F80: Ferrari’s Latest Supercar

VEHICLE DYNAMICS

The F80 is equipped with the most advanced suite of technological solutions currently available for managing vehicle dynamics in all conditions on the road or track. The Ferrari active suspension system is undoubtedly one of these showpieces. It has been re-engineered from the ground up compared with the version used on the Ferrari Purosangue to tailor it to the F80’s supercar soul.

The system features completely independent suspension all round actuated by four 48V electric motors, a double wishbone layout, active inboard dampers and upper wishbones created with 3D printing and additive manufacturing technology, which is used here for the first time on a Ferrari road car. This solution offers several advantages, such as an optimised layout, more precise wheel control, reduced unsprung mass, no requirement for an anti-roll bar and the introduction of a dedicated camber angle correction function.

This system fulfils two irreconcilable requirements – the need for a very flat ride on the track, where variations in ride height must be minimised as much as possible, and compliance to soak up bumps in road surfaces during everyday driving effectively. This means the car boasts outstanding driveability on the road and can also manage downforce optimally in all possible conditions.

At low speeds, the system prioritises mechanical balance and centre of gravity control, while with increasing speed, the ride height control system works to optimise aerodynamic balance in each different cornering state in concert with the active aero system. When under hard braking, such as when entering a bend, ride height control minimises variations to prevent instability caused by the weight transfer towards the front that would usually occur in this scenario. While cornering, the system increases downforce to maintain the optimal balance. As the car exits the bend, the system contrasts the tendency for the balance to shift towards the rear, keeping the best possible conditions for traction for all four wheels and stability.

Another significant evolution introduced by the F80 is the new SSC 9.0 (Side Slip Control) system, which now benefits from the integrated FIVE (Ferrari Integrated Vehicle Estimator) function. The new estimator is based on the concept of the digital twin. This mathematical model uses the parameters acquired by sensors installed on the car to replicate its behaviour virtually.

As well as estimating yaw angle in real-time, which was already possible with the previous generation, the new system also estimates the velocity of the car’s centre of mass, calculating each with a precision of under 1° and 1 km/h, respectively. The new estimator improves the performance of all the dynamic control systems on board the vehicle, including traction control.

Featuring the eManettino like all PHEV Ferrari models, the hybrid powertrain of the F80 offers three different driving modes: ‘Hybrid’, ‘Performance’ and ‘Qualify’. No eDrive mode is available on the SF90 Stradale and 296 GTB because the F80 cannot be driven in full-electric mode, which is considered not in keeping with the car’s mission.

‘Hybrid’ mode is selected by default when the vehicle is switched on and enables all the functions intended to make the car more efficient and useable in all real-world conditions. This mode prioritises energy recovery and battery charge maintenance to prolong the ability of the MGU-K motor to deliver a boost when needed. ‘Performance’ mode delivers continuous performance levels during extended stints on the track, optimising energy flows towards the battery to keep a battery state of charge of around 70%. The most extreme performance mode, ‘Qualify’, lets the driver unleash all the power that the F80 has at its disposal, using electronic torque shaping during upshifts at the rev limiter to use the torque curves of the electric motor and ICE engine in the best combination possible for maximum performance.

‘Performance’ and ‘Qualify’ eManettino modes also offer the driver access to an all-new function, marking a first for Ferrari and the automotive industry as a whole: Boost Optimisation. This technology records the track where the vehicle is driving and delivers an extra power boost in the sections of the circuit where it is most needed. After selecting this function, the driver first drives around the track in a reconnaissance lap, during which the system identifies the curves and straights of the circuit, acquiring the data it needs to optimise power delivery. Once this lap is complete, the vehicle is ready to deliver the extra power required automatically with no further action from the driver. How Boost Optimization is implemented depends on whether it is used in ‘Performance’ mode – where it maintains constantly available performance for as long as possible – or ‘Qualify’ mode, where it maximises the boost zones, even at the cost of a drop in high-voltage battery charge.

The braking system of the F80 introduces another vital innovation: CCM-R Plus technology, developed in collaboration with Brembo. The adoption of materials and technologies derived directly from Ferrari’s experience in motorsports has given shape to a product with distinctly superior performance to any other road-going carbon ceramic system.

CCM-R Plus uses longer carbon fibres to significantly improve mechanical strength (+100%) and thermal conductivity (+300%) over the previous-generation solution. The braking surfaces are coated with a layer of silicon carbide (SiC), offering incredible wear resistance while reducing bedding-in times. These discs work in conjunction with brake pads with a specific new compound that ensures an extraordinarily constant coefficient of friction even during prolonged extreme usage on the circuit. The larger heat exchange area of the two rows of ventilation channels of the disc and their geometry, derived from F1 applications and optimised with advanced computational fluid dynamic (CFD) methods, ensure superior cooling.

Two tyre choices, with Pilot Sport Cup2 and Pilot Sport Cup2R variants offered in the sizes 285/30 R20 and 345/30 R21 (front/rear), were co-developed with Michelin for the F80. Pilot Sport Cup2 tyres feature a casing and tread explicitly designed to offer a thrilling driving experience and maximise the usability of the car, while the Pilot Sport Cup2R uses specific compounds derived from motorsports applications to allow the vehicle to reach previously unimaginable levels of performance on the track for a Ferrari road car in terms of both maximum grip and consistency over time.

To maximise day-to-day usability, even when not driven at the limit, the F80 is equipped as standard with all the main ADAS driver assist functions currently available: Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop&Go function; Automatic Emergency Brake; Lane Departure Warning; Lane Keeping Assist; Automatic High Beam; Traffic Sign Recognition; and Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning.




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