Ferrari F80, why did the V6 engine choose? Technical analysis and trial on the track

Eighty like the years of history that Ferrari is preparing to celebrate in 2027, in that inimitable way that he has to devote himself to the anniversaries, with a clear and very high note as Maranello knows how to do. It was like this with the 288 GTOand then every 10 years through F40, F50, Enzo And Laferrari. Nobody beyond the Cavallino has succeeded in making the fairy tale of a model outside and beyond each range, not to be desired, but to be interpreted as the desire for the sports car itself for every expert and passionate.

After all, an icon is just an image, one silhouette timeless that becomes a reality of worship for its ability to enclose originality and innovation in itselfquickly transport them to the collective memory with the force of creative freedom, culture and profound technical know-how, intuition and courage.

Originality and innovation that we find in the F80 front lines (as did the angular ones of the F40) or in the many technologies never seen before as the Active suspensions and the electric turbohence the V6 instead of the V8 and V12 for an aerodynamics never so effective.

Intuition and courage

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The F80 is not only the last born in Maranello or only the heir of the F40 and 288 GTO, it is not just one supercar in limited series of 3.6 million euros, but it is also a crazy style exercise that Mixa design themes with large aerodynamic and constructive constructswhere the evocative lines of the 80s and 90s also integrate a large front wing hidden on the front and a huge rear extractor.

A car with record power of 1,200 hp where the small V6 3.0 placed in the center of the car gives 900 HP (i.e. 300 HP/liter) which are added to the 300 HP produced by the three F1 derivation electric engines (two front and one rear). The F80 places the whole world in the face of what today in Ferrari are able to create in terms of the dynamics of the vehicle, between high -tech frames, active suspension with electronic control and an even more sophisticated aerodynamics than that of the 499pthe car that won the 24 hours of Le Mans in all three editions in which he participated.

From the Hypercar In fact, of the WEC inherits the whole front area in addition to the engine position, gearbox and pilot. The result is The fastest car approved on the road that can sail a circuitan absolute magic made in just 799 specimens made to remain in the years desire, excellence and end of comparison.

A rocket on the track

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In summary, this car behaves on the track as a mix between a Formula 1 and a car from Le Mans. On curves for 250 times it has one disarming stability And in slow curves it behaves like a smaller and lighter car. There is no mention of the understeer neither in insertion nor outgoing. Thanks to the triple front wing Which works in symbiosis with the bottom, with the huge rear extractor, which is over a longer meter than that of Laferrari thanks to the very low engine (the oil cup is only 10 cm from the ground).

The Active suspensions On the fast they become rigid, while on slow curves they perform the magic of raising the rear and lowering the front. So there is plus load On the directional wheels and the tail extractor is made better, gaining a push to the ground otherwise unimaginable at low speeds.

In insertion curve also comes into play theABS Cornering which contributes to “pulling inside” the car, while the suspensions are still leaving, lowering the muzzle by preventing the understeer. All supported by Torque Vectoring of the two front electric motors, which quickly bring the car outside the curve.

On the road the Active suspensions And the hybrid system allow the real miracle of the F80. Docile and soft on the depressions (real enemies of the supercars) here the V6 pushes well in eighth gear of 1,800 rpm with an almost moving progression for engines of this type.

the technique

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“All Ferrari cars are born from a technical function, but in this it happens more than ever”. To trace the identikit of the new F80 it thinks about it Matteo TurconiSenior Product Marketing Manager for the Maranello house, a man of connection among all the different needs that converge on a project with radical choices, because they are functional to the absolute performance. “The F80 represents theApex of Ferrari technology and performancetoday and in the years to come “, Turconi reiterates, calling into question the models that embodied the essence of the Cavallino, from the 288 GTO of 1984 to the F40, passing from F50, Enzo and Laferrari.

Because the V6

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The choice of motorization is the daughter of the direct commitment in competitions, with a V6 turbo architecture in continuity with the horizon of the F1 and the endurance world championship, with the three consecutive Ferrari successes in the last editions. This engine from 2,992 cc it is able to develop 900 hpthat is, with a specific record of 300 HP/liter record. The evolution is also in the addition of the hybrid system, which draws inspiration from Formula 1 in the concept of MGU-K, the recovery of kinetic energy, and in that of MGU-Hor the recovery of thermal energy from the exhaust gases.

The PowerTrain Use three electric motors, all designed and products in Maranello. The first, 95 HP, is in correspondence with the rear axle and the V6 petrol, while at the front there are the other two electric engines of 142 HP each. Give life to theE-Axlethe assale without mechanical connections that allows one couple management of the couple out of the corner.

All this is however part of a homogeneous set, where even aerodynamics play a dominant role. TO 250 km/hthe F80 is able to generate a vertical aerodynamic load of well 1,050 kgan extraordinary result for a road car. The F80 Avantreno alone develops 460 kg and is inspired by Formula 1 and Endurance cars, with theS-deck and wing flaps that allow you to direct flows, improving stability at speed. At the rear the rear diffuser is combined with the active wing, it rises and modifies its incidence in real time, allowing to obtain a load of 590 kg at 250 km/he improving the tense in curves and in the braking.

The car rests on another Ferrari excellence, the system of Active suspensions which debuted on the thoroughbred and which was completely redesigned to adapt to the sports nature of the F80, with Fine worthy of a single -seaterlike the lowering of the muzzle of the car leaving the slow curves to earn more load. “F80 is an infinite series of innovations“Remember Matteo Turconi,” but his secret is to make them work all of a perfect concert “.

Strengths and weaknesses

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Below, strengths and weaknesses found during our Ferrari F80 test:

Precious:

• The best: Ferrari made only every 10 years such a car, in which he condenses the best of his knowledge and existing technology. The result is an incredible mix of performance and guidability never seen on a supercar.
• Active suspensions: make the car immovable on the fast, stable and handy on the slow, and surprisingly comfortable on the road.
• Electric Turbo: Cancel the turbo-lag and fills the provision of the dispensing already at low revs
• Aerodynamics: a mix between Formula 1 and the 499p of Le Mans, including the mobile rear wing and the DRS

Defects:

• Exclusive: only 799 specimens in the world at a price of 3.6 million euros, and they were all sold even before the first unit was built …