Since its launch late last year, the 812 GTS has held the title of the world’s most powerful convertible. But it turns out 800 horsepower only goes so far inside the halls of Maranello—in mid-November, Ferrari unveiled the 1,000-hp SF90 Spider.
Like the 812 GTS (and F8 Spider), the SF90 Spider receives a two-piece retractable hard top that folds down atop the rear deck in 14 seconds, leaving behind a pair of buttress joined by a glass window that serves as a windblocker or can be lowered for the full free-air experience. The SF90’s aluminum chassis receives extra bracing to accomodate the removal of its original fixed roof, contributing to a 220-pound increase in dry weight. But with its 1,000 ponies, the 3,681-lb. SF90 Spider still offers a better power-to-weight ratio than a 488 Pista—and that’s far from the only trick in its performance arsenal.
Aside from the new roof, rear deck, chassis bracing, and some aerodynamic tweaks (including new cooling louvers in the engine glass and revised underbody vortex generators to increase downforce), the Spider offers all the same hardware and software as the SF90 Stradale. That means a combined 1,000 hp and over 900 lb-ft of torque from its 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 and 162-kW three-motor hybrid system delivered to all four wheels, an 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox, the latest version of Ferrari’s electronic driver’s aids, and the optional, track-oriented Assetto Fiorano package. Not to mention a 2.5-second 0-62 mph time and 211-mpg top speed, also the same as the Stradale.
Ferrari’s launch of the SF90 Spider was an online affair, as has been the case with many car launches during the coronavirus pandemic, so we can’t yet tell you what it’s like to drive. Those who are fortunate enough to buy one will find out pretty soon, however: Deliveries in the U.S. are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2021.
