Ferrari's first plug-in hybrid: the Stradale SF90

The SF90 Stradale is the most powerful road Ferrari to date, with 986 hp, and is the automaker's first series production plug-in hybrid. It is also Ferrari's first four-wheel-drive, two-seat sports car -- a necessary step for the hybrid powertrain to be fully exploited.

In addition, the SF90 Stradale is the first Ferrari with a brake-by-wire system, developed with Brembo. This enables braking torque to be split between the hydraulic system and the electric motors, allowing regenerative energy recovery.

The powertrain combines a 769-hp turbocharged V-8 gasoline engine with three electric motors that have a total output of 217 hp. One motor is at the rear between the engine and the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and there is one motor for each of the front wheels.

The V-8 has been completely redesigned using Ferrari's F154 eight-cylinder engine as a base. One of the biggest differences is that the SF90 Stradale has a new combustion chamber.

A selector mounted on the steering wheel enables the driver to choose from four power unit management modes: eDrive (electric only), hybrid (the standard one), performance (internal combustion engine always running) and qualify (maximum electric-power output).

Ferrari says eDrive is ideal when in a city center or any other situation in which the driver wishes to eliminate the sound of the engine.

The 270 additional kilograms required to incorporate the hybrid system into the car have been more than compensated by the increase in power. The SF90 Stradale has a top speed of more than 340 kph and accelerates from 0 to 100 kph in 2.5 seconds, 0.4 seconds faster than the eight-cylinder, 710-hp F8 Tributo.

The SF90 is credited with a 1-minute, 19-second lap time at Ferrari's Fiorano test track, 3 seconds faster than the F8 Tributo.

The relatively small 7.9-kW battery means the top power output of 986 hp is only available "for a certain number of seconds, but enough for a lap on every race circuit," Ferrari Chief Technical Officer Michael Leiters said. The SF90's electric-only range is 25 km and the top speed in electric mode is 135 kph.

Launch date: First half of 2020 in Europe; a few months later in the U.S.
Starting price: 430,000 euros (Italy)
Where built: Maranello, Italy
Main competitor: Lamborghini Aventador
Engines: The turbocharged gasoline engine's 769 hp is the highest performance achieved by an eight-cylinder unit in Ferrari's history. An additional 217 hp is supplied by three electric motors -- one at the rear and two on the front axle. They are powered by a 7.9-kW battery.
All-wheel drive: The engine powers only the rear wheels, while an independent electric motor powers each of the front wheels. Besides providing propulsion in electric drive, the two front motors independently control the torque delivered to the two wheels, extending the concept of torque vectoring.
Lightweight: The chassis and bodyshell are all new, built using multimaterial technology that includes carbon fiber. The base car weighs 1600 kg, with 270 kg coming from the hybrid system. A lighter Assetto Fiorano version (named after Ferrari's test track) saves 30 kg with upgrades such as carbon-fiber door panels and underbody, titanium springs and exhaust line.
Digitalization: The central instrument cluster is entirely digital, with the first automotive application of a 16-inch curved HD screen that can be fully configured and controlled using the controls on the steering wheel.