Is this Ferrari SF90 XX the spiritual successor to the F40?
Ferrari have been behaving in mysterious ways over the past few weeks. We weren’t even allowed to know which car we were driving to Maranello. What should we see? The successor to the LaFerrari? No, although you could see this Ferrari SF90 XX in a way. He’s extreme enough for that.
To answer the logical question right away: Why isn’t the Ferrari SF90 XX called SF90 LM? Finally, earlier this month, Ferrari won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the 499P for the first time in decades.
Ferrari SF90 XX Stradale is not a racing car
The answer is simple. The SF90 XX name had been registered much earlier and Ferrari had no idea it would be so successful in the famous 24 hour race.
The letters XX in the name of this SF90 are promising, as they refer to Ferrari’s XX program, which gave rise to the 599 XX, FXX and FXX-K. These are racing cars not homologated for competition use and intended for special track days organized by Ferrari.
This Ferrari SF90 XX is different. It is a track-oriented road car with a highly optimized aero package for maximum downforce at high speed.
Only 30 hp more than the regular SF90
The powertrain is largely similar to that of the standard SF90. That means the XX has a 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 and three electric motors, one on the gearbox as a starter/generator and two on the front wheels.
Ferrari has improved the cooling of both the combustion engine and the electric motors and installed new pistons and polished intake and exhaust ports in the eight-cylinder. The result is 17 hp more for the V8 (now 797 hp) and 13 hp more for the electric motors (now 233 hp).
The total output is thus 1030 hp. The Ferrari SF90 XX sprints to 100 km/h in 2.3 seconds and sprints to over 200 km/h after just 6.5 seconds. This makes it 0.2 seconds faster than the regular SF90 in both acceleration tests.
The weight saving is a bit disappointing
Usually such circuit variants are also a lot lighter, but that is disappointing with the SF90. Ferrari has saved the eight-cylinder by 3.5 kilos and also saved weight in the interior and in other places. The XX has become only 10 kilos lighter: 1560 kilos dry for the coupe.
The Spider weighs 100 kilos more, of course due to the addition of the metal folding roof and the necessary reinforcements to maintain the Ferrari’s torsional rigidity.
Ferrari SF90 XX Stradale with more downforce
There are many aerodynamic modifications. The underside of the XX was completely sealed (the SF90 had a few more vents there to allow air to escape), louvers were added to the wheel arches to let the air out, and the splitter was lengthened at the front.
The rear wing provides 315 kilos of downforce at 250 km/h (the SF90 without a large spoiler comes in at 205 kilos), so there has to be a trade-off at the front. There is no longer a luggage compartment, but an air duct that directs cold air through a cooling radiator and blows it out through two “nostrils”.
Spiritual successor to the Ferrari F40?
Ferrari describes the XX as a kind of spiritual successor to the famous F40 and F50. Why? Because this SF90 is the first road Ferrari since 1997 with a fixed rear wing. The Enzo and the LaFerrari have smaller, more active models.
Active aero elements at the rear
The so-called shut-off gurney under the rear spoiler of the Ferrari SF90 XX is interesting. This is a body panel that folds down to block airflow and direct more wind onto the wing. This creates more downforce when braking.
When the cut-off device is in the highest position, air flows undisturbed over the rear of the XX for the lowest possible drag on the straight.
Extra electric boost on track in qualifying mode
Speaking of which, the SF90 has a qualifying mode where additional boost is available. 30 yellow lines appear on the dashboard, representing a brief power boost. You can use seven per lap at the Fiorano circuit near the Ferrari factory.
But that doesn’t mean that the 7.9 kWh battery is empty after a hard racing session. It is recharged when braking. If you hold back a bit on the track, you can even get a boost or two.
All copies of the Ferrari SF90 XX already sold
Typical of this type of limited Ferrari models is that they are all already sold before the car is unveiled. A maximum of 799 copies of the Stradale – the coupé – will be built. The Spider is rarer with a mintage of 599 copies. The “normal” SF90 is not limited.
In Italy, the Ferrari SF90 XX Stradale costs from 770,000 euros. For the Spider you have to pay at least 850,000 euros in the country. We will undoubtedly incur some additional taxes.
How good are such limited editions for Ferrari? Do the math: 799 times 770,000 euros and 599 times 850,000 euros. Ferrari earns more than 1.1 billion euros with this SF90. And you can rest assured that the margins on the cars are high.