“A street-legal race car” – that’s how Ferrari marketing boss Enrico Galliera describes the new model. Ferrari SF90 XX Stradale and its opening brother, Spider SF90 XX.
On paper, at least, that doesn’t sound like vain bragging. These New Limited Edition Ferraris, First Coming to Australia by the end of 2024combines powertrain, chassis and aerodynamic technologies honed on the track with the everyday drivability of a conventional car SF90.
Conceptually, the SF90 XX sits between road cars like the 599 GTO and F12 Tour de France, limited edition performance variants of mainstream Ferrari models, and race-only cars like the 599. XX and FXX-K Evo were developed according to the company’s innovation strategy. The XX program, which allows customers to drive these extreme cars at race events organized by Ferrari around the world.
The SF90 XX retains the ‘regular’ SF90’s hybrid powertrain; The output of the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 is boosted by three electric motors, one mounted between the internal combustion engine and an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission driving the rear wheels and one each driving the front wheels.
The overall power gain of 22 kW may not seem like much, but it’s worth remembering that the standard SF90 produces a powerful 736 kW. “The only thing that we’re not really pushing for is the extra power,” smiled Raffaele de Simone, Ferrari development and test driver.
Codenamed F154FB, the SF90 XX’s internal combustion engine produces 12 kW more power than a conventional car’s V8 thanks to new pistons, a reworked combustion chamber, and an increased compression ratio. , the suction lines and exhaust pipes are polished, while improving cooling capacity.
The removal of the secondary air intake system reduces the weight of the engine by 3.5kg. The three electric motors generate 10 kW more total power than those in the conventional SF90. The 7.9kWh The lithium-ion battery enables the electronic motor to propel the SF90 XX smoothly and quietly at speeds up to 135km/h, with an EV range of up to 25km.
However, those are not numbers that anyone looking at these new Ferraris will be interested in. However, here it is: with a total system output of 758kW under your right foot, the SF90 XX will jump from a standstill to 100km/h in just 2.3 secondsand reach 200km/h in 6.7 seconds on the way to the top speed of 320km/h.
The gearbox of the SF90 XX is the same as the one used in the SF90 but has the shifting logic used in the Daytona SP3 to provide acceleration and a more dynamic sound profile.
However, straight line performance is only part of the story. A new anti-lock braking system called ABS EVO, a Formula One-style power-boost function called Extra Boost and impressive new aerodynamic upgrades mean the SF90 XX gets around the track significantly faster than with the regular SF90.
How much faster? Raffaele de Simone won’t elaborate, other than saying that the Extra Boost alone is worth about a quarter of a second each lap around Ferrari’s legendary Fiorano test track.
Extra Boost is an automatic function that uses an electronic motor to deliver extra energy in separate bursts of up to two seconds each. Additional acceleration is only available when the Manettino is set to Eligible Mode and will only commence when the accelerator is fully pressed and the vehicle knows it has enough battery charge and enough traction to ensure there will be no laps. wasted spin.
The system will deliver up to 30 plays in 2.0 seconds from a full battery, and drivers can track how many times they’ve used it through a display on the dashboard that shows how much they have left. token ‘Additional Boost’.
de Simone says a qualifying lap of the 2.9-kilometer Fiorano lap will use seven Extra Boost tokens, meaning you have about four full laps before the battery runs out, though the system A car’s regenerative braking system sends energy back to it every chance it gets.
ABS EVO is an improvement on the braking system that debuted on the 296 GTB, which we love for its confident dynamics and refined driver assistance mechanisms.
Integrated with the new six-axis misalignment sensor, ABS EVO allows you to brake deep into corners like a pro, taking full advantage of the extraordinary stopping power of the SF90’s massive carbon-ceramic brakes. XX. While the Extra Acceleration means the SF90 XX gets out of corners quicker than the regular SF90, ABS EVO helps it corner faster, something that is much harder for amateur drivers to achieve.
Above all, the SF90 XX offers the most aerodynamic performance of any road car in Ferrari’s history, with only the LaFerrari supercar rivaling it, said product development director Gianmaria Fulgenzi. .
“There is not a centimeter of the car that is not optimized for aerodynamics.”
The most obvious aerodynamic hardware on the SF90 XX is the large rear spoiler, which can generate 110kg more downforce on the rear axle than the standard SF90’s setup. Two air vents on the bonnet form part of an S-tube system that increases downforce by 20% down on the front axle.
Less obvious are the new front splitter, revised front deck and improved stop-Gurney system, where the panel between the rear wing bars lowers to reveal a Gurney flap that increases downforce. after braking. The dashboard returns to a flat position with the rear edge of the rear bodywork to reduce drag at high speeds.
Overall, the SF90 XX develops 530kg of downforce at 250 km/h, a 36% increase over the standard car at the same speed.
Raffaele de Simone says that, combined with the revised steering, increased spring stiffness and lower rear travel height, makes the SF90 XX feel very confident going through tight corners at fifth and sixth gears, says Raffaele de Simone – “the car is very predictable compared to the SF90”.
Ferrari design director Flavio Manzoni describes the SF90 XX as “a cross between performance, innovation and design”.
That massive fixed rear wing, the first on a road Ferrari since the 1995 F50, dominates the visuals. But when you look over it, you’ll notice the revised front fascia, cat-scratch vents on the wheels, and new light bars on the SF90 XX’s wide tail.
The wheelchair rides on unique 20-inch alloy wheels shod with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 or Cup 2R tires – 255/35 at the front and 315/30 at the rear.
Inside, the carbon fiber trim and carbon fiber trim on the door panels, center console and floor make the SF90 XX’s performance intentions clear.
However, it’s barely spartan with Alcantara on the dashboard and on the new sport seats, which have adjustable backrests and are 1.3kg lighter than the SF90’s non-adjustable sport seats.
Although with different graphics, the digital instrument panel has the same multifunction capabilities as that of the regular SF90, as well as the touchpads on the left and right sides of the steering wheel.
Convertible drivers will be pleased to know that the SF90 XX Spider requires some compromises. Ferrari says it weighs just 100kg more than the Stradale coupe but has the same dynamic performance. The retractable hardtop can be raised or lowered in just 14 seconds at speeds up to 45km/h.
Ferrari plans to build only 799 SF90 XX Stradales and 599 SF90 XX Spiders, and although the expected Australian price is around $1.5 million and $1.7 million respectively, they’re all good. sold.
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THAN: Everything Ferrari SF90
