Based on the SF90 Stradale, the new special limited series SF90 XX Stradale of just 799 examples represent the latest and most extreme example of a concept of special versions, which pushes the performance of Ferrari’s road-going models to new levels..
The concept has been honed over the past 20 years or so, with many of these models quickly becoming considered benchmarks in the Prancing Horse’s line up, such as the 488 Pista and 812 Competizione. Over the same two decades, Ferrari has also developed the XX Programme to offer a select group of expert client drivers extreme cars that are not homologated for the road, but that can be driven at the very limit on the track. All of the models produced by the programme have proved a huge success, with the most recent addition being the FXX-K EVO.
Drawing on its experience in both of these spheres, Ferrari decided to create a road-legal car which embodies the maximum expression of the two programmes’ engineering concepts. The SF90 XX Stradale is based on the supercar in the range, the SF90 Stradale, and raises its already impressively exhilarating track and on-the-limit driving experience to new heights. Performance is boosted thanks to its impressive 1,030 cv (30 more than the SF90 Stradale), specific software logics and the use of radical new aerodynamics solutions, including a fixed rear spoiler – the first to appear on a road-going Ferrari since the days of the F50 – which delivers an unparalleled 530 kg of downforce at 250 km/h.
Thanks to its 797 cv, the mid-rear-mounted V8 turbo raises the performance limit bar still further for this particular architecture. The SF90 Stradale’s power unit was used as the starting point for the F154FB engine which powers the SF90 XX Stradale, and is now significantly more extreme. Efficiency was increased by polishing the inlet and exhaust ducts and the compression ratio was increased with the adoption of new pistons and specific machining of the combustion chamber. The removal of the secondary air system also slashed 3.5 kg off the engine’s weight compared to the previous application.
Like the SF90 Stradale, the SF90 XX Stradale has three electric motors, one located between the ICE and the gearbox and two on the front axle. In this instance, they deliver a maximum of 233 cv or 171 kW, thanks to the patented extra boost vehicle dynamics logic, an absolute first on a Prancing Horse road car. The SF90 XX Stradale’s high performance lithium-ion battery powers the three motors, guaranteeing a 25km range in full-electric mode. When the ICE is off, the front motors give the car a maximum speed of 135 km/h.
The SF90 XX Stradale is the most extreme version of the SF90 Stradale; its design criteria are thus those of a track car, calibrated to ensure it can be homologated for road use. That said, the SF90 XX Stradale is not just a special version: it is the first XX model to go through the factory gates, transferring the very pinnacle of Prancing Horse track technology, aerodynamic efficiency and power, to the road.
There is no doubt that one of the most distinctive characteristics of the SF90 XX Stradale’s design is its rear wing. The tail volume, which has been specifically redesigned with aero in mind, is now sleeker, giving it the long tail silhouette typical of racing cars. The air intakes for the intercoolers are now larger too, channelling the air towards the radiators more efficiently.
The guiding principle of the SF90 XX Stradale’s interior design was highlighting the cockpit’s racing vocation through solutions that would provide significant weight-savings. The main areas involved were the door panels, tunnel and mats, which are now simpler in terms of their shape and the mainly technical fabrics used, while carbon-fibre was used for functional areas. The upper part of the dashboard is trimmed in Alcantara®, while the lower part is trimmed in technical fabric. Both are inspired by the racing world.
The door panels emphasise the theme seen aboard the SF90 Stradale: the concave sections that converge on the dashboard are highlighted by the colour contrast. The three louvres in the middle zone, on the other hand are a nod to the air vents on the wheel arch, creating an overall dynamic, sculptural effect. The three apertures, which reference the exterior language, also seamlessly integrate technical and control functions, in a completely new stylistic interpretation.
The pared-back central tunnel not only looks, but is exceptionally light. It is dominated by the gear shift gate which is located now centrally and more forward on the tunnel compared to the SF90 Stradale. The window lifters and the key compartment are on a secondary level. The styling theme is characterised by volumes that create a sophisticated combination of functional voids and structural solids, lending the tunnel a sporty yet sophisticated appeal while still highlighting its functionality.
