Overview
Ferrari unveiled the SF90 Stradale in Maranello in May 2019 as the company’s first series-production plug-in hybrid, and it became the most powerful road car Ferrari had ever built. The name is a tribute to the Scuderia Ferrari’s 90th anniversary, and “Stradale” simply means road-going. The Ferrari Design Centre shaped a low, wide body with a short nose, a cab-forward cabin and a tail with a clean, functional rear spoiler. Much of the surface detail is there to manage air. It looks sharp and technical, and it marked the start of a new chapter for the brand.
Engine and Performance
Behind the cockpit sits a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 producing about 780 PS, paired with three electric motors, one at the rear and two at the front axle. Together they deliver a combined output of roughly 1,000 PS (735 kW). The V8 revs to around 8,000 rpm, and the electric motors fill in torque instantly. Power goes through a new eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox, which is more compact than the old seven-speed unit. The SF90 Stradale reaches 100 km/h in about 2.5 seconds and 200 km/h in around 6.7 seconds, and it tops out at roughly 340 km/h (211 mph).
Chassis and Handling
The big story is the all-wheel-drive layout. The two front motors drive the front wheels independently, which allows true torque vectoring, so the car turns in with remarkable sharpness and grip. The rear motor is built into the gearbox and also provides reverse, since the car has no reverse gear. The chassis is a mix of aluminium and carbon fibre, and the battery pack sits low in the floor. Electronic systems, brake-by-wire and active aerodynamics handle the huge output. The eManettino dial lets the driver choose between electric-only driving, a hybrid mode, a performance mode and a qualify mode. The car feels immediate, planted and almost impossibly quick, though it takes some time to learn.
Interior and Comfort
The cabin is a clear break from earlier Ferraris. A fully digital 16-inch curved instrument display replaces traditional dials, and it’s controlled using touch-sensitive pads on the steering wheel. Some owners found that new layout takes getting used to. The seats are supportive, the materials are high quality and there’s a small luggage space at the front. It’s more usable than you might expect, and the electric mode allows quiet, emissions-free driving for roughly 25 km.
Production and Legacy
Production began in 2019 and the open-top SF90 Spider followed in 2020. The track-focused Assetto Fiorano package cut weight and added racing-derived parts, and the later SF90 XX Stradale pushed output to about 1,030 PS in a very limited run. It’s seen as the car that opened Ferrari’s electrified era, and it paved the way for the 296 GTB and the models that followed.
