- The Ferrari F80 is the most powerful road car the Italian marque has ever built
- It pairs a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 with two front-axle electric motors for a combined output of 1216 bhp, zooming from 0 to 100km/h in 2.15 seconds with a top speed of 350km/h
- It’s limited to 799 examples and joins ‘halo’ supercars like the 288 GTO, Enzo, and LaFerrari
The Prancing Horse has delivered. Once every decade or so, Ferrari releases a ‘halo’ supercar; a limited-edition model that pushes the boundaries of automotive design and is invariably set to become a future—or even instant—icon. The legacy began with the 288 GTO in 1984, and was followed up by the F40 (1987), F50 (1995), Enzo (2002), and LaFerrari (2013). The Italian marque has unveiled the latest in the bloodline, with the Ferrari F80 not only acting as the spiritual successor to the LaFerrari, but representing the contemporary evolution of the F40 — the last car designed by Enzo Ferrari and widely considered one of the greatest cars of all time.
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Fusing an internal combustion engine with hybrid technology, the addition of two front-axle electric motors and one at the rear allow the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine to deliver a massive 1216 bhp. That translates to 350km/h, with the Ferrari F8 completing the 0 to 100km/h sprint in a zippy 2.15 seconds. Despite eschewing the V12 of the LaFerrari, the hybrid technology and emphasis on performance engineering makes the F80 the fastest production road car Ferrari has ever made.
The powertrain is derived from the marque’s Formula One models, with the six-cylinder engine resembling that of the 499P Le Mans race car, but with upgrades in the form of a modified ignition and e-turbo technology. Aerodynamic enhancements contribute to the F80’s impressive stats, with the Ferrari design team balancing an elegant yet dynamic design language with performance. Thanks to an active rear wing, rear diffuser, flat underbody, front triplane wing, and S-Duct (like that of the 296 Challenge), the F80 is able to generate 1000kg of downforce at 250km/h. Despite these aerodynamic considerations, it doesn’t take a keen eye to see the resemblance between the newcomer and the illustrious F40, with the sharp, chiselled front end of the F80 a direct nod to its forefather.
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Weight reduction was also a priority, with measures including a carbon fibre chassis with hollow sills and revisions to several components of the engine, including the cylinder block, crankcase, and timing cover. All things considered, the Ferrari F80 weighs in at 1525kg (dry weight), which is 60kg less than the LaFerrari.
The engine has been mounted as low as possible to facilitate optimal balance, while weight distribution has been aided by a reduction in cabin width to move the driver’s mass closer to the centre of the car, lending the cabin a single-seater feel. While the cockpit is able to accommodate a passenger, its somewhat sparse nature—think: seatbelts and a little padding on a carbon fibre tub with no adjustments available—mean it’s best suited to someone on the shorter side and not prone to complaining.
The newcomer is equipped with three drive modes: Hybrid, Performance, and Qualify. Hybrid balances comfortable daily driving with energy recovery and battery charge; Performance delivers increased performance (who’d have guessed!) on the track while keeping battery levels at around 70%; and Qualify takes things to the extreme, harnessing the F80’s full power. For more adventurous drivers, the new Side Slip Control system allows you to really slide the car around.
The newcomer is priced at approx. AUD$5.84 million (€3.6 million), with just 799 examples of the Ferrari F80 set to be produced. Naturally, all of them have already been spoken for.
Words by John Deckard
