Ferrari's Latest Supercar is a Plug-In Hybrid
Ferrari has been familiarizing itself with highly advanced hybrid tech for the better part of a decade thanks to its Formula 1 program and it’s truly ready to show the world what it has learned with its first production plug-in hybrid model.
The Ferrari SF90 Stradale is not only the first series production hybrid from Ferrari, it’s also the first all-wheel drive sports car from the brand – no, the hatchback FF and GTC4Lusso don’t count. It receives power from a 769 horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.9-liter V8 engine, which is paired with a single electric motor mounted in the rear of the vehicle and two more on the front axle. Total system output sits at 985 horsepower, Ferrari says, enabling a 0-62 mph sprint of just 2.5s. It will also accelerate from 0-124 mph in an incredible 6.7s. An eight-speed dual clutch sends the engine’s power to the rear wheels.
The rear electric motor also features kinetic energy recovery (similar to a Formula 1 car’s MGU-K system), allowing it to recover energy when coasting or braking and store it in the battery for use at a later time.
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Feeding power to the three electric motors is a 7.9 kWh lithium ion battery that provides a pure electric driving range of 15.5 miles. The electric front axle can power the car at speeds of up to 135 km/h with the V8 engine completely turned off and reverse is enabled entirely through the electric drive system. In addition to pure electric eDrive mode, the SF90 also comes with regular Hybrid and Performance modes, along with a Qualify mode that will extract maximum performance from the battery and motors without recharging the battery through the MGU-K system.
Ferrari’s various performance-enhancing electronics systems, like the Slide Slip Angle Control drift control and sophisticated electronic traction control, are also present. The electric front axle also has torque vectoring capability, helping to maximize traction as the vehicle claws its way out of corners. The interior is typical Ferrari, although the SF90 does get some new equipment from Ferrari like a digital dash and head-up display.
Finally, the SF90 will be offered in a standard version and a more sports-oriented version. The sportier SF90 Assetto Fiorano has special Multimatic shocks, carbon fiber doors and underbody panels, titanium springs, a titanium exhaust, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Tyres and a carbon fiber rear spoiler. With 30 kg less weight on board, sticker tires and an extra 390 kg of downforce on tap from the carbon spoiler, the Assetto Fiorano should be quite a bit handier around a race track than the standard SF90.
Pricing for the Ferrari SF90 has yet to be announced, but let’s be real: if you’re only hearing about it for the first time now, chances are you’re not getting one.
From HybridCars.com
Sam McEachern holds a diploma in journalism from St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, and has been covering the automotive industry for over 5 years. He conducts reviews and writes AutoGuide's news content. He's a die-hard motorsports fan with a passion for performance cars of all sorts.
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