Our spy photographers have sent us photos of an enhanced Ferrari 488, leading us to believe that this is the hardcore version which could come with either a GTO or Speciale badge.

Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien

2018 will see the introduction of a hardcore and track special Ferrari and some leaked details suggest that outputs will be over the 500 kW mark. In comparison, the standard 488 pushes out 493 kW and 760 Nm. We suspect that the twin-turbocharged V8 engine will be worked on extensively and the turbo boost will be increased and there'll be revisions to the internals, to cope with the additional thrust.

These photos show where Ferrari is working on the existing 488 and we suspect that there'll be crazy amounts of carbon fibre to save weight as well as active aerodynamics being introduced. The leaked specifications also suggested that the new Ferrari 488 GTB will come with track-focused Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres – which are highly regarded for high-performance track work.

Given how rivals such as Porsche with its 911 GT2, Lamborghini's Huracan Performante and McLaren with its fearsome 720S have dominated headlines, it's only natural to expect Modena to create a product to rival these track specials. We expect this new high-performance Ferrari to be globally introduced in 2018, with some suggesting a reveal at one of the big motorshows.

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