When it’s time for a brand-new car bearing the legendary prancing horse badge to roll off the factory line in Maranello, it’s not hyperbole to suggest that everyone takes notice. Last week, Ferrari revealed the F80, its new flagship model which joins the legendary likes of the GTO, F40 and LaFerrari as the pinnacle of technology and performance produced by the Italian marque.
As with previous iterations of Ferrari’s flagship vehicle, the F80 is exceptionally limited, this time to only 799 vehicles, meaning only its most discerning clients will ever get the opportunity to own one. The F80 certainly has a hard act to follow, previous Ferrari flagships all essentially rewrote the rule book, revealing what was possible for an automobile and earning a place in the history books. So it’s no surprise that to meet everyone’s lofty expectations, Ferrari has pulled out all the stops.
When devising the F80, Ferrari set out with the goal of delivering the finest internal combustion engine, aided by the latest technology, such as the vehicle’s hybrid technology. The end result is a vehicle with unmatched levels of power and torque. When combined with an architecture designed around maximum performance, with a carbon-fiber chassis and advanced aerodynamics that have never been seen before in a road car, in addition to an active suspension system, the F80 is set to be a monster around the track.
However, Ferrari also wanted the F80 to be a joy to drive on the road. This is no simple task. Generally, what makes a car perform admirably on the track, high power and low weight, tends to make things less comfortable for longer simpler journeys on the road. To produce a vehicle that excels at both, would take a manufacturer like Ferrari to even consider it possible.
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Looking at the powertrain, historically the engine in the flagship Ferrari supercar always represents the best of what the Italian marque can produce. In the 1980s, the GTO and F40 used turbo V8 engines because that’s what Formula 1 cars used. Today, Formula 1 cars race with V6 engines that have been mated with hybrid systems, so the Ferrari F80 follows suit.
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Inside, there’s a three-liter V6 engine that produces an impressive 900 hp, meaning it’s the Ferrari engine with the highest specific power in history. This engine is then boosted by an electric motor — the first units developed, tested and manufactured entirely by Ferrari at Maranello — which adds another 300hp. This system is then taken to the next level with the introduction of e-turbo (electric turbo technology) for the first time ever on a Ferrari.
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The end result is a vehicle with a top speed of 217mph that’s capable of traveling 0-62mph in just 2.15 seconds and 0-124mph in 5.75 seconds, making the new Ferrari F80 blisteringly fast.
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Looking at the shape of the vehicle, steps have been taken to improve aerodynamics and reduce weight, namely making the cabin narrower. This has been made possible by designing a driver-centric layout, which is of course attuned with modern motorsports. There is still space for a passenger, however the cockpit area has a distinct single-seater feel.
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Other aerodynamic features include an active rear wing, rear diffuser, flat underbody, front triplane wing and S-Duct, all of which work together to generate 1000 kg of downforce when the vehicle is traveling at 155mph. While the active suspension aids in creating ground effect, the vehicle’s four-wheel drive capability results in even more effective use of torque and power.
The new Ferrari F80 marks the next chapter in the storied lineage of this Italian marque. Only time will tell if it lives up to the exceptionally high expectations set by its predecessors.
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