Ferrari describes its 488 Spider, debuting at the Frankfurt show, as the most powerful mid-engined convertible that the brand has yet offered.

The video shows the new Ferrari 488 Spider being enjoyed in handsome B-roads with the roof tacked away and the newly-developed V8 playing its song, which kind of depresses me because now I want one even more. What’s more impressive is that the hard top will weigh 25 kg lesser than its very own soft top variant.

The 488 Spider has a spaceframe chassis made of 11 different 6,000 series aluminium alloys, containing varying percentages of magnesium. This should translate to sharper cornering and better handling. It will the share the same 3.9-litre turbo-charged V8 seen in the 488 coupe, which produces 670PS of power using a Variable Torque Management system. Ferrari claims that the 488 Spider can do 0-100 kph and 0-200 kph sprints in 3 and 8.7 seconds respectively. This represents a chassis rigidity improvement of 23 per cent compared with the old 458 Spider.

SEPTEMBER might seem an odd time to launch a new Ferrari convertible but the 488 Spyder won’t reach the United Kingdom until late next Spring.

The two-part electronically-folding hardtop can be opened or closed in just 14 seconds even when the auto is in motion. Some of the features include a blown spoiler and an aerodynamic underbody incorporating vortex generators. Mated to Ferrari’s F1 seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox, the 488 Spider will get from 0 to 62 miles per hour in just three seconds – and by the time you’ve been on the gas for six seconds, you’ve gone from idle to the rev limiter in 4th gear.

The technicians and engineers worked on the magnetorheological dampers to guarantee maximum sportiness without compromising on comfort, while the new SSC2 Side Slip Angle Control system also makes it easier for non-professional drivers to drive on the limit.