2023 Ferrari SF90 XX Stradale revealed

Welcome, dear internet, to an even faster, ever wilder version of Ferrari's fastest and wildest model, the SF90.

Dubbed SF90 XX Stradale, it’s the result of a rare collaboration between Ferrari’s Stradale and XX programmes and doesn’t only make more power than any road-going Ferrari before it, but it generates more downforce too.

It’s also the first road-going Ferrari since the F50 to sport an enormous fixed rear wing, but more on that later…

The basic recipe for the SF90 is about as you’d expect: more power, cleverer electronics, bigger brakes and more downforce. Lots more downforce.

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At 250km/h, Ferrari says the SF90 makes an “unparalleled 530kg of downforce”, which is double what the ‘regular’ SF90 Stradale generates.

Porsche might have something to say about that “unparalleled” claim – a 911 GT3 RS makes 860kg of downforce at 280km/h – but there’s no escaping that a big chunk of the XX Stradale’s additional performance comes from its airflow management.

Available as either a coupe or a spider, the limited edition SF90 XX Stradale is, unsurprisingly, completely sold out. Just 799 coupes and 599 Spiders will be built, at a lofty price of $1.5 million and $1.7 million respectively – but the good news is that Australia has scored an allocation of both versions, so there’s a slim chance you might actually spot one in the wild.

Should that happen, it’s likely you’ll hear the SF90 XX Stradale before you see it. Part of the changes to the powertrain include a redesigned exhaust, tweaked to deliver a richer and even louder V8 soundtrack.

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And that noise won’t only be enjoyed by people standing on the street. Similar to how Porsche altered the intakes on the insanely loud GT4 RS, Ferrari has redesigned the XX Stradale’s intake plenum, moving it closer to the occupants so those inside the cabin can revel in an extra earful of V8 goodness. Nice.

Power and torque weren’t exactly in short supply in the standard 1000hp SF90, but the XX Stradale elevates things further. Power has jumped by 30hp for a total combined output of 1030cv (747kW), with both the 4.0-litre V8 and plug-in hybrid sub-system receiving significant modifications.

Like a regular SF90, the XX Stradale’s powertrain combines a 4.0-litre V8 with a 7.9kWh battery and three electric motors – one wedged between the combustion engine and the eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox, and two other electric motors on the front axle.

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The V8 itself now makes 12kW and 4Nm more (for a total of 586kW/804Nm), but while that jump may sound relatively small, there have been substantial changes to the engine’s internals.

The inlet and exhaust ducts have been polished to boost efficiency, the compression ratio has been increased, there are new pistons, a different machining process is used for the combustion chamber, and the regular SF90’s secondary air system has been deleted to help shave 3.5kg off the engine’s weight.

The shift logic for the eight-speed dual-clutch is also new, designed to pair with the redesigned exhaust for more theatrical noises on the overrun as soon as you lift off the throttle.

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Where the XX Stradale’s powertrain really takes things up a notch, however, is in its hybrid system.

The motors themselves are more powerful (171kW up from 162kW) but it’s new software for the delivery of the electronic boost that drivers will notice most.

In Qualifying mode, an additional ‘boost function’ is now available to deliver an extra hit of electric grunt with Ferrari claiming it’s designed to arrive “at the critical moment when the car is exiting a bend”. Up to 30 bursts of extra boost are available, and Ferrari says the new feature alone shaves 0.25s off the XX Stradale’s lap time at Fiorano.

Speaking of which, Ferrari is remaining tight lipped for now about just how fast the XX Stradale is around its test track. Not slow, would be our guess.

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Other aero changes include an angrier nose with a larger front splitter, a redesigned floor, larger rear diffuser, and three new louvres on each of the front and rear wheel arches.

As for other measures of performance, the XX Stradale can hit 100km/h in 2.3sec and scream through 0-200km/h in 6.5s, with both of those markers being a 0.2 second improvement over the regular car. Top speed is 320km/h which is actually 30km/h less but that’s the downside of all that extra aero…

Perhaps the most obvious aero addition is the fixed rear wing which actually isn’t fixed at all thanks a moveable section that has two configurations: LD (low drag) and HD (high downforce). In HD mode Ferrari says the rear wing alone generates 315kg of downforce at 250km/h.

Other aero changes include an angrier nose with a larger front splitter, a redesigned floor, larger rear diffuser, and three new louvres on each of the front and rear wheel arches.

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Design wise, aside from the additional vents, wings and intakes, the easiest way to spot an SF90 XX Stradale is by its full width light bar at the rear which is a big departure from the regular car’s quad tail lights.

Inside, Ferrari has worked hard to reduce weight – the dry weight is 1560kg, which is a 10kg improvement – through an increased use of carbon and lighter carpets. But perhaps the most interesting element is the new design for the seats.

Said to be the lightest seats Ferrari has ever made, they look like a single-piece carbon bucket but special elastic elements actually allow the backrest to be adjusted for additional comfort.

As for when the SF90 XX Stradale will arrive Down Under? Expect deliveries to kick off sometime in 2024. Before that, let us know what you think about Ferrari’s new flagship supercar in the comments…

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