faceoff: 2020 Ferrari F8 Tributo vs 2020 Porsche 911 Turbo
Let’s start 2020 with a bit of an odd couple: The Ferrari F8 Tributo and the 2020 Porsche 911 Turbo. These cars may not be in the same class, but they’re both exciting new rides for a new decade. And, more importantly, they’re both students of speed. So, let’s take a closer look at these two high-performance machines and see how they stack up against one another!
2020 Ferrari F8 Tributo
It seems like every time Ferrari releases a new car, we think to ourselves – how are they ever going to top this one? But, inevitably, they go back into their workshop and find a way to do it! In the modern age of beautiful, fast, and exotic supercars, the prancing horse continues to push the envelope and create that beautiful poster art we all had on our walls as kids.
The 2020 F8 Tributo is the latest mid-engine offering by Ferrari, and it had some seriously big shoes to fill left by the outgoing 488. The F8 Tributo is, in Ferrari’s words, “a celebration of excellence.”
It is the culmination of years of racing experience in the GT and Challenge championships. It pays tribute to some of the most memorable V8-powered Ferraris.
And WOW is it something special.
With updated styling and aerodynamics, this car certainly looks the part! Powered by the 710-hp dream of an engine from the 488 Pista, bolted to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, the F8 Tributo launches from 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds, topping out at 211 mph.
State-of-the-art electronics allow for more precise control of the way the car handles at speed. Ferrari’s torque management system ramps up the engine torque in higher gears, helping to make the acceleration feel more progressive. And the Side Slip Control system allows even the most inexperienced driver to hang the tail end of the car out during power slides, while the F Track traction control system keeps you from losing control.
The interior maintains the driver-focused styling of the 488, with a few welcome styling updates and improved materials compared to the outgoing 488.
2020 Porsche 911 Turbo
The 8th generation 911 replaces the “991” chassis which started production in 2012. While, the updated “992” chassis boasts several updates to the interior and exterior (it’s slightly longer and wider than its predecessor), the body profile is still unmistakably 911.
The 911 doesn’t really have any direct competitors, as there are no other rear-engine sports cars on the market today. It is far more common to see mid-engine cars. And yes, there is a difference. While mid-engine cars mount the engine somewhere between the front and rear axles, rear-engine cars mount the engine behind the rear axle.
Previous generations of the 911 have been referred to as “widow makers” due to their tendency to fish tail when cornering, or power kicking in suddenly and causing the car to spin out. Porsche has over-engineered the 911 for decades now to counteract those problems by placing ballast in the front, employing advanced stability and traction control systems, as well as four-wheel drive, rear wheel steering, and active aero bits.
The rear-engine platform in the 911 produces a handling character which is simply unrivaled, and if you’ve got the “Porsche Fever” then you know that there is no substitute!
For the new year’s Turbo models…
The 3.8-liter twin turbo six-cylinder engine maintains the typical horizontally-opposed cylinder arrangement for which the 911 is known. This monster of an engine produces 540 hp in the 2020 Porsche 911 Turbo and 580 hp in the 911 Turbo S.
Power is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (Porsche Doppelkupplung or PDK), which can be used in automatic mode, or manually shifted using the steering wheel paddles. This transmission boasts lightning fast shifts and sporty gearing in 1st-6th, but a long ratio 7th gear helps to keep RPMs low while cruising and boosts fuel economy. Add it all up and you get a car that can propel you from 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds, topping out at 198 mph (205 mph for the Turbo S)!
The interior feels more like a luxury grand touring machine rather than street legal race car, though it still gets going like a proper sports car. This means that the 911 can be quite livable day-to-day, which cannot be said of the Ferrari. The front trunk compartment is even large enough to fit an airline carry-on bag and maybe a little more. The tachometer is prominently displayed in the center of the cluster, a signature trait of the 911.
Exterior features include an auto-deploying rear spoiler, side air intakes with active cooling, and recessed door handles which pop out when touched (with the optional Porsche Entry & Drive System).
Who is the winner?
On paper these two cars are very closely matched. Both can hit 60 mph in under three seconds and top out around 200 mph. Both cars feel precise, agile, and light on the rubber through turns. And both cars will quicken your pulse, push you back into your seat, and bring an enormous grin to your face.
The 2020 Ferrari F8 Tributo and the 2020 Porsche 911 Turbo are both masterpieces in their own right. Beautiful high-performance machines which most of us can only dream of being able to own because another wow factor happens to be their impact on the wallet. You’re looking at $162,000 for the Porsche and damn near $300k for the Ferrari.
While the Porsche is certainly more livable day-to-day, with similar performance numbers at nearly half the price of the F8 Tributo, we gotta admit the Ferrari’s got that intangible “cool factor” that’s hard to ignore.
Do these two cars have what it takes to be the poster art that inspires another generation of car enthusiasts?
