- Ferrari has unveiled a more extreme edition of the SF90 supercar—the SF90 XX—aiming to blur the lines between racing car and grand tourer.
- More horsepower has been squeezed out of the car’s plug-in-hybrid powertrain, and Ferrari claims a zero-to-62-mph time that’s 0.2 seconds quicker than the SF90, which would put it under the 2.0-second to 60 mph mark.
- Both the Stradale coupe and the Spider convertible will be built, but in limited numbers; both body styles are sold out.
Against the backdrop of the famous Pista di Fiorano racetrack, Ferrari has unveiled its latest performance icon, the SF90 XX, which bears the double-X moniker usually applied to the brand’s most high-performance track-only models. Lighter, more powerful and with revised aerodynamics, the special edition SF90 is the first street-legal XX variant and sits on the extreme edge between racing cars and road-going Ferrari sports cars.
Higher Performance Levels
The SF90 XX model is powered by the same plug-in-hybrid powertrain as the standard model, consisting of a twin-turbocharged V-8 engine and three electric motors. But for the SF90 XX, Ferrari engineers have modified the twin-turbo V-8 engine to squeeze more power out of it. The V-8’s intake and exhaust ports have been polished, new pistons have been swapped in, and the compression ratio has been increased. Peak power is 786 horsepower, an increase of 17 hp. Combined with the new Extra Boost feature for the electric motor, total system output is 1016 horsepower, an increase of 30 hp.
Extra Boost is limited to Qualifying driving mode and works to quickly restore the car’s speed when exiting a corner. This feature is activated when the driver presses the throttle and can be used up to 30 times before the battery runs out. When not in Qualifying mode, the SF90 XX can still drive about nine miles on battery power alone.
Changes have also been made to the car’s eight-speed dual clutch gearbox. The new shift logic is borrowed from the Daytona SP3, and the gear changes are accompanied by a screeching exhaust note with a takeoff run at higher RPMs. The raucous sound, piped into the cabin via redesigned tubing that connects the intake to the cabin, gives the SF90 XX a racecar aural experience—and we’re here to tell you that it’s both loud and haunting. .
Ferrari’s official claim is a zero-to-62-mph time of 2.3 seconds, which is 0.2 seconds quicker than the SF90. When we tested the standard SF90 Stradale in 2021, we recorded a blistering, record-breaking 2.0 seconds, which would have put the XX’s time into the 1s.
Downforce Is Highest
Beyond the giant fixed rear wing, Ferrari has redesigned most of the SF90’s aero elements to increase downforce. The company claims the SF90 XX can produce a maximum of 1168 pounds of downforce at 155 mph, which is a big jump compared to the SF90 Stradale’s 860 pounds. The XX retains the active rear spoiler from the SF90, which has been redesigned to work with fixed wings and switch between low drag and high downforce positions.
The hood is punctuated by two nostrils that serve as exhausts for air passing through the front radiator. Hot air flowing from these ducts is directed up and over the roof of the car while cooler air is directed around the cockpit to large side apertures that serve to cool the V-8. Additionally, the radiator used to cool the electrical components is reversed in the SF90 XX to allow for an underbody cooler.
Ferrari has also improved the SF90 XX’s electronic system in the name of better performance and lap times. The new chassis control system, borrowed from the 296 GTB, uses three yaw sensors to better triangulate the car’s real-time dynamics to maximize braking performance.
Looks Like a Long Tail
More complex engineering has prompted several changes to the car’s design. Integrating a large fixed rear wing, for example, meant changing the rear end of the SF90 XX, which had been lengthened to give it a kind of long-tail silhouette. New outlets on the hood are embellished with a different paint color, and fender-mounted air intakes serve as inspiration for the interior door panel design.
Speaking of the interior, Ferrari has ditched the carpet and created new monocoque bucket seats made from carbon fiber to save weight. Although it looks like it’s fixed, the seat is adjustable, relying on clever integrated elastic trim material to keep the back looking fixed.
The center console also uses less material, and instead of leather or plastic, it’s covered in beautiful matte-finished carbon fiber. The eight-speed transmission’s chrome gear selector has been moved forward on the center console, and the power window switch has been moved further back.
Only 799 SF90 XX Stradale coupes and only 599 SF90 XX Spiders will be made, and they are all already spoken for. The price of the coupe is about $844,000 at current exchange rates. The Spider costs more at around $932,000. Ferrari won’t say how many of each will end up in North America, but one thing’s for sure: this will be a collectible no matter where it ends up.
Managing Editor, Buyer’s Guide
Drew Dorian is a lifelong car enthusiast who has also held a variety of consumer-focused positions throughout his career, from financial counselor to car salesman. He had dreamed of becoming one Car and Driver editor since he was 11 years old—a dream realized when he joined the staff in April 2016. He’s a Michigander born and raised and learned to drive in a 1988 Pontiac Grand Am. His automotive interests run the gamut from convertibles and camper vans to sports cars and SUVs luxury