Wealthy individuals may have a penchant for crashing the Ferrari SF90 Stradale, but that doesn't detract from the fact that it is one of the finest creations to leave Maranello's gates. The company's first-ever plug-in hybrid hit the scene back in 2019 and wowed customers and fans alike. For many, a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 with 769 horsepower would be sufficient but the electrified Prancing Horse goes one step further, employing three electric motors that provide an additional 217 hp.
It should come as no surprise that the dramatic thoroughbred can hit 62 mph in 2.5 seconds. And yet, for Ferrari, this simply isn't good enough. True to form, the Italian automaker has been developing what is rumored to be a Versione Speciale (VS) derivative of the electrified performer. We've already caught a glimpse of the yet-to-be-revealed supercar, but YouTuber Varryx recently shared new footage of the prototype undergoing testing.
Like the previous SF90 Versione Speciale we've seen, this silver-painted example sports a redesigned hood with a more prominent air duct. It's concealed by camouflage but it's clear to see the Ferrari's face is more aggressive than before, aided by a racier front bumper. There's not much difference to the rear but, as previously reported, rumors suggest the VS will adopt a unique dual-exhaust setup and a rear wing.
Under light acceleration, the V8's muted exhaust note is surprisingly civilized, but we're pretty sure it provides a more sonorous soundtrack when the go-faster pedal is pushed to the floor. Still, it sounds rather delightful for a hybrid V8 powertrain. The SF90VS is expected to debut in 2023, two years after the 812 Superfast Versione Speciale hit the scene. As a reminder, the hardcore 812 produced 818 hp thanks to the uprated V12.
If the SF90VS receives a similar boost in power, we could potentially see combined outputs exceed the hallowed 1,000-horsepower mark. Not only is more muscle expected, but special edition Ferraris are often lighter than their "regular" counterparts. With this in mind, the newcomer will be a remarkably quick supercar. Maranello is yet to make any official announcements about the vehicle, but it's also possible that this may be a test mule for a future Ferrari Challenge racer.
It's rather timely that Ferrari is working on this VS, as rival supercar brand Lamborghini recently announced the Huracan will receive a plug-in hybrid setup from 2023. Again, there are very few technical details but we don't expect the baby bull to produce as much power as this more focused Ferrari SF90. Even though Ferrari is working on developing its first fully-electric supercar, it's great to see the company still investing in keeping the ICE engine alive - hybrid assistance or not.
