Ferrari has finally lifted the covers off its new SF90 Stradale, which arrives as the Prancing Horse brand’s first series production plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. With some 735 kW on tap, it's also the automaker's most powerful road-going model ever (yes, outpunching even the mighty LaFerrari).

The Italian firm says its new model is “extreme on every level” and represents a “true paradigm shift”. Indeed, it’s the first time a V8 finds itself at the top of Ferrari’s range.

Yes, the new SF90 Stradale employs a turbocharged 4,0-litre V8 engine capable of delivering 574 kW (the highest power output of any eight-pot in the brand’s history), with the remainder coming from three electric motors. Peak torque, meanwhile, comes in at 800 N.m.

One electric motor is mounted at the rear (between the engine and the new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission), with the other two sited on the front axle. Total vehicle weight comes in at a claimed 1 570 kg (with the hybrid system accounting for around 270 kg).

The SF90 Stradale is also equipped with all-wheel drive, a step Ferrari describes as “necessary to allow the incredible power unleashed by the hybrid powertrain to be fully exploited”. The result is a sprint from standstill to 100 km/h in a claimed 2,5 seconds, with 200 km/h flashing up on the speedometer in just 6,7 seconds. It tops out at 340 km/h.

Inside, you’ll find a touchpad and haptic buttons on the steering wheel that Ferrari says allow the driver to “control virtually every aspect of the car using just their thumbs”. The central instrument cluster is now entirely digital with the first automotive application of a 16-inch curved screen. The automatic gearbox controls, meanwhile, are now manipulated via a grille-style feature (a nod to Ferrari’s iconic manual gear-shift gate).

Interestingly, buyers will be able to choose between the standard car and a version with a more “sports-oriented” specification. The Assetto Fiorano package includes “significant upgrades”, such as special GT racing-derived Multimatic shock absorbers, extra lightweight features fashioned from materials such as carbon-fibre and titanium (resulting in a weight-saving of 30 kg) and a high-downforce carbon-fibre rear spoiler (generating 390 kg of downforce at 250 km/h).

A lithium-ion battery provides power to all three electric motors and offers a 25 km range in all-electric eDrive mode, using just the front axle. When the internal combustion engine is turned off, the two independent front motors deliver a maximum speed of 135 km/h. Reverse can only be selected in eDrive mode, which means the car is manoeuvred at low speeds without using the V8. The front motors are integrated into the launch control strategy for maximum performance when accelerating.

Original article from Car