Ferrari SF90 XX Stradale - 2024

The Tamed Beast: How the SF90 XX Stradale Redefined Ferrari's Apex

The 2024 Ferrari SF90 XX Stradale is a machine of profound contradictions. It is the first road-legal car to bear the hallowed "XX" suffix, a designation historically reserved for Ferrari's most extreme, track-only testbeds sold by invitation to a select clientele. With a singular mission to be the "most extreme roadgoing Ferrari ever," it intentionally blurs the line between a top-tier supercar and a purebred racing machine. This strategic shift has ignited debate among purists, who question whether a series-production vehicle—albeit a limited one with 799 coupes and 599 Spiders—can truly embody the spirit of the exclusive, factory-supported XX Programme. Yet, its record-breaking performance and radical engineering leave no doubt that it represents a pivotal moment for the Maranello marque, a car where the most aggressive lessons from the track have been distilled into a road car of unprecedented, digitally-perfected capability.  

At its heart is a formidable plug-in hybrid powertrain, an evolution of the standard SF90's system pushed to a new extreme. The 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine was significantly reworked with new pistons and polished intake and exhaust tracts, raising its output to 786 horsepower. This is augmented by three electric motors—two on the front axle and one between the engine and gearbox—which bring the total system output to a staggering 1,016 hp (1,030 cv). This raw power is harnessed by a new, patented software logic called "Extra Boost." Available only in the most extreme "Qualifying" mode, this system delivers a temporary surge of maximum electric power upon corner exit, a feature credited with shaving 0.25 seconds off the car's Fiorano lap time. The result is acceleration described as "stupendous and violent" , with official figures claiming 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.3 seconds and 0-200 km/h (124 mph) in a mere 6.5 seconds. Ferrari also made a concerted effort to enhance the car's acoustic character, optimizing a "hot tube system" to pipe a richer, more feral V8 howl into the cabin.  

The most visually and functionally dramatic aspect of the SF90 XX is its radical aerodynamic package, which unequivocally prioritizes on-track performance. Dominating its profile is a fixed carbon-fiber rear wing—the first on a road-legal Ferrari since the F50 of the 1990s. This works in tandem with a redesigned active rear spoiler, or "shut-off Gurney," which can switch between a low-drag configuration for straight-line speed and a high-downforce setting for cornering and braking. The cumulative effect is the most efficient aerodynamic performance of any road car in Ferrari's history, generating a monumental 530 kg (1,168 lbs) of downforce at 250 km/h—double the maximum downforce of the standard SF90 Stradale. This grip-focused philosophy comes at a deliberate cost: the car's top speed is limited to 320 km/h (199 mph), sacrificing a headline figure for usable on-track capability. The wing is supported by a holistic redesign of the bodywork, including S-ducts in the hood, a larger front splitter, a new underbody, and fender louvers that pay homage to icons like the 250 GTO.  

On the track, the SF90 XX is a synthesis of raw power and digital precision. Its "brain-scrambling" acceleration is balanced by handling that is described as surprisingly "approachable" and "mild-tempered" at the limit. This remarkable composure is the work of a sophisticated suite of electronic aids, including a new-generation ABS 'evo' controller and the eSSC 1.0 (electronic Side Slip Control) system, which proactively manage the immense forces at play to inspire driver confidence. The definitive validation of this engineering came on October 16, 2023, when the SF90 XX Stradale set a new lap record for a road-homologated car at Ferrari's Fiorano circuit:  

1'17.309". This time shattered the previous benchmark by a remarkable 1.4 seconds.  

Ultimately, the SF90 XX Stradale is a landmark achievement. It successfully translates extreme track technology to the road, setting a new benchmark for performance. However, its legacy remains complex. It is a car so capable, so heavily mediated by its digital brain, that some find the experience less emotionally resonant than its raw numbers suggest. It stands as a stunning "object lesson in corralling the discordant forces of petrol and electricity" , but whether it will be revered for its clinical perfection or seen as a step away from the untamed analogue soul of its predecessors is the question that will define its place in Ferrari's storied history.