There’s something wonderfully refreshing about a new sports car that doesn’t feel the need to produce enough horsepower to rearrange the Earth’s rotation.
Enter the Michelotto Gruppo 4 Tributo, a modern interpretation of the iconic Ferrari 308 from Italian outfit AC Motorsport, developed in collaboration with engineering specialist Michelotto.
Founded by Francesco Calzavara just two years ago, AC Motorsport has created something that looks less like a modern supercar and more like a greatest-hits collection of everything we loved about 1970s and 1980s performance cars.
Classic Ferrari looks, modern engineering
At first glance, the Gruppo 4 Tributo could pass for a particularly serious Ferrari 308 restomod. But underneath that gloriously familiar bodywork sits a bespoke tubular chassis, dressed in lightweight composite panels.
The proportions remain faithful to the original, with a low nose, pop-up headlights, horizontal daytime running lights and plenty of cooling vents.
Flared wheel arches give it a more muscular stance, while the overall design feels refreshingly restrained compared with some of today’s more extravagant supercars.
Naturally aspirated V8 and a proper manual
The real party trick lies beneath the bodywork. Power comes from a naturally aspirated 3.4-litre V8 producing 380bhp and 269lb-ft of torque, sent through a dog-leg manual gearbox.
Those figures might not sound particularly outrageous in an age of electrified hypercars, but consider the weight: just 950kg. That’s 140kg less than the original Ferrari 308, promising an involving driving experience where balance, feedback and driver skill matter more than headline-grabbing acceleration figures.
Inside, the prototype features a carbon-fibre dashboard, physical switches, racing seats and a gated metal gear lever. It’s functional rather than luxurious, but that seems entirely appropriate for a car built around the art of driving.
The Gruppo 4 name references the rally-bred Ferrari 308 GTBs prepared by Michelotto for Group 4 competition, including World Rally Championship outings.
There’s currently no confirmed price, production schedule or launch date. But if AC Motorsport delivers on its promise, the Gruppo 4 Tributo could be a compelling reminder that a great driver’s car doesn’t need four-figure horsepower to make an impression.
