From the 288 GTO and the F40 to the Enzo and LaFerrari, Ferrari’s flagship hypercars are often a spectacular and wonderous sight to behold. Finally, after a decently long wait, the new one is finally here – behold, the Ferrari F80! Showcasing Ferrari’s ultimate blend of performance and engineering, the F80 is Ferrari’s new halo car to light the way ahead, drawing plenty of inspiration from motorsports. These include Ferrari’s recent venture into the top flight of endurance racing with the 499P Le Mans Hypercar, as well as their Formula 1 programme. Alas, just like Ferrari’s past hypercars, the F80’s production is capped (to just 799 units), and I reckon they’re all sold out.
As you might’ve guessed, aerodynamics is the name of the game with the Ferrari F80. Between its active rear wing, a huge rear diffuser, front tri-plane wing, flat underbody, and the S-Duct, it has more than a handful of downforce trickery to keep the F80 glued to the ground. Altogether, you’re looking at a mind-bending 1,000kg of downforce at 250km/h. In addition, it features an active suspension set-up that could help optimise ground effects, to boot. If you plan to bring a passenger along, there is a slight compromise there, with Ferrari’s ‘1+’ interior layout. With its narrow, driver-focused cabin, it ought to help further reduce drag and cut down weight.
Electrifying And Hybridising A Prancing Horse
But hey, what is a Ferrari if not that marvel of an engine? The new Ferrari F80 is powered by a pretty familiar 3.0-litre 120-degree turbo V6, then mated to a hybrid system for a total output of 1,200hp. This is split between 900hp and a peak torque of 850Nm for the ICE engine. With its electric turbochargers and other high-tech fitment, it revs all the way up to 9,000 RPM. To aid the engine, there are three electric motors that make up the hybrid powertrain. You’ll find two on the front axle and one other MGU-K system on the rear axle. Combined, these add the other 300hp, and with those two motors in the front, the Ferrari F80 is technically all-wheel drive.
Naturally, the Ferrari F80’s e-4WD system needs a good power source, and that’s thanks to its tiny yet potent 2.3kWh battery pack. This high-voltage battery is built on an 800V architecture, and it could provide up to 242kW of power. All in all, the Ferrari F80’s performance figures, on paper at least, are nothing less than mind-blowing, as you’d expect. It sprints from 0 to 100km/h in just 2.15 seconds, or if that’s not enough to melt your brain, it’ll also do 0 to 200km/h in only 5.75 seconds. With a long stretch of tarmac, the Ferrari F80 will hit a top speed of 350km/h. As is only right for a car like the F80, there’s a plethora of other fancy tech to keep it going, too.
The Most High-Tech Road-Going Ferrari To Date
One such world-first bit of tech is the F80’s Boost Optimisation system. This basically optimises your power delivery on specific sections of a track, first by recording the track layout as you’re driving along. Then, depending on the drive mode – either Performance or Qualify – the system will boost power delivery strategically in places where you’d need the extra horsepower. If that isn’t enough for you, the F80 also comes with Ferrari’s re-engineered active suspension setup. This allows the F80 to actively adjust your ride height and damping based on speed, cornering, and braking. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s SSC 9.0 system ensures precise control over your blisteringly quick F80.
There’s just way too much techy electronics for my brain to handle… But here’s one thing I can comprehend – carbon fibre. The F80’s tub and chassis is a mixture of aluminium and carbon, in addition to the clever use of metals like titanium, Ferrari could keep the F80’s weight down. If you compare it to the LaFerrari, the F80 might be a smidge heavier overall, but it’s about 50% stiffer. I know a lot of folks will miss the LaFerrari’s pure and simple rear-wheel drive roots and that howling V12, but the 8-year-old in me likes this new F80, so maybe that alone is enough. Granted, only time will tell if the F80 could stand the test of time, just like its predecessor.
