Ferrari’s F80 hybrid supercar draws from formula 1 vehicles
Ferrari makes a hybrid debut with the F80, its recent supercar inspired by Formula 1 racing vehicles as well as aerospace designs. The road-legal vehicle nods to the aerospace industry as it borrows cues from fighting jets and space vehicles. The F80 hybrid supercar has a cross-section that looks like dihedral, with two angled surfaces being joined. These two surfaces extend from the bottom corners and are planted on the wheels to give the supercar stability and an aggressive stance. Ferrari also draws from architecture for the front of the car, invoked through the sharp and clear lines as well as the wheelarch that ends in a vertical panel.
The F80 also uses 3D printing for some of its parts and electric turbo technology for the first time. The 3D-printed upper wishbones are a debut feature for the car manufacturer, built layer by layer to make them lighter and more robust. For the latter, Ferrari adds electric motors to their turbochargers, which are devices that push more air into the engine. The carbon-fiber chassis adds to making the supercar lightweight enough to speed away fast, and the vertical panel that sticks out from the butterfly doors is a direct homage to the supercar’s sibling, the F40.
all images courtesy of Ferrari
For the first time, ferrari uses ‘e-turbo’ technology
Speaking of electric turbo technology, it’s the first time that Ferrari installs it on its vehicle. It’s composed of electric motors that are placed between the turbine and the compressor to help the turbocharger rev up faster, even before the exhaust gases kick in. Thanks to this ‘e-turbo’ technology, the engine can instantly produce more power as soon as the driver presses the accelerator, even at low engine speeds. This may be an upgrade because turbochargers typically take some time to build up power at low speeds, but not this time in the Ferrari F80 hybrid supercar.
Many of the technical and design elements of the F80 draw from Formula 1 racing cars. The first is the use of a V6 hybrid powertrain, which comprises turbocharged engines with an 800V hybrid system. It’s not a tradition for the car manufacturer to put this in place, as they used turbocharged V8 engines in the GTO and F40 models. Now, the combustion engine and electric motor set up added power and efficiency for the F80 so it can keep up with its high-performance racing quality while on the road. The design of these electric motors also comes from Formula 1, especially the stator and rotor in a Halbach array configuration and the magnet sleeve in carbon fiber.
Ferrari makes a hybrid debut with the F80
F80 hybrid supercar leaves behind digital controls
The hollow sills of the F80’s tub, the main structural part of the car holding the key mechanical parts and supporting the body, as well as the hybrid supercar’s roof, are both made of carbon fiber, inspired by Formula 1 technology. Even the interior borrows cues from Ferrari racing cars, with the design approach called 1+. This entails that the passenger seat is integrated into the supercar’s interior in a way that it almost disappears from view. Ferrari pulls it off by using different colors and materials for the driver’s seat and the passenger seat so that the driver’s seat stands out more (hence, the lone Ferrari red color for the chair).
The passenger seat is positioned a bit farther back compared to the driver’s seat to allow the F80 hybrid supercar to have a narrower cabin without making the passenger feel cramped. Ferrari also redesigns the steering wheel of the F80, which is slightly smaller than the one used in previous models. Its top and bottom edges are flattened to improve the driver’s visibility, especially of the dashboard. Ferrari returns to the tactile era by putting back physical buttons, leaving behind touch-sensitive digital controls and starting with the right and left spokes of the steering wheel. For Ferrari, it’s easier for the driver to find and press them, so they can keep their focus on the road.
the recent supercar inspired by Formula 1 racing vehicles as well as aerospace designs
the road-legal vehicle nods to the aerospace industry as it borrows cues from fighting jets and space vehicles
the passenger seat is integrated into the supercar’s interior in a way that it almost disappears from view
Ferrari also redesigns the steering wheel of the F80