Ferrari F80

Well written post with interesting points. Thanks!

However, there is one point I would like to discuss further:

2) Packaging

I would like to point out that front end of F80 appears to be more complex than in 499P. F80 could not use similar aproach to LaF and 499P with extended carbon tub box in front of wind screen. There would not be enough space for S-duct, e-drive and active suspension components.

499P has also very different hybrid system with single motor + differential. This tidy package fits nicely inside the tub. And no need to fit active suspension and s-duct. The front end of 499P is very simple in this regard.

The problem with carbon subframes is the structural requirement for large surface areas with preferably enclosed shape, which is much more restrictive design and packaking wise than smaller volume metal bars. I'm not saying carbon front subframe couldn't have been done for F80. But It would have been extremely complicated.

 

Although in the 55 years that passed between the launch of the F80 and the 512 S special, aerodynamics have undergone enormous evolution, the later has a drag coefficient of 0.25 which is lower than that of the F80 the fastest road Ferrari (Ferrari has not yet revealed the d.c. of the F80) . By looking at the top and side views of the two models it is possible to see how advanced and revolutionary the 512 S speciale was in 1969.


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last photo: there is my R2D2 again
"Boy that thing is ugly"
Thank you Manzoni! (same for 12Cilindri pxxp)

 

When it comes to really fast cars the objective is not to minimise drag (unless top speed is the only consideration) but optimise aero efficiency, meaning the balance between drag and downforce. Formula 1 cars have a Cd of more than 0.6...

 

Like all modern hypercars, the F80 has been sculpted in the wind tunnel to provide a high top speed as well as generate high levels of downforce for fast cornering. The F80’s aerodynamics draws inspiration from Ferrari’s 499P Le Mans and also from its F1 cars.
Despite Le Mans rules imposing a limited downforce to drag ratio of 4:1, cars have a lower Cd than an F1 which is perfectly understandable. As Le Mans has several extremely fast and long straight sections the cars set-up is a lower-drag lower downforce than the one used in F1 race where in most cases is required more down-force to be faster at cornering.

 

Just want to say, I think the F80 looks spectacular.

 

With a Fiorano lap time of 1:15.00 the F80 is currently the fastest road legal Ferrari of all time. But it turns out that the F80 could be even much faster around Fiorano, perhaps reaching 1:05.00, or on any other circuit in the world, and even without having to use its rear wing. For this to have been possible, Ferrari only needed to take advantage of the revolutionary fan technology that was initiated by the Chaparral 2J, continued with the F1 Brabham BT46B designed by Gordon Murray and, more recently, materialized and demonstrated its efficiency in the McMurtry Spéirling .

The aerodynamics of the F80 can generate 1000 kg of down force up to 250 km, which is huge. However, can you imagine if the minute you turned the car on you would have 2000kg of downforce literally sucking it to the ground and creating playful grip? This is what the McMurtry Spéirling can do, create while stopped more than the downforce generated by an F1 at 240 km/h. However, the fans are used to create suction and if they suck against some regular roads with drain covers, potholes, loose stones, this would limit their use. Therefore the fan system would have to be stopped or activated depending on the road conditions.

If the F80 would have had some weight loss in conjunction with this fan technology, it would certainly have achieved the status of an F1 legal road Ferrari. But it's never too late and who knows if Ferrari will ever use this technology. It could even happen that it is already in the F90.

 

The problem here is the tyre load rating, in order to exploit fan technology the car would need to go on a serious diet.

 

Anyone heard the same? 160 unsold slots sounds like a lot.

https://www.thesupercarblog.com/exclusive-ferrari-struggling-to-sell-f80-hypercar-20-slots-unsold/

 

If true this a very big slap in the face for the Board!

 

Don't believe everything you read...

 

Spec goes a long way on this car. Like I said when it launched the interior and exterior color was very unimaginative. Also like I said when it launched, once people start seeing customer cars out of TM, this car will come alive.


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I’ve driven the Speirling. It’s really quite insane. A brilliant car, a very different driving experience (almost F1 levels of downforce from 0mph) and far beyond any road and most track cars. It’s an EV and you don’t even think about it not having a combustion engine because all your other senses are so assaulted. Not really technology for the F80 which still wants to be a combustion engined car at its core. Incredible experience though.

 

Yep, that's a really nice spec. But has it been confirmed that such a spec, i.e. a spec painting the black stripe, will be allowed? Thinking of Manzoni's "over my dead body" statements for the 12Cilindri's black stripe.

 

I’ve read quite a bit about what the Speirling is capable of but never saw one in person, I presume it is something not easy outside the UK. Thank you for your testimony about that incredible experience.

 

Egad. Just what it "needs" is even more going on. How awful.

 

Sent the article to my dealer. His replay was "All five of our spots were paid for, I still have 4 customers on the waiting list begging for allocation".

Sounds like the car is sold out...

 

Not road legal. Basically a track only prototype.

If I am not mistaken the T50's fan is also sanctioned for track use.

 

I read that they've been working on a road legal Spéirling.

 

Heard that myself, but I also heard 30 years ago that we should all have flying cars by now...

 

DK engineering is now the Spéirling's exclusive agent for the UK and is advertising the car as being road legal. I doubt that a well known and respected company as is DK engineering would destroy its reputation by publicizing something that is untrue.





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They are advertising that there might be a road legal version. Feel free to contact them.

 

Funnily enough, I know this company - they are producing a flying car by 2030 (already have prototypes working) and the 6-wheel human drone launcher is going into production this year. Sounds incredible but they are fully serious.


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They can do a road legal version, just depends on the demand to pay for the engineering cost.