Ferrari SF90 Stradale Unveiled: A Hyper Hybrid With 986 Horsepower
Thank the LaFerrari. Because of its existence and general success, hybrids have a permanent home in the Ferrari stable. The 949-horsepower (707-kilowatt) Prancing Horse proved that – even for a company so steeped in history – progress is perpetually part of the plan. And Ferrari’s latest product is no exception.
It’s the most powerful road-going Ferrari ever.
The Ferrari SF90 Stradale, like the LaFerrari, is a hybrid. But unlike its predecessor, the SF90 packs a smaller gas engine, plug-in charging capabilities, all-wheel drive, and yes, even more horses. With a whopping 986 hp (735 kW), the SF90 is the most powerful road-going Ferrari ever produced.
The turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 produces 769 horsepower (573 kW) and 590 pound-feet (800 Newton-meters) of torque alone. On its own, that makes it the most powerful V8-powered Ferrari to date. Ferrari then packs three lithium-ion powered electric motors – one located on the rear axle, and two located up front – in the SF90 Stradale, which produce an additional 217 hp (162 kilowatts), bringing the complete powertrain’s total output to 986 hp (735 kW) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm).
All that power pairs to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, and for the first time on a Ferrari sports car (not counting the GTC4Lusso), all-wheel drive. That allows the SF90 Stradale to sprint to 60 miles per hour in 2.5 seconds, 125 mph in a mere 6.7 seconds, and on to a top speed of 211 mph. But it’s more than just ridiculously quick in a straight line. Around Ferrari’s Fiorano test track, the SF90 recorded a lap time of 79 seconds (approximately 1:19), rivaling the LaFerrari’s time of 1:19.70.
But for drivers feeling especially efficient off the track, the SF90 offers a pure electric driving mode. With a range of 16 miles (25 kilometers), a maximum electric speed of 84 mph (135 kmh), and plug-in charging capability, the SF90 is perfectly content puttering around Maranello in complete silence as it is tearing up the circuit with its engine screeching toward redline.
The SF90’s exterior, while radically styled, also reinvents aerodynamic accessorizing. The front section of the vehicle’s chassis sits 0.6 inches (15 millimeters) higher than the center. That allows more airflow through the vortex generators, which essentially keep things streamlined through the body. With this advanced aero work, the SF90 generates 860 pounds (390 kg) of downforce at 155 mph (250 kmh). Ferrari says that number is the “new benchmark for downforce and efficiency in high-performance road cars.”
In line with Ferrari’s new cabin styling, which is highlighted by a wraparound 16.0-inch HD screen, an advanced head-up display, and an F1-inspired cockpit, are steering wheel-mounted toggles that control four distinct driving modes: eDrive, Hybrid, Performance, and Qualify. The first two, as their names suggest, utilize battery power. The efficiency-oriented eDrive mode shuts off the V8 entirely and relies solely on the 16-mile range of the battery pack and electric motors. In Hybrid mode, the control logic switches between the gas engine and battery power automatically, by using information like accelerator pedal pressure and driving conditions.
With a whopping 986 hp (735 kW), the SF90 is the most powerful road-going Ferrari ever produced.
In Performance and Qualify driving modes, the turbocharged V8 stays put. The former uses the high-output engine to help charge the electric modes, while the latter unleashes all 986 horses from both the electric motors and the internal combustion engine. As its name implies, this is the ideal mode for the track.
For all its advanced tech, the SF90 Stradale tips the scales at 3,461 pounds (1,570 kilograms). That’s roughly 30 pounds (13 kilograms) lighter than the LaFerrari (3,494 pounds). The chassis, meanwhile, is 20 percent stiffer and 40 percent more torsionally rigid than previous performance platforms, all without adding any unnecessary weight.
All told, then new Ferrari SF90 Stradale sounds like a technological marvel. Price and availability details are still under wraps, but expect the hyper-hybrid to go on sale sometime this year. And expect it to be extremely expensive.
