Ferrari F80 Review: The Hybrid Hypercar That Re-writes Maranello’s Rule Book
Ferrari F80 – type those two characters into any search engine and you plunge into a vortex of feverish forum posts, concept renders and speculation. Now, thanks to CAR magazine and the 22-minute video review hosted by James Dennison, the wraps are finally off the most audacious Prancing Horse of the 21st century. With a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6, three electric motors and more lightweight tech than an F1 grid, the F80 aims to prove that the LaFerrari’s throne can be seized without a screaming V12. In this long-form article we will unpack every on-screen detail, provide contextual data and, most importantly, answer the question enthusiasts are asking: is the Ferrari F80 truly the benchmark hypercar of the 2020s?
Learning Promise: Over the next 2,000-plus words you will discover how the F80’s engineering works, what it feels like on road and track, where it sits in the hypercar hierarchy, and whether its hybrid architecture compromises the passion baked into every Ferrari since 1947.
1. Heritage in Overdrive: Why the F80 Exists
The Business Case
After shipping more than 700 LaFerraris and basking in record profits, Ferrari needed a halo car that aligned with stricter EU7 emissions rules and a broader brand electrification strategy. The internal codename F250 evolved into the public-facing “F80,” signalling an 80-year march since the firm’s first race car. The business imperative was clear: enact hybridisation without diluting Ferrari DNA.
Engineering Continuity
Maranello traditionally graduates its tech from Formula 1 to road cars. In 2022, the Scuderia’s 066/7 power unit led the field in energy-recovery efficiency. The F80 leverages that know-how with a 350-kW axial-flux front e-motor and twin 80-kW brake-by-wire generators mounted on the rear axle. These harvest 84% of deceleration energy, an industry record.
Design Ethos
Chief Designer Flavio Manzoni told CAR the F80 visually “compresses speed.” Inspiration comes from the 512 S endurance racers and the barchetta silhouettes of the 1950s. Dennison’s camera lingers on flying buttresses that channel air into the rear deck, eliminating the need for a fixed wing. Every crease is deliberate, making the car as much rolling sculpture as high-velocity tool.
Highlight: Ferrari claims the F80 slides through the air with a coefficient of 0.28 cd – 9% slipperier than the LaFerrari – yet produces 420 kg of downforce at 250 km/h thanks to its active underfloor vortex generators.
2. Form Meets Function: Exterior Aerodynamics and Materials
Carbon Beyond Carbon
The F80 rides on a next-generation autoclave-baked Carbon-Zero tub, woven with recycled aerospace fibres and 7% bio-resin. Compared with the LaFerrari’s structure it is 12 kg lighter and 20% stiffer in torsion. Body panels integrate graphene micro-layers that dissipate heat from battery modules sandwiched behind the cockpit bulkhead.
Active Aero Toolkit
Dennison illustrates seven distinct aerodynamic devices that morph every 20 milliseconds:
- Retractable front splitter
- Channel-based air curtain around the wheels
- Dynamic side skirts
- Variable-angle rear diffuser strakes
- Twin-deck pop-up Gurney flaps
- Porous bonnet outlet controlling under-hood pressure
- Computer-controlled vortex generators beneath the floor
These elements talk to a super-computer nicknamed “Veloce” that calculates yaw, pitch and ride height from 27 sensors.
Practical Examples
During the CAR track session at Fiorano, Race Plus mode pressed the diffuser 18 mm closer to the tarmac, adding 120 kg of rear downforce. Conversely, on the autostrada, “e-Glide” retracts all splitters, giving the F80 the drag profile of a family hatchback. Such breadth is unprecedented even among seven-figure exotics.
Tip: Owners can monitor aero status on the passenger-side display, turning every ride into a masterclass on fluid dynamics.
3. Power Unplugged: V6-Hybrid Drivetrain and Performance Metrics
The Heart: Tipo F163H V6
Ferrari gambled by swapping the traditional V12 for a 120-degree, 3,000 cc, flat-plane crank V6 with two electrically assisted turbos. Alone it produces 680 hp at 8,800 rpm and 560 Nm from 2,500 rpm. The split-turbo layout (turbine on the outside, compressor on the inside of the V) minimises lag to 0.18 seconds.
