Ferrari’s SF90 PHEV supercar flips its lid

November 13, 2020November 19, 2020 John Carey 3755 Views

There’s an open version of Ferrari’s fabulous first-ever plug-in hybrid on the way. Deliveries of the Ferrari SF90 Spider will begin in Europe around May next year, with the rest of the world to follow.

In Italy, the new model wears a price tag around 10 percent higher than the Ferrari SF90 Stradale coupe launched earlier this year. If the same premium is applied in Australia, the SF90 Spider will cost from around $950,000.

Most SF90 Spiders will be bought by existing Ferrari owners

The SF90 Spider has exactly the same power unit as the SF90 Stradale. This combines a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 with three electric motors and a small lithium-ion battery pack. Maximum total output of the system is 736kW, which equates to a neat 1000 metric horsepower.

Read all the secrets of the Ferrari SF90 Stradale.

With two of the electric motors connected to the Ferrari’s front wheels, and the V8, boosted when necessary by the third motor, driving the rear wheels through an eight-speed double-clutch transmission, the SF90 Spider is a part-time all-wheel drive.

SF90 Spider introduces new Giallo Monte Carlo colour

Only the front wheels are powered when the driver selects E (for electric) mode, and top speed is electronically limited to 135km/h. The Ferrari’s pure-electric driving mode is only around 20km.

Ferrari prefers retractable hardtops for all its open models. They provide better noise insulation and don’t deform at high speeds. That second reason is important; the SF90 Spider can reach 340km/h.

The roof can be raised or lowered at speeds up to 45km/h, and deployment takes only 14 seconds. Roof up, the rear window of the SF90 Spider can be separately lowered if the driver wants to hear more noise from the high-revving engine. The roof mechanism doesn’t obstruct the view of the car’s engine through a transparent engine cover.

Two-seat interior is one of Ferrari’s best

Though made mostly from aluminium, the roof contributes around 80kg to the Spider’s weight increase compared to the Stradale. Another 20kg or so is added by changes to the body structure to increase strength, extra sound insulation material and other measures.

The 100kg overall increase has an effect on performance. The SF90 Spider is fractionally slower 0-200km/h, admits tech chief Michael Leiters.

SF90 Spider isn’t quite as quick as the SF90 Stradale

Ferrari believes the time is right for models like the SF90 Stradale and Spider. “There is no doubt the market is moving towards electric technology,” said Ferrari marketing chief Enrico Galliera.

But Maranello isn’t yet ready to produce a Ferrari EV. The right technology for a fully electric doesn’t yet exist, according to Galliera. “For the time being, we are using electric technology only to enhance the performance of Ferraris.”

John Carey

Grew up in country NSW, way back when petrol was laced with lead. Has written about cars and the car business for more than 35 years, working full-time and freelance for leading mags, major newspapers and websites in Australia and (sometimes) overseas. Avidly interested in core EV technologies like motors and batteries, and believes the switch to electromobility definitely should be encouraged. Is waiting patiently for someone to make a good and affordable EV that will fit inside his tiny underground garage in northern Italy, where he's lived for the past decade. Likes the BMW i3, but it's just too damned wide...