Ferrari’s new vision of a superlative street-legal model is the SF90 Stradale—that is, SF90 ‘street’—and the company was understandably proud to unveil it during the 90th anniversary year of Ferrari Scuderia racing. The wedge-inspired design boasts some incredibly fluid lines, and a first impression glance is of a graceful Italian born in Maranello.
The SF90 Stradale is also notable for being a plug-in hybrid. The day has been coming; Ferrari has been alluding to it for years. Still, it’s marvelous to see the idea realized, and it gives the model a decidedly optimistic cachet.
And, tire-shredding power. The extremely efficient 4L biturbo V8 alone can pump out almost 770 horsepower; add the three electric motors to the mix (two for the front wheels, and one for the back), and the SF90 Stradale can pump out nearly 1000 horsepower—986, to be precise. The four-wheel drive design gives reverse duties to the electric system, removing them from the eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
Ferrari’s engineering prowess is never out of the news; the V8 powering the 488 (a variant also powers the Portofino and GTC4Lusso T) recently collected the overall title at the International Engine & Powertrain of the Year awards in Germany. This was its fourth consecutive title, too—a record. The SF90 Stradale’s powertrain bears the hallmarks of another winner.
The elegant language of the SF90 Stradale’s exterior is matched inside the cabin, where a simplified, logic-oriented design sensibility prevails. The car’s top speed may be 211 MPH, and it may be able to do the 0-60 thing in 2.5 seconds, but its interiors are almost soothingly meditative, offering drivers an uncluttered atmosphere anchored by a digital screen as a means of navigating the pleasures and perils of high-speed driving.
The all-electric range is minimal at 15.5 miles, but it crucially allows the car to penetrate city centers with restrictions on gas engines. Driving modes include ‘Qualify,’ which brings the entire powertrain—gas-powered and electrical—to bear on speed and torque vectoring.
Deliveries of the SF90 Stradale commence early next year.
