Ferrari launches its first production plug-in hybrid convertible with the arrival of the game-changing SF90 Spider.
If you’re going to get a Ferrari, especially in balmy Asia, you’d be wise to get a drop-top. While the very first Ferraris – including the 1940 Tipo 815, were technically soft tops (they actually didn’t have a roof at all), Ferrari launched its first ‘spider’ model (the term dates from the 1800s when it was used to describe small, agile horse-drawn carriages with large spoked wheels) in the mid-1940s. Since then, the moniker has been used for convertible variations of new models. including the new SF90 Spider, the drop-top version of the SF90 Stradale.
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Setting a new benchmark for performance, innovation, and the thrill of driving, the new convertible has the same extreme supercar specification and record-breaking performance as the Stradale, yet adds excitement and versatility with the latest iteration of Ferrari’s signature Retractable Hard Top architecture, which first debuted on a mid-rear engined Berlinetta in 2011.
The SF90 Spider’s plug-in hybrid system guarantees performance levels unmatched by any other production spider: the car’s 780 cv turbo-charged V8 is augmented by three electric motors, one at the rear and two on the front axle, bringing its maximum power output to a staggering 1,000 cv. This state-of-the-art system does not complicate the driving experience in any way as a sophisticated control logic autonomously monitors and adjusts power flows to suit the conditions of use. All you have to do is to select one of the power unit modes (eDrive, Hybrid, Performance, or Qualify) on the steering wheel’s new eManettino for an exhilarating driving experience.
Like the SF90 Stradale, the SF90 Spider also has AWD, which has raised the bar for standing starts to unparalleled new speeds, with the convertible reaching 100 km/h in 2.5 s and 200 km/h in just 7 seconds.
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The car’s dynamic control system, the eSSC, controls vehicle stability by delivering torque independently via the front electric engines to the inside and outside wheel, significantly improving traction coming out of corners and making it much simpler and more intuitive to drive with confidence.
This control is accentuated by cutting-edge aerodynamics, which produces a maximum of 390 kg of downforce at 250 km/h, a ‘shut-off Gurney’ at the rear of the car which adapts to driving conditions, and forged wheels with wing profiles that recall Ferrari’s F1-derived blown geometry.
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The track-derived “eyes on the road, hands on the steering wheel” philosophy, which drove the ergonomics and styling of the new car’s interior, has produced an innovative new HMI concept that includes a new steering wheel with a touchpad that allows drivers to control virtually every aspect of the car without moving their hands. The central instrument cluster is now entirely digital with a 16-inch curved HD screen that can be fully configured and controlled using the controls on the steering wheel. On the central tunnel, the automatic gearbox controls are now actioned by a grille-style feature that references Ferrari’s iconic manual gearshift gate.
Like all Prancing Horse spiders, the SF90 Spider sports a retractable hardtop (RHT), which guarantees optimal noise insulation and protection from the elements when deployed. The RHT is so compact, simple, and light, it can be actioned in just 14 seconds and can be deployed when the car is on the move.
You know, for those quick getaways.
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