Ferrari has today lifted the lid on its first hybrid convertible supercar.
The powerful new two-seater 1,000 horse-power SF90 Spider is the legendary Italian car firm’s first petrol-electric plug-in hybrid with a retractable hard top designed for the ultimate wind in the hair motoring.
That is if you can still keep your hair on in an all-wheel drive open-topped car that will rocket from rest to 62mph in just 2.5 seconds and to 124mph (where legal or on a track) in 7 seconds up to a top speed of 211mph.
Hybrid with added headroom: This is the Ferrari SF90 Spider – the Italian brand’s first petrol-electric powered supercar
That’s thanks to its turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine linked to three electric motors – two on the front axle and one between engine and gearbox – and an F1-derived eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
The SF90 Spider is the convertible version of the SF90 Stradale which was launched May 2019 and joins the most powerful series production supercar ever to accelerate from the home of the Prancing Horse.
It was unveiled today during a dedicated digital event viewed online by fans and potential customers from around the globe.
Prices are expected to start from around £415,000 – before expensive enticing ‘extras’. That’s roughly a £40,000 mark-up on the sibling hard-top version priced from £376,048.
For the Ferrari cognoscenti, the new SF90 Spider completed its own Fiorano circuit – used for testing road and F1 cars – in 79.5 seconds
Powerful performance and acceleration requires equally powerful brakes and those on the Spider will bring it from 62mph to a dead stop in a braking distance of 29.5metres.
The Spider’s compact and light retractable hard top can be opened or closed in 14 seconds and while car is on the move.
Simple to use, it takes up just 100 litres of space rather than the 150 to 200 litres required by traditional systems, and allows for greater visibility and a view to the engine,.
It is an evolution of the very first Ferrari retractable hard top which premiered on the 458 Spider in 2011, and has been constantly evolved. And with the convertible roof in place, you’d struggle to tell it apart from its hard-top sibling.
The SF90 Spider uses a turbocharged 4.0 litre V8 petrol engine linked to three electric motors – two on the front axle and one between engine and gearbox – and an F1-derived eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox
The SF90 Spider is the convertible version of the SF90 Stradale which was launched May 2019 and joins the most powerful series production supercar ever to accelerate from the home of the Prancing Horse
Prices are expected to start from around £415,000 – before expensive enticing ‘extras’. That’s roughly a £40,000 mark-up on the sibling hard-top version priced from £376,048
Ferrari said: ‘The retractable hard top guarantees optimal noise insulation and protection from the elements when raised, does not deform at high speeds and provides exceptional occupant space and comfort.’
Its aluminium in its construction also means that it is also around 40 kg lighter than a conventional retractable hard top.
The new Spider is available with an optional Assetto Fiorano pack ‘for owners that want to push its track car vocation to the extreme’.
Exclusive upgrades include racing-derived Multimatic shock absorbers, lightweight carbon-fibre and titanium that saves 21 kg of weight, a carbon-fibre rear spoiler, road-legal Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres to improve track performance, and a sporty two-tone livery .
The Spider’s 4.0 litre 780 horse-power V8 unleashes 60 horse-power more than any other V8 turbo ever built by Ferrari, requiring engineers to redesigne the intake and exhaust systems. Slicker gear shift times have been slashed by 30 per cent to 200 milliseconds.
The new Spider is available with an optional Assetto Fiorano pack (pictured here) ‘for owners that want to push its track car vocation to the extreme’
Exclusive upgrades as part of the pack include racing-derived Multimatic shock absorbers, lightweight carbon-fibre and titanium that saves 21 kg of weight
The Assetto Fiorana pack also adds a carbon-fibre rear spoiler, road-legal Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres to improve track performance, and a sporty two-tone livery
The exhaust ‘soundtrack’ has also been refined using a ‘hot tube system’ which transfers sound more directly to the cockpit .
For ease of use, the traditional Manettino driving mode selector is now flanked by an additional steering wheel-mounted called the eManettino,. This manages power flows from and to the high voltage battery and the wheels.
There are four modes.
The eDrive setting is ideal for zero-emissions city centre driving, only the electric front axle is used, with an electric-only range of 15.5 miles. But the 84mph speed limit is ideal for out-of-town roads.
In Hybrid mode the car’s on board computer decides, for optimal efficiency, whether to keep the petrol engine running or turn it off. Power flow from the electric motors is limited to conserve battery power
A Performance setting keeps the engine running because the priority is more on charging the battery than on efficiency.It guarantees that full power is available instantly when required.
Finally, there is a Qualify option. This prioritises maximum performance over battery charging.
The Spider’s 4.0 litre 780 horse-power V8 unleashes 60 horse-power more than any other V8 turbo ever built by Ferrari
With the roof up, it has the same silhouette as the hard-top SF90 Stradale: ‘As the jewel in the car’s crown, the V8 engine is clearly visible both when the retractable hard top is deployed and retracted’
The SF90 Spider also has two aerodynamic elements in the cockpit to protect occupants from air flows with the roof down
Ferrari said: ‘Under normal braking conditions, energy recovery using the electric motors is the priority: the hydraulic braking system intervenes to support the electric one in all sharp deceleration conditions.
‘At high speeds and in high gears, the combined contribution of the electric motors in high grip conditions helps lower the engine’s response times thus significantly improving longitudinal acceleration and thus performance.’
The Spider also has a host of electronic traction, braking and stability controls ‘to ensure that drivers of all kinds can fully enjoy the car’s potential and have fun behind the wheel.’
To help its dynamic prowess, the SF90 Spider’s chassis is 30 per cent stiffer than previous platforms without any increase in weight, and there’s an all-carbon-fibre bulkhead between the cabin and the engine.
The SF90 Spider also has two aerodynamic elements in the cockpit to protect occupants from air flows with the roof down.
With the roof up, it has the same silhouette as the hard-top SF90 Stradale: ‘As the jewel in the car’s crown, the V8 engine is clearly visible both when the retractable hard top is deployed and retracted.’
High exhaust pipes dominate the rear of the car.
The interior instrumentation is now predominantly digital.
The central instrument cluster comprises a single 16′ HD screen curved towards the driver to make it easier to read and emphasise the wraparound cockpit effect.
A large circular rev counter dominates the default screen. Head-up display means less distraction.
Ferrari said: ‘As the Prancing Horse’s first production plug-in hybrid spider, the SF90 Spider sets new performance and innovation benchmarks not only for the marque’s range, but for the entire sports car sector.
‘The new convertible has the same extreme supercar specification and record-breaking performance as the SF90 Stradale yet also adds further driving pleasure and versatility to the mix, thanks to latest iteration of Ferrari’s signature retractable hard top.’
It added: ‘This makes the SF90 Spider the ideal car for owners that demand the very pinnacle of Ferrari technology, but still want the thrill of open-top driving.’
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