2020 Ferrari SF90 Spider Makes World Debut

Ferrari SF90 Stradale drops its top to become the SF90 Spider. It is, if you must know, Ferrari’s first PHEV with a retractable hard top.

The mechanical layout adopted by the Maranello engineers has allowed the SF90’s dynamic control system be further advanced. Now called eSSC, it verifies the car’s dynamic status in real time and controls vehicle stability through a torque vectoring system that independently adjusts the output of each front motor around a bend. This, Ferrari claims, significantly improves traction out of corners and makes it much simpler and more intuitive to drive on the limit.

Aerodynamically, the SF90 Spider’s maximum 390kg of downforce achieved at 250 km/h sets the absolute benchmark in both downforce and aerodynamic efficiency for road cars in the range without aerodynamic appendages. The many innovative, patented solutions adopted include most notably the shut-off Gurney, an active system at the car’s rear which adapts to driving conditions, and forged wheels with wing profiles recalling Ferrari’s F1-derived blown geometry.

The Ferrari SF90 Stradale has dropped its top, becoming the SF90 Spider that was unveiled, as is the norms of our present, during a dedicated digital event. Not only is it the Prancing Horse’s first production PHEV spider, the SP90 Spider also sets new benchmarks for performance, innovation, and driving thrills for the entire sports car sector.

It has the same extreme supercar specification and record-breaking performance as the SF90 Stradale, yet also adds further excitement and versality to the mix, thanks to the latest iteration of Ferrari’s signature Retractable Hard Top architecture that first debuted on the 458 Spider in 2011. The SF90 Spider thus represents a fundamental revision of the supercar concept that makes it the ideal car for owners demanding the very pinnacle of Ferrari technology, but still wanting to experience the joys of open-top driving.

The entire assembly is so compact, simple, and light that it can be actioned in just 14 seconds and can be deployed on the move. It also takes up just 100 litres of space rather than the typical 150-200 litres required by a traditional system. Furthermore, the usage of aluminium construction makes it 40kg lighter than a conventional hard top.

As with the SF90 Stradale, the Spider is also available with upgrades for owners that want to push its abilities to greater extremes. The Assetto Fiorano includes a list of exclusive upgrades that allow buyers to set their cars apart from standard specification. Performance upgrades include track-optimized Multimatic shock absorbers, carbon fibre and titanium parts shaving 21kg off the car’s weight, carbon fibre rear spoiler, and road-homologated Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres. Lastly, the Assetto Fiorano also offers a two-tone painted livery that further underscores the SF90’s racing DNA from Ferrari.

The central instrument cluster is entirely digital with a 16” curved HD screen which can be fully configured and controlled from the steering wheel. On the central tunnel, the automatic gearbox controls are actioned by rocker switches mounted in grille-style fashion referencing Ferrari’s iconic manual gearshift gates from the past.

Like all Prancing Horse spiders, the SF90 sports a retractable hard top, which guarantees optimal noise insulation and protection from the elements when deployed. It also does not deform at high speeds, providing exceptional occupant space and comfort.

The SF90 Spider’s plug-in hybrid system guarantees performance levels unmatched by any other production spider: its 769hp turbocharged V8 is augmented by three electric motors – one at the rear and one for each front wheel, bringing its nett system output to a staggering 986hp.

This state-of-the-art system is controlled by a sophisticated control logic that autonomously monitors and adjust power flows to suit the conditions of use. All the driver has to do is select one of four driving modes – eDrive, Hybrid, Performance, or Qualify – on the brand-new eManettino mounted on the steering wheel.

Performance of the Spider closely matches the Stradale’s: 0-100km/h is identical at 2.5 seconds, whereas 200km/h requires just an additional 0.3 seconds at 7.0 flat.

Design-wise, starting point of the SF90 Spider’s styling was to ensure it remained as faithful as possible to the SF90 Stradale’s signature look. Ferrari Styling Centre’s meticulous crafting of the tonneau area has integrated it seamlessly with the rest of the car. What’s especially clever is that the mid-mounted V8 remains visible through the transparent engine bay cover regardless whether the hard roof is deployed or retracted.

Continuing Ferrari’s track-derived ‘eyes on the road, hands on the wheel’ philosophy, the SF90’s user interface concept features a touchpad on the steering wheel that allows drivers to control virtually every aspect of the car without having to remove one’s hands from the wheel. Not so sure how intuitive it would be without physical buttons when navigating the curves of Ulu Yam though.