2021 Ferrari SF90 Spider unveiled

Purists should probably look away right now: Ferrari’s plug-in hybrid range has doubled in size with the new SF90 Spider.

Based on the SF90 Stradale coupe launched last year, the Spider has a retractable hardtop which can be raised or lower in 14 seconds and can be operated when the car’s in motion.

Aside from the roof mechanism, other changes include louvres at the top of the engine screen and a revised cooling setup for the brakes, including new front calipers which include an “aerodynamic appendage” to better distribute air coming in from under the headlights.

Weighing in at 1670kg, the Spider is 100kg heavier than its coupe sibling.

As with the SF90 Stradale coupe, the Spider has a plug-in hybrid V8 drivetrain with a total of 735kW.

Mounted behind the passenger cell is a 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 making 574kW at 7500rpm, and 800Nm at 6000rpm.

The V8 is hooked up to a rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and an electric motor generator. Up front there are two independent electric motors, one for each wheel.

In electric-only mode, the SF90 Spider is driven solely by the electric motors at the front – yes, you read that correctly. With the 7.9kWh battery fully charged, the SF90 is capable of up to 25km of silent motoring.

In addition to the regular Hybrid mode, other user-selectable driving modes include Performance that keeps the V8 engine on all the time, and Qualify, which allows the electric motors to constantly deliver their full 162kW as performance prioritised over battery charge.

Ferrari claims the SF90 Spider can dust off the 0-100km/h sprint in 2.5 seconds, and hit 200km/h in 7.0 seconds flat. Top speed is said to be 340km/h.

For those who must have the absolute fastest SF90, the coupe is 0.3 seconds quicker to 200km/h. For all other standard performance metrics, the coupe and convertible share the same figures.

The SF90 Spider rides on 20-inch alloy wheels with 255/35 tyres up front, and wider 315/30 rubber at the rear.

The optional Assetto Fiorano pack includes Multimatic shocks, a carbon-fibre rear spoiler, softer Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, and two-tone livery. It also reduces the car’s weight by 21kg through the use of aluminium and titanium components.