Attendees at this year’s edition of Casa Ferrari Abu Dhabi – the ultimate Ferrari lifestyle event in the Middle East held annually during the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 GP weekend – were treated to an exclusive unveiling, the regional debut of the new SF90 XX Stradale.
Based on the SF90 Stradale, the new limited series SF90 XX Stradale was first unveiled in June at Ferrari’s Fiorana test track in Maranello. At Casa Ferrari Abu Dhabi, one of the 799 examples of this new V8-powered PHEVs was showcased.
The SF90 XX Stradale represents the latest and most extreme example of a concept of special versions. This concept pushes the performance of Ferrari’s road-going models to new levels. SF90 XX Stradale is also the product of Ferrari’s XX Programme, which offers a select group of expert client drivers extreme cars that are not homologated for the road, but that can be driven at the very limit on the track. All of the models produced by the programme have proved a huge success, with the most recent addition being the FXX-K EVO.
The SF90 XX Stradale inherits the PHEV layout of the SF90 Stradale, in which the V8 internal combustion engine is integrated with three electric motors, two independent on the front axle, and one located between the engine and gearbox at the rear. This configuration allows the car to unleash a maximum of 1030 cv, 30 cv more than the SF90 Stradale. An additional 797 cv is provided by the mid-rear-mounted V8 turbo.
The three electric motors deliver a maximum of 233 cv or 171 kW, thanks to the patented extra boost vehicle dynamics logic, an absolute first on a Prancing Horse road car. The SF90 XX Stradale’s high-performance lithium-ion battery powers the three motors, guaranteeing a 25km range in full-electric mode. When the ICE is off, the front motors give the car a maximum speed of 135 kmph.
The SF90 XX Stradale’s soundtrack was redesigned to produce an even fuller, richer sound right across the V8’s rev range. The car’s hot tube system has been optimised to transmit the new higher frequencies of the Ferrari V8. The use of innovative materials has also improved the acoustic clarity in the cockpit.
The driver can use the eManettino selector on the steering wheel to choose from four different power management modes. In eDrive mode, the internal combustion engine is turned off and traction is entrusted entirely to the front axle. In Hybrid mode, it favours battery energy depletion and manages transitions autonomously, maximising the full-electric range. In Performance mode, the internal combustion engine is kept running as the priority is on maintaining consistent performance, rather than on achieving the peak power. In Qualifying, the system unleashes its maximum power output, thanks to a control logic that prioritises performance, using the brand-new extra boost function.
The SF90 XX Stradale retain the 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox of the SF90 Stradale, however, the gear-shift logic has changed significantly. The car uses the patented logic introduced on the Ferrari Daytona SP3 to reach more engaging dynamic acceleration profiles. The new logic also improves the gear-shift sound by introducing an exhaust note similar to the overrun on lift-off noise. To that end, the Ferrari engineers developed a specific engine calibration that works in synergy with the gearbox control logic.
According to Ferrari, the SF90 XX Stradale delivers the most efficient aerodynamic performance of any road-going car in its history. It delivers double the maximum downforce of the SF90 Stradale, improving grip and yielding palpably faster lap times. This October, an SF90 XX Stradale set the fastest-ever lap of Fiorano by a homologated road car. The time of 1:17.309” is 1.4” seconds faster than that set by an SF90 Stradale equipped with the Assetto Fiorano package and running on the same tyres.
The SF90 XX Stradale has a redesigned cooling flow management for the thermal and electric components as well as the engine compartment to cope with the higher maximum power available. The new rear fixed spoiler – the first to appear on a road-going Ferrari since the days of the F50 – delivers 530 kg of downforce at 250 kmph. It was redesigned to efficiently hone the way in which the pressure field created by the wing interacts with the complex pressure and backpressure systems that develop around the shut-off Gurney.
The latter, which was also redesigned, manages the downforce and has two configurations: Low Drag and High Drag. In Low Drag, the Gurney’s mobile element is raised and is faired in with the fixed section to minimise drag and enhance longitudinal performance. In High Downforce, the mobile element is lowered to generate an overpressure area which deflects the incoming flow vertically to help deliver the maximum rear downforce possible: 315 kg at 250 kmph.
The new inclination of the front radiators has also improved the aerodynamic coefficients by simultaneously channelling hot air flows through and over the front bonnet. These flows are controlled and channelled over the car by two S-Ducts, located on either side of the vents in the centre of the bonnet. They increase front downforce by 20% compared to the SF90 Stradale.
The new layout of the underbody was also optimised to improve the extraction of the air coming off the radiators ahead of the front wheels. The side louvres on the lower part of the front bumper were also redesigned and are now larger to reduce back pressure. The car also has a redesigned larger front splitter that generates a highly energised tube of airflow under the car and this is then exploited by the redesigned underbody. A larger, wider front diffuser also contributes to the increase in downforce of over 45 kg at 250 kmph.
One of the key objectives of SF90 XX Stradale’s development was to deliver “maximum fun behind the wheel.” This has resulted in several new improvements compared to the standard Stradale. The Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer (2.0), which enables drivers to manage the car’s drift, makes its debut. Another major new addition is the ABS EVO controller, which improves both performance and repeatability in high-performance braking in dry conditions.
Also debuting on SF90 XX Stradale is the extra boost control logic which guarantees additional power in short bursts. The availability of the extra boost is indicated by a graph on the right-hand side of the dash display, and shows the remaining number of bursts left. The maximum is 30.
There is a 9% improvement in lateral performance compared to the SF90 Stradale in high-speed handling conditions, mostly as a result of downforce. Furthermore, the roll rate was reduced by 10% thereby guaranteeing better body control. The braking system was also upgraded with redesigned front discs to improve cooling and bigger 390mm-diameter rear discs and pads.
The guiding principle of the SF90 XX Stradale’s interior design was to achieve significant weight savings. The main areas involved in this exercise were the door panels, tunnel and mats. These are now simpler in terms of their shape and mainly use technical fabrics, while carbon fibre was used for functional areas. The upper part of the dashboard is trimmed in Alcantara, while the lower part is trimmed in technical fabric.
SF90 XX Stradale comes with Ferrari’s extended seven-year maintenance programme which includes all regular maintenance (at intervals of either 20,000 km or once a year with no mileage restrictions) for the first seven years of the car’s life.
