The SF90 XX Stradale and its open cousin-the SF90XX Spider–were developed for the track focused XX program. i.e. build a race car that’s street legal. There have been other cars in Special Series that are similar in intention–the 599GTO the F12tdf, the 488 Pista and 812 Competitizione. Some of the previous XX cars were bought and kept at the track for owners to come in and take a few laps but these are built for the street. They draw from the racing machines , from cars built just for the track, and put the inspirations in a street legal package.
The SF90 has the distinction of having not only a turbo V8 but three electric motors–so it’s a hybrid. The motors add 17 cv and 13 cv for a total of 1030 cv. You might say the electric motors aren’t adding much power but it may be hybrids have a welcome mat in several countries over internal combustion cars. It can be driven a few miles on electric power only, but who will want to do that?
- Trans is a dual clutch automatic
- Ferrari promised acceleration on a race car scale–0-to-60 mph in 2.3 seconds.
- Ferrari said that the rear wing was higher than any other road car at the time. And it delivers twice the downforce of the base car.
- Since they know Ferrari owners love the sound it has what’s called a “hot tube resonator.”
- Only 799 of the SF90XX Stradale were built in coupe form and only 599 of the spider
- The price when new was over $890,000 coupes and $995,000 for the Spider Though they have been on the market for over three years not enough have come on the market used to determine if they are appreciating.
FRONT: Very businesslike, with the front loop hook hinting that it is a race car that may need towing at one point or another. The air intakes set flush into the bonnet are a contrasting color from the car; and I for one would have preferred them in aluminum rather than carbon fiber.
SIDE: The “air vents” cut into the fender give it a more race car appearance just like the Ferrari 250GTO.The same gills are on the rear fender. The massive engine air intakes feeding directly to the engine are tastefully recessed in a side scoop at the beginning of the rear fenders.
REAR: This is where the design really becomes “busy” compared to the serenity of the side view. First on the coupe the rear roof vents are like those on the production 1954 Mercedes 300SL coupe but larger. Then there is a rear view window below the over-arching rear roof in the coupe, but that view has to cope with the fixed-in-place non-retractable rear spoiler.
The exhaust pipes are spread wide apart, The taillamp extends all the way from side to side and eschew the usual round taillights of Ferraris.
THE SPIDER: This one has all the same styling features plus “aero blisters” or “humps” for lack of a better word, behind each headrest.
INTERIOR: The seats are racing seats but still seatback angles can be adjusted. There is a thin center console with some hand operated switchgear.
Overall, a very aggressive street car but still enough street car elements left for it to be called “refined.” There is a delicate balance in designing Ferraris, you don’t want a car you’re driving to the opera to be too raw race car and drawing too much attention. On the restrained end within the brand. There is cars like the Amalfi, but on the wild-race-car -barely-restrained-on-the-street you have cars like this. I suspect in certain occupations like judge, the FXX may be a little too raucous.
IN SUM: This car stakes out some territory for those who want a beautiful sensuous car, which they receive in full, but in this design they are willing to have some serious racing gear designed in but out on the track, the changes, especially the rear spoiler, deliver what it needs to be driven at race car speeds. Top speed is 199 mph. The low cost looking materials in the hood air intakes are my main beef.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ARTIST: Wallace Wyss (rhymes with "Reese"), the author of 18 automotive books - now a fine artist - depicts postwar sports cars in oil on canvas. Wearing his artist hat, Wallace Wyss says, if art galleries, exotic car stores and car museums want to talk the possibility of taking art on consignment, he can be reached at [email protected]