It always generates some excitement when Ferrari launches its new car. But this time, the Prancing Horse (lit. ‘little prancing horse’ is the symbol of Italian sports car manufacturer Ferrari) is really giving car fans a reason to stand up and give attention.

The Italian supercar maker has unveiled its first production plug-in hybrid named ‘the SF90 Stradale’. It seems like it is a clear attempt to bridge the gap between the gas-powered tradition and the electrified future. It’s Ferrari’s first plug-in hybrid sports car and also the most powerful Ferrari production car ever.

A plug-in hybrid with nearly 1,000 horsepower on tap

The Ferrari SF90 Stradale has a 3.9-liter V8 engine which makes 769 horsepower on its own. The internal combustion engine is integrated with three electric motors, two of which are independent and located on the front axle, while the third one is given at the rear between the engine and the gearbox.

The rear one is attached to the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and provides 148 hp, while the two front motors (one powering each front wheel) contributes a combined 84 hp. The overall theoretical power of the three motors is slightly limited by the capabilities of the battery pack and provides maximum 217 horsepower from the motors at a time. It is then added to the V8’s power and together, it produces as much as 986 horsepower.

This is Ferrari’s fastest car ever!

The new plug-in hybrid weighs 3,461 pounds and will be able to go from 0 to 60 mph (0-100 kilometers per hour) in just 2.5 seconds. It can reach the top speed of 211 miles an hour(340-kilometer per hour).

The SF90 Stradale sports a 7.9-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack, allowing it to drive on electric power alone for up to 16 miles, according to Ferrari.

The battery for the electric motors can be plugged into a standard power source, or the V8 engine can be used as a generator. The charging time is not announced yet.

The company has made hybrid cars before but this is the first time when it made a plug-in hybrid. The first Ferrari hybrid was the LaFerrari introduced in 2013, and the second was the LaFerrari Aperta convertible which it unveiled in 2016. The LaFerrari hybrids had V12 engines and, with assistance from electric motors, produced a total of 950 horsepower.

Interior design

If we talk about its interior, the plug-in hybrid has a massive 16-inch curved display situated behind the steering wheel. It replaces the conventional gauge cluster and also handles the infotainment functions.

There is no central touchscreen, but the Stradale features capacitive touchpads for navigating the main display’s menus, as well as a head-up display. In addition, there are touch-sensitive surfaces on the steering wheel instead of buttons for things like the engine’s start-stop switch and other controls.

There are also touch-sensitive surfaces on the dashboard within easy reach of the steering wheel for things like climate control and mirror adjustments. According to Ferrari, the SF90 is designed in such a way that the driver has to move his/her hands from the steering wheel as little as possible.

As usual for a Ferrari, there are no separate stalks for the windshield wipers or headlight controls. Instead, those are also integrated into the steering wheel.

Pricing and expected Deliveries

The first cars are expected to be delivered to customers at the beginning of next year. It is a series production model, rather than a limited edition like the LaFerrari.

The cost is not yet known, but marketing director Enrico Galliera said the car would cost “less than a La Ferrari but more than an 812 Superfast,” which would set it somewhere between €500,000 and €1.5 million ($556,000 and $1.6 million).