Ferrari F80

This thing is gonna cause serious mayhem with spotters in Knightsbridge... the road presence is awe-inspiring.

 

What do we actually know about suspension systems in F80, W1, Valkyrie and AMG One?

I know that F80 has fully active suspension, but also that it isn't the only active suspension in the bunch.

How do these cars differ from suspension point of view? Which ones have the most advanced solutions?

 

I tried to point the differences.

The F80 is equipped with an active suspension similar to the one used for the first time by Ferrari in the Purosangue. The suspension uses geared dampers with a 48 V motor and it allows for all sorts of incredible possibilities. The system can optimize the load on each tire independently through all phases of a corner, managing the center of aerodynamic pressure the whole way. It can go so far as to hold the car perfectly level on track, but then use the dampers to have real compliance on the road. This type of active suspension allows for unprecedented control of vehicle dynamics and Ferrari designed the entire F80 around the fact that it doesn’t need any anti-roll bars connecting the left and right sides of the car.

The Valkyrie employs an active suspension which is different from the one of the F80 but it can vary damping force at each corner and also adjust the car’s height. Selecting the chassis’s Track mode lowers the car to help improve downforce.

The W1 rear suspension is somewhat more conventional, with traditional coil over springs over dampers. At the front it uses double wishbones, as you'd expect, but it also has pushrods, torsion-bar springs, and inboard dampers like an F1 car. When the race mode is switched the car drops down by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear.

The impression I have is that the F80's suspension system is the most versatile of the three for use on the road and on the track.

 

Thanks for the reply. For what I have read and understood, only F80 and Valkyrie have active suspensions. F80 appears to have mechanical, electric motor controlled active suspension. Does Valkyrie have hydraulic one?

I also got an impression that Ferrari's system is somehow superior, but don't really know in which way.

Does it 1) bear load better, 2) react faster, or 3) allow wider operating range?

 

As far as I understand the F80 suspension system fulfills two things that apparently were irreconcilable. It allows for a very flat ride on the track, where variations in ride height must be minimized as much as possible, and the need to effectively absorve bumps in road surfaces during normal driving. This means that the car boasts outstanding driveability on the road and can also manage downforce optimally in all possible conditions. At low speeds the F80 system prioritizes mechanical balance and centre of gravity control, while with increasing speed, the ride height control system works to optimize aerodynamic balance in each different cornering state in concert with the active aero system.

When under hard braking, such as when entering a curve, the F80's ride height control minimizes variations to prevent instability caused by the weight transfer towards the front. While cornering, the system contributes to increasing downforce to maintain the optimal balance. As the car exits the curve, the system contrasts the tendency for the balance to shift towards the rear, maintaining the best possible conditions for traction for all four wheels and stability.

The F80's innovative suspension system that began on the Purosangue was a long dream of vehicle dynamics engineers and allows for all sorts of possibilities. The system is so brilliant that I wonder if it is possible to invent something even better.

 

Ferrari have 3 patents for this suspension and spent over 4 years for development. This suspension offered unlimited setting.

 

It seems to me Ferrari must think the F80 drives incredibly well. The proof will be in the driving. If it delivers, and for now I say let’s give them the benefit of the doubt, the car will be outstanding. Until then, we can just use our imaginations, which are fueled by the specs, pictures and the videos. Let’s hope the rumor is true of more exhaust sound.

 

Can a hyper car have too much personality? In this this world where cars are becoming more quiet do to regulations, and the dreadful pumped in engine audio trend , I welcome the Valkyrie's noise. Its a event car, an occasion car, a thrill car only, the noise is part of it. I like it as it is.

 

agreed, it’s borderline absurd that people are complaining about too much noise on hypercars which are universally only driven on special occasions

 

Maybe, but where is the fun in wearing earplugs to avoid permanent hearing loss? You can´t even enjoy the sound properly.

 

Good point. If I get the opportunity to test drive one, with or without earplugs, I'll let you know if it was fun. The noise is an element that makes the car special imo. Something it would be remembered by, on top of the many other things that stand out. It is a finished piece by Neweys/Aston's vision. Flaws and all. Hence why I say its an event car only.

 

https://www.ferrari.com/en-BN/magazine/articles/GTO-to-F80-via-the-racetrack

 

it's still confusing to me how it can be faster than the FXX Evoluzione for example though, which is also on slicks and seems like a very focused machine and also cited as 1155kg, as well as having much more power and tech? it's just always fascinated me that it seems to have mysteriously punched so far above its weight

 

Some pictures from confiugrator https://www.instagram.com/bjg.collection/p/DGCMVIfu2Yv/

 

Slow circuit, or optimised. I would get over it...

 

On slow circuits with a short straight, power advantage is neutralised, whereas aero, rubber quantity and geo make a huge difference. On a larger circuit - which the XXs were designed for - it would be a different story. Since the XX cars are designed for amateur drivers, they must also have a more friendly set up which would leave some time on the table too.

 

my own opinion, which is worth exactly what you are paying for it , is that the f80 does not look good in 'storm trooper' color scheme.
it makes the black bits pop out too much, and disrupts the flow of the lines - what lines there are.....

the example in copper shown a few posts back seems to harmonize the different parts, vents, spoilers etc much better imo.

 

Playing with the configure, sooo limited with the options you can create, looking forward to my TM appointment in April.
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Right!
hp/weight ratio is important, but it is not an absolute value, on track weight matters much more than power, especially on an handling track.
The 449Pm is much lighter, and 100% track focused (and probalby unsing slick tyres)

 

Perhaps the F80's first cutaway. In the image one can see the complexity of the car and details such as the double wishbone layout with the active inboard dampers.


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What I find especially fascinating is how the driver seat is almost perfectly aligned with the engine, thus highlighting the claim of the near center style driving position in the horizontal plane of the vehicle.

 

I love this car. I know it has a V6 but that's what they are using in their motorsport programs, so why not embrace this technology? It is the latest and greatest race tech, so I am sure this will be an amazing performance car. I agree no V12 and exhaust sound is horrible for a halo car but I don't even care anymore. This thing just looks fast, aggressive, and nothing else on the road. To me, that's pretty epic and the performance will be amazing. I can't wait to see this at full anger on a race track.

Forza Ferrari!!

 

I wonder what do you actually mean? I can't see any other aligment than the edge of the driver seat probably aligns with the centerline of the car

 

No, it's not like that: the picture is quite misleading as it only shows half of what's in the engine bay.

In reality, it's what you'd normally expect: still a technical tour-de-force, but it's a 2-seat car.

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Yes, excellent drawing that shows it even more, its not quite as central as in the other picture, but look at how much more central the driver seat is vs a “normal” sports car. It’s a considerable difference.