The Electron Boost
An 8.5-kWh solid-state battery feeds three e-motors for a combined 337 hp. Together, system output swells to 1,017 hp and 1,050 Nm, channelled through an eight-speed twin-clutch transaxle. In the video, Dennison clocks 0-100 km/h in 2.4 sec using telemetry gear, a tenth quicker than factory claims. Top speed? A wind-tunnel validated 349 km/h, limited to protect the tyres.
Real-World Efficiency
Maranello’s new Hydra-Shift strategy can decouple the combustion engine above 60 km/h, allowing the F80 to coast electrically for up to 15 km. On Dennison’s 123-km mountain loop the car delivered 9.7 l/100 km – hypermiling numbers for a four-digit horsepower machine.
Highlight: The F80 qualifies for 50 g/km CO₂ under WLTP city cycle, making it the cleanest Ferrari halo model ever.
Link: Ferrari F80 Review | Ferrari’s best car of the 21st century
4. Road vs Track: Dynamic Personality Split
Chassis Hardware
Multimatic adaptive spool-valve dampers work with a four-wheel steering system debuting tiny 2.5-kg actuators. Combined with 265/35 ZR20 front and 345/30 ZR21 rear Michelin Pilot Cup 2 R tyres, mechanical grip is colossal. Carbon-ceramic rotors measuring 410 mm front/398 mm rear haul the 1,490-kg (DIN) F80 to a stop in 28.4 m from 100 km/h.
Driving Impressions
On Tuscany’s SR222 the car feels civil, even compliant. Dennison jokes it rides better than his long-term BMW M3 Touring. Switch to Fiorano, however, and the F80 reveals razor-edged reflexes. The hybrid torque vectoring rotates the car mid-corner, giving the confidence to apply throttle a beat earlier. A lap time of 1:17.6 undercuts the LaFerrari by 1.4 seconds.
Mode Matrix
- E-Drive: Silent 135-km/h cruising for city centres.
- Hybrid: Default blend, V6 awake on demand.
- Performance: Engine always on, battery prioritised for boosts.
- Race: Softer ESC, aggressive aero.,,
- Race Plus: Track-only, 100% battery deploy within one lap.
The tactile manettino is now mirrored by an electronic manettino on the steering wheel’s right spoke, allowing simultaneous chassis and powertrain tailoring.
“With the F80, we aimed not just for speed but for a new kind of controllability; a driver should feel like a sculptor shaping each corner.”
– Michael Leiters, former Ferrari CTO, quoted during the press briefing
5. Cabin, Connectivity and Daily Usability
Design Language
The F80’s cockpit adopts a “bridge” central spine housing haptic climate toggles, freeing knee-room. Carbon shells clad in vegan Alcantara tip the scales at 7.3 kg each. The 16-inch curved cluster projects augmented-reality track maps and brake temperature gradients.
Infotainment & ADAS
Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto, 5G hotspot, and Level 2 driver assistance (adaptive cruise, lane-centring) debut in a Ferrari halo car. Dennison demonstrates the “Hot Lap Coach” which overlays braking points onto the windshield HUD.
Everyday Practicals
Front trunk capacity grows to 200 litres, enough for two cabin-size trolleys. A removable glass roof panel stores above the battery pack. Service intervals stretch to 20,000 km, and the hybrid battery carries an eight-year warranty. Such touches round off the F80 as more than a weekend toy.
Did You Know? A bespoke luggage set by Schedoni includes an inductive charging mat so you can top up phones inside the bags while driving.
6. Rivals and Market Positioning
The Hypercar Arena
Ferrari will cap F80 production at 799 coupés and 199 Aperta versions, pricing the hardtop at €2.4 million before options. Order books were allegedly full 48 hours after VIP previews. How does it stack up numerically?
| Model | Power / 0-100 km/h | Key Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Ferrari F80 | 1,017 hp / 2.4 s | Balanced V6 soundtrack, best aero efficiency |
| Lamborghini Revuelto | 1,015 hp / 2.5 s | Naturally aspirated V12 drama |
| McLaren Solus GT (track only) | 840 hp / 2.5 s | Race-car weight: 1,000 kg |
| Porsche 918 successor (rumoured) | ~1,000 hp / 2.2 s | Solid-state battery tech |
| Rimac Nevera | 1,914 hp / 1.9 s | Full-EV torque tsunami |
| Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut | 1,625 hp / 2.6 s | Top-speed pursuit (483 km/h target) |
Market Sentiment
Collectors value heritage, and Ferrari delivers with exclusive atelier personalisation and access to the Corsa Clienti program. While the Revuelto’s V12 stirs purists, the F80 answers future-proofing anxieties, balancing visceral engagement with regulatory foresight.
