Ferrari has officially unveiled their first plug-in
hybrid. Dubbed the SF90 Stradale, the car is a series-production supercar
which celebrates the 90th anniversary of Scuderia Ferrari and the strong link
between the company’s road and track cars.
Of course, the big news is the powertrain which
features a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine that produces 769 hp and 800 Nm of torque. It is paired to a hybrid system which
features three electric motors. One of motors is sandwiched between the V8 and
a new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, while the other two are located at
the front axle. The electric motors are powered by a 7.9 kWh lithium-ion battery and
produce a combined output of 217 hp. This gives the all-wheel
drive SF90 Stradale an overall output of 986 hp.
In terms of performance, the supercar can accelerate
from 0-100 km/h in 2.5 seconds and from 0-200 km/h in
6.7 seconds. Given enough room, the SF90 will eventually hit a top speed of 340 km/h. Furthermore, the model can travel up to 25 km on
electricity alone – while being powered exclusively by the front wheels. While plug-in hybrids aren’t
known for being lightweight, the SF90 Stradale tips the scales at just 1,570 kg. This gives the model a “record-breaking weight/power ratio” of
3.5 lbs/hp.
Ferrari acknowledged that keeping the weight down
was a “challenge” as the hybrid system added 270 kg to the vehicle.
However, they managed to accomplish this by using a multi-material body and
chassis. These components are constructed out of a number of lightweight
materials including carbon fiber and new aluminum alloys. The changes to the
chassis didn’t just save weight as Ferrari revealed the architecture has 20%
higher bending stiffness and 40% higher torsional rigidity than previous
platforms. Sticking with the performance theme, the SF90 Stradale has a new
eManettino switch mounted on the steering wheel. It allows drivers to select
between four different operating modes for the powertrain.
eDrive is the aforementioned EV mode which allows
the car to travel silently in the city. Hybrid mode, on the other hand, is the
default setting and it optimizes the overall efficiency of the powertrain.
Performance mode keeps the V8 engine running at all times so “power is
instantly and fully available when required.” Lastly, Qualify mode allows the
car’s full potential to be unleashed as it prioritizes performance over battery
charging and allows the electric motors to produce their maximum output.
Engineers also developed a new electronic Side Slip
Control (eSSC) vehicle control system which optimizes driving dynamics. It
incorporates an electric traction control system which “optimally manages the
availability of the torque – both ICE and electric – distributing it to the
individual wheels to suit driving conditions and grip requirements.” The eSSC
also features a torque vectoring function – which relies heavily on the front
electric motors – and a high-tech braking system which allows “braking torque
to be split between the hydraulic system and the electric motors.”
On the styling front, the car is a billed as a
“radical evolution” of sports cars produced over the past 20 years. The shape
is instantly recognizable, but the model adopts slender LED Matrix headlights,
a more curved windshield and slimmer A-pillars. The model also has aerodynamic
side skirts, high-mounted intakes and a radical rear end. The latter boasts a
prominent diffuser, dual exhaust tips and Camaro-like taillights. The rear end of the car will
likely prove controversial, but its design has a purpose – aerodynamics and
downforce. As Ferrari explained, the engine cover is split into two sections.
The lower section – with the third brake light – is fixed, while the other is
“mobile.”
According to the company, “In urban usage or at
maximum speed, the two sections are aligned and suspended above the engine
cover, with the mobile wedge acting as an efficient fairing to the fixed
element, allowing the air to flow both above and beneath the shut-off Gurney.
In high downforce conditions (such as driving through corners, braking or in
abrupt changes of direction), the mobile element is lowered by a pair of
electric actuators, closing the lower blown area and uncovering the fixed
element, generating a new tail geometry characterized by a broad load surface
topped by a powerful nolder.” That’s a lot to take in, but Ferrari says the car generates 390 kg of downforce at 250 km/h. The company calls this a new
benchmark for high-performance road cars.
The futuristic styling continues in the cabin as
there’s an “aeronautically-inspired cockpit” with a massive 16-inch digital instrument
cluster. It features a center-mounted tachometer which is flanked by navigation
and infotainment displays. Elsewhere, there’s a flat-bottomed three-spoke steering wheel and new
touch controls which provide easy access to commonly used features such as the
climate control system. The model also has a head up display and a secondary
display for passengers.
