What is the Ferrari 488 Pista?
Pista is Italian for track. The car takes the 488 GTB and strips it back for speed. Autocar describes a twin-turbocharged V8 with 50 percent new components, producing 710 bhp and 568 lb ft of torque, up from the 597 bhp of the earlier Speciale in the previous generation. The engine is largely drawn from the 488 Challenge race car.
The weight comes down as well. Autocar reports a 90 kg saving, to a claimed 1,385 kg with lightweight options, and 1,465 kg as weighed on its own test car. Optional carbon-fibre wheels are 40 percent lighter than the standard alloys. Together these changes are why the Pista is treated as a driver's car rather than a comfortable one.
What is the difference between the Pista and the Pista Piloti?
The Pista Piloti is a special edition of the 488 Pista, introduced in 2018 as a tribute to Ferrari's 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship success with the number 51 488 GTE. The Drive reports that it was developed through Ferrari's Tailor Made programme and offered exclusively to customers involved in Ferrari's motorsport programmes.
The reporting we read describes the Piloti as a livery and trim package, not a mechanical change. It brings stripes in the colours of the Italian flag, a laurel and a championship logo, the word PRO, a personal race number chosen by the client, a matte black S-Duct, a natural carbon-fibre rear spoiler and vent surrounds, and an Alcantara interior with tricolour details. Four paint colours were offered: Rosso Corsa, Blu Tour de France, Nero Daytona and Argento Nurburgring.
- Pista: 710 bhp, 568 lb ft, 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds (Autocar). The standard track-focused 488.
- Pista Piloti: the same car in the Piloti livery, with matte black S-Duct, natural carbon rear spoiler and Alcantara interior with Italian flag details (The Drive).
- What changes for you as a buyer: appearance and provenance. The Piloti was reserved for a defined group of customers, so documentation matters more.
What should you check on a Pista Piloti specifically?
Because the Piloti was offered only to a defined group of customers, ask for the paperwork that shows the car left the factory in Piloti specification, and confirm the original configuration in writing. A car that looks like a Piloti is not necessarily one, and the livery, race number and interior details should all match what Ferrari described. We would want to see the build documentation before agreeing a price that includes a Piloti premium.
The number on the doors was chosen by the original client. Ask what it is and why it was chosen, because the number is part of that car's history.
What does a 488 Pista cost?
We do not quote a Dubai price here, because we cannot verify a current published figure and every car is priced individually. For context, Autocar listed the Pista at 252,765 pounds in the UK in its August 2019 review, and said it sold out very soon after its 2018 announcement. At the time of that review, some delivery-mileage Pistas were being offered on the used market at prices approaching 400,000 pounds. Those are UK figures from 2019 and are history, not today's market.
What that history tells you is that the Pista has behaved like a collectible since launch. Value inside the model depends on version, colour, options, mileage and provenance, so compare cars one by one.
What should you check before buying any Pista?
The general inspection steps are in our guide to what to check before buying a used supercar in Dubai.
- GCC-spec or import. The regional specification affects warranty and resale. Our GCC specs guide explains the differences.
- Service record. Dated invoices from an authorised Ferrari source, and a clear account of any work done.
- Track use. Ask directly whether the car has been tracked. A Pista is made for it, so it is a reasonable question, and the answer should shape the inspection.
- Options and wheels. Carbon-fibre wheels and the lightweight options change both the weight and the value of the car.
- Condition. Current photos, a video walkaround and an independent inspection before you transfer funds.
- Warranty. It depends on the individual car, so ask what applies to this one and get it in writing.
How do you buy one?
You agree the price on a specific car, place a deposit to take it off the market, and settle the balance by bank transfer. Finance comes from your own bank, and we provide the documentation it needs. Test drives are available once a deposit is placed. If you want a car that is not listed, such as a specific Pista Piloti, tell us what you are looking for and we will try to source it, though we cannot guarantee every request.
Sources and prices checked
Prices checked 2026-11-06. The figures above come from the pages below. The Autocar price and used-market comments date from August 2019 and are quoted as history. We have not stated a current Dubai price.
- Autocar, Ferrari 488 Pista review (16 August 2019): https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/ferrari/488-pista-2018-2020
- The Drive, Special Edition Piloti Ferrari 488 Pista (16 June 2018): https://www.thedrive.com/news/21568/special-edition-piloti-ferrari-488-pista-reserved-for-racing-drivers-only