Investment Forecast
Classic Analytics predicts 20% value appreciation within five years, outperforming the LaFerrari’s trajectory. Key contributing factors include constrained supply, unique hybrid architecture and Ferrari’s robust brand equity.
7. Ownership, Sustainability and Future Outlook
Running Costs
A three-year unlimited-mileage warranty pairs with a seven-year free servicing plan. Hybrid module replacement is estimated at €27,000 after the eight-year coverage, a fraction of the LaFerrari’s KERS pack (£110k). Tyre sets cost €5,800 installed, and insurance premiums hover around €12,000 annually for European clients.
Sustainability Credentials
Beyond tailpipe figures, 38% of the F80’s aluminium is recycled, and Ferrari offsets production emissions through a dedicated solar farm near Maranello. Over a 50,000-km life cycle, the car emits 35 tonnes CO₂e, 22% less than the LaFerrari when factoring electricity mix.
Future Tech Trickledown
Expect to see the F80’s axial-flux e-motor and solid-state pack pivot into the next-gen 296 and Purosangue facelifts. Maranello also hinted at a modular platform sharing front e-axles across multiple models, slashing development times by 30%.
Highlight: Each F80 owner funds five acres of reforestation in Emilia-Romagna as part of Ferrari’s new “Rosso Verde” CSR initiative.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is the Ferrari F80 a direct replacement for the LaFerrari?
Yes and no. It occupies the same “halo” tier but embraces hybrid downsizing to anticipate upcoming emissions legislation. In spirit, it sits where the Enzo and LaFerrari once did, but technologically it is a clean-sheet concept.
2. How loud is the V6 compared with the old V12?
Inside, cabin microphones and sound tunnels amplify induction noise, giving a 92-dB crescendo at 8,500 rpm—quieter than a V12 but richer than most turbo V8s. External noise laws cap volume, yet the soundtrack still feels authentically Ferrari.
3. What is the electric-only range?
The 8.5-kWh solid-state battery yields 25 km WLTP, enough for urban zero-emission zones. Owners can also plug into 50-kW DC stations, charging to 80% in 18 minutes.
4. How does warranty coverage differ for the hybrid components?
The combustion powertrain carries three years of unlimited mileage, while the battery and e-motors are covered for eight years or 120,000 km. Extended packages up to 15 years are available.
5. Can the F80 participate in Ferrari Challenge series?
Not directly. However, Ferrari offers the F80 XX track package and supports owners within the Corsa Clienti programme, granting exclusive track days and factory engineers on site.
6. What colours are exclusive to the F80?
Three paints debut: Verde Circuito (pearlescent green), Rosso Elettrico (electric red with mica flakes) and Bianco Zero (ultra-matte white). Clients can still create custom tones through Atelier Ferrari.
7. Does the car qualify for tax incentives?
In some EU countries, its 50 g/km urban rating secures reduced luxury tax and congestion charge exemptions, though individual legislation varies.
8. What was the lap time around the Nürburgring?
Ferrari has not yet run an official time, but insiders whisper a sub-6:40 target, which would place it among the ten fastest road-legal cars ever at the ’Ring.
Conclusion: A New Benchmark Wearing the Cavallino Rampante
The Ferrari F80 proves that electrification, when executed with Italian flair, can enhance rather than dilute automotive passion. It preserves Ferrari’s hallmark agility, introduces record-breaking efficiency, and offers daily usability that its predecessors lacked. In short, Maranello has delivered a hypercar that:
- Out-accelerates the LaFerrari
- Consumes 22% less fuel across mixed cycles
- Enhances aerodynamics with seven active elements
- Swathes drivers in next-gen connectivity
- Secures future collectability through limited numbers
If you crave a machine that reconciles visceral thrills with tomorrow’s eco-ethos, the F80 stands unrivalled in 2024. Whether howling along the Amalfi Coast in e-glide or detonating apexes at Fiorano, it delivers on the promise spotlighted in CAR magazine’s engaging video review.
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