A Ferrari 288 GTO restomod on a Ferrari F8 base: a masterpiece? The result doesn't meet with unanimous approval!

Ferrari has never done it... so Manifattura Automobili Torino has. The Italian coachbuilder, already behind the modern revival of the Lancia Stratos, has teamed up with ZeroACento Automobili to create a tribute to the iconic Ferrari 288 GTO. The result is a one-off 273 Potenza, based on a Ferrari F8 Tributo. And the least we can say is that this interpretation is divisive.

A muscular silhouette, a futuristic retro look

At first glance, it's hard to guess that beneath this sculpted bodywork lies an F8 Tributo. The work carried out is impressive: a redesigned hood with large air intakes, a front bumper with square LED lights that evoke a certain nostalgia... or not.

The body panels are made entirely of carbon fiber tinted in a dark red hue, reminiscent of hypercars from Pagani or Koenigsegg. The five-spoke star wheels with red central nut reinforce the visual homage to the Ferraris of the '80s.

At the rear, the diffuser, widened wings, hood and bumper are also new, all in exposed carbon. The titanium exhaust completes a package that's as racy as it is controversial.

Redesigned interior and unleashed engine

The interior has not been forgotten: the center console and transmission tunnel have been completely redesigned, with gear selection inspired by the 288 GTO. The dashboard features new controls, notably for the air conditioning.

Under the hood, the twin-turbocharged 3.9-liter V8 from the F8 has been seriously reworked to deliver over 800 hp.

A debatable result

Despite the level of finish and overall coherence of the project, reactions on the Internet are divided, even brutal. Some Internet users see it as a sacrilege: "It's a visual nightmare". Others criticize the massive use of visible carbon: "It looks like a cheap plastic kit stuck on a Ferrari". Some go so far as to suggest that Maranello should sue for damage to its image. On the other hand, a few voices applaud the approach, hailing a modern, muscular execution of the 288 GTO.

The 273 Potenza is a daring exercise in style, somewhere between homage and reinterpretation. It doesn't seek consensus, but rather to shake up codes and assert a radical vision of the Italian restomod. And at a time when Ferrari has never officially revisited the 288 GTO, this project, however divisive, at least has the merit of existing.