NAZA Italia recently introduced the spider version of the Ferrari SF90 Stradale, the SF90 Spider, where Ferrari’s first retractable hard top (RHT) hybrid was unveiled to Malaysians in a digital debut.
The company says the new convertible has the same extreme supercar specification and record-breaking performance as the SF90 Stradale yet also adds greater driving pleasure and versatility to the mix, thanks to latest iteration of Ferrari’s signature retractable hard top architecture.
“This makes the SF90 Spider the ideal car for owners that demand the very pinnacle of Ferrari technology, but still want the thrill of open-top driving.”
The RHT was adopted because it guarantees optimal noise insulation and protection from the elements when raised, does not deform at high speeds and provides exceptional occupant space and comfort.
It is very compact, simple and light, where it can be actioned in just 14 seconds and can be deployed when the car is on the move.
The key to the success of the Ferrari RHT, which premiered on the 458 Spider in 2011 and which has been constantly evolved in the intervening years, is that it takes up just 100 litres of space rather than the 150-200 litres required by a traditional system.
The use of aluminium in its construction also means that it is around 40kg lighter than a conventional retractable hard top.
An adjustable electric rear window guarantees superb occupant comfort even at high speeds when the RHT is lowered.
As is the case with the SF90 Stradale, the SF90 Spider is also available with an additional specification option for owners that want to push its track car vocation to the extreme.
The “Assetto Fiorano” pack includes a list of exclusive upgrades that set it apart from the standard car, not least Multimatic shock absorbers derived from Ferrari’s GT racing experience and optimised for track use.
Other specs include the adoption of high-performance materials (such as carbon-fibre and titanium) that have shaved 21kg off the car’s weight, a carbon-fibre rear spoiler and road-homologated Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres designed to improve track performance in the dry, thanks to a softer compound and fewer grooves.
In a first for a Ferrari production spider, the all-wheel-drive SF90 Spider has plug-in hybrid architecture in which the internal combustion engine is integrated with two electric motors at the front, which comprise the RAC-e (Cornering Angle Regulator, Electric) system and one at the rear derived from and named after a Ferrari Formula 1 innovation, the Motor Generator Unit, Kinetic (MGUK).
The synergy between the internal combustion engine (ICE) and the electric motors allow the car to unleash a maximum of about 985hp and put the SF90 Spider not only at the very top of the Ferrari range of road cars, but also its category.
The SF90 Spider’s powertrain architecture features the V8 turbo ICE, an eight-speed dual clutch transmission with electronic differential, the RAC-e electric front axle with two independent electric motors that also provide all-electric propulsion, the MGUK electric motor located at the rear between the engine and the gearbox, the high voltage battery and electric motor control system (inverter).
Starting with a fully charged battery (with a capacity of 7.9kWh), the car can cover up to 25km (at a limited top speed of 135km/h) in this mode which is ideal for city-centre driving or any other situation in which the driver wishes to eliminate the sound of the V8.
The hybrid architecture proved a challenge in terms of weight management, while the extra 270kg of the hybrid system was amply compensated for by the extra power delivered (217hp, with a weight-to-power ratio of the system alone of 1.24kg/hp), extensive optimisation and weight reduction work was also required on the rest of the car to keep overall weight down to 1,670kg and thus guarantee a weight/power ratio of 1.7kg/hp.
The SF90 Spider comes with a base price of RM2,088,000 (before duties, customisation options, taxes and insurance).
SF90 Spider – some specifications
ICE: V8, 90-degree turbocharged with dry sump
Overall displacement: 3,990cc
Maximum power output*: 769hp at 7,500rpm
Maximum torque: 800Nm at 6,000rpm
Maximum engine speed: 8,000rpm
eDrive maximum power output: 162kW
Battery capacity: 7.9kWh
Length - width - height: 4,704mm, 1,973mm, 1,191mm
Dry weight**: 1,670kg.
Weight distribution: 45% front, 55% rear
Maximum combined power output***: 985hp
0-100km/h: 2.5 seconds
0-200 km/h: 7.0 seconds
Maximum speed: 340km/h.
*With 98 octane petrol.
**With optional content.
***In “Qualify” mode.
