Lots of supercars look amazing. But it's often the case that if you chop off the roof, the result looks a bit more ... supercar-y. That's certainly true of the newly announced Ferrari 488 Spider, the topless version of the Ferrari 488 GTB that was introduced in February.

Ferrari says it's aimed at drivers "seeking open-air motoring pleasure" in a car with an exhaust note that "reinforc[es] the sensation of massive performance." In other words, it's for those who want to see and be seen, which is pretty much the point of a Ferrari, after all.

The other point of a Ferrari is to indulge one's race car driving fantasies. That's why the Spider has the same turbocharged 3.9-liter, 661-horsepower engine as the 488 coupe. It propels the mid-engined convertible from zero to 62 mph in 3.0 seconds, then to double that speed in another 5.7 seconds. Maximum speed is 203 mph, just two clicks shy of the coupe, and Ferrari says this is the most aerodynamically efficient Ferrari spider ever.

The retractable hard top weighs some 55 pounds less than a comparable fabric soft-top. Weight savings are always a big deal in convertibles, because they tend to be heavier than their roofed counterparts. It folds backwards in two overlapping sections, resting flush on the engine when down, and can open or close in 14 seconds.

Of course, you'll want it open whenever possible, and driving a convertible at speed has the potential to mess up your coif. That's why Ferrari has worked hard to guarantee in-car comfort. A glass rear wind stop can be adjusted to one of three different positions, or lowered entirely so that even if you've got the top up, you can still hear that sweet, "unmistakable Ferrari engine sound."

Except, "unmistakable" may not be the right word here, because there's something very different about this engine, and the one in the 488 coupe: They're turbocharged. Historically, Ferrari's rarely gone for turbos, because they hamper throttle response and tone down the exhaust note. That's why Maranello's quick to boast it's "completely eliminat[ed] the traditional turbo lag," and says it's rejiggered the exhaust system to create a "seductive" and "absolutely distinctive soundtrack."

We'll hear more when the 488 Spider makes its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, in September.

And that's retractable hard top is precisely why you buy this car. So you get the greatest ceiling imaginable: 93 million miles of blue sky.