Maranello, (MO), Italy

The Ferrari Design Team, under the direction of Flavio Manzoni, has created a futuristic, innovative design for the SF90 Spider that communicates both the car’s racing vocation and the series production supercar concept.

Its inspired design was awarded a 2021 Good Design Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

The crafting of the SF90 Spider’s exterior forms was inspired by the same principle that influenced the development of the SF90 Stradale.

When the RHT is deployed, the sides, front, and tail of the SF90 Spider have the same distinctive styling as the SF90 Stradale. 

This is no small achievement given that the architecture incorporates stowage for the RHT, which is moved by a complex lever system, but also that it was vital to maintain the same chassis rigidity levels.

This was achieved by re-sculpting the car’s surfaces so that the tonneau cover seamlessly integrates with the B-pillars of the coupé, preserving the original styling theme.

Even the buttresses behind the passengers’ headrests—which are a signature of all Ferrari spiders—integrate harmoniously as if they were emerging from a structure beneath the car’s skin.

The result is that the proportions of the SF90 Stradale transfer easily to the SF90 Spider even when the RHT is stowed—without any formal concessions.

This is even more surprising given that the engine is just as visible through the rear window despite the bulk of the roof. 

As the jewel in the car’s crown, the V8 is clearly visible both when the RHT is deployed and retracted.

Seen from above, it is clear that the buttresses also line up with the seats, which improves rear visibility when the RHT is stowed, in addition to further underscoring the car’s two-seater configuration.

The greenhouse area and roof feature stylistic solutions from the coupé that reduce drag and underscore its fiery temperament without impacting on-board comfort.

The cockpit has been shifted forwards, the roof is 20 millimeters lower, the A-posts are more slender, and the windscreen is more raked.

Aside from having the same silhouette as the SF90 Stradale, the SF90 Spider has a unique dynamic allure when its top is down: the absence of the roof seems to visually lower the car’s centre of gravity, an impression further strengthened by the difference in color of the trim on the roll-hoops that give rise to the buttresses.

The front of the car is dominated by a very pronounced profile which underscores its extremely aggressive character. 

The three air intakes in this area cool the electric motors (front) and the internal combustion engine (sides).

The SF90 Spider also uses matrix LED headlight technology to improve visibility in all driving conditions thanks to active beam control.

The rear of the car is dominated by high exhaust pipes, which are the result of the optimization of the exhaust line layout.

This effect is further enhanced by the low tail area. More elongated luminous rings create a more horizontal perception of the tail lights, which are a radical break from the iconic round shape normally used on Ferrari’s mid-rear-engined berlinettas.

The look and feel of the cabin were driven in large part by the complete redesign of the HMI, which marked such a major leap forward on the SF90 Stradale.

The instrumentation is now predominantly digital with all the screens going completely dark when the car is not running, lending the cabin a very minimalist look.

However, once the Engine Start button on the steering wheel is pushed, a “ceremony” of sorts begins that sees all the digital components in the driver cockpit gradually springing to life until the whole cockpit is aglow.

The central instrument cluster comprises a single 16” HD screen, which is curved towards the driver to make it easier to read and emphasizes the wraparound cockpit effect.

In the default screen, everything is dominated by a large circular rev counter, framed by the battery charge indicator. 

The navigation screen is on one side of the rev counter with the audio controls on the other.

The screen’s large dimensions mean that there is huge flexibility in terms of personalizing the displays, which are also very easy to navigate using the steering wheel controls. 

It is, for example, possible to select a full-screen version of the navigation map.

Thanks to the introduction of the head-up display, the main information can be projected onto the section of the windscreen within the driver’s field of vision.

This means less distraction in line with the “eyes on the road, hands on the wheel” philosophy that has always driven the development of the HMI used on every Ferrari Formula 1 car and that has gradually been transferred to Ferrari’s road-going sports cars.

The SF90 Spider’s steering wheel completes this transfer process from the competition world and ushers in a new era by introducing a series of touch commands that allow the driver to control virtually every aspect of the car without ever taking their hands off the wheel.

The traditional controls include the now iconic Manettino, steering-wheel-mounted headlight control, windscreen wipers, and indicators.

Of the new touch controls, the pad on the right-hand spoke allows the driver to navigate the central cluster screens, while voice and cruise controls are on the left-hand spoke. 

In the bottom left section of the central area, there are four buttons the driver uses to select the power unit mode.

The F1 bridge, a signature on the previous models, has now disappeared from the central tunnel and been replaced by a modern take on the gearshift gate, an iconic feature of Ferrari’s manual gearboxes. 

In the new gate, however, the gearshift grille is digital as befits an automatic transmission.

At the bottom of the tunnel is the compartment for stowing the new ignition key, which is an exact replica of the Ferrari Prancing Horse badge found on the bonnet, adding an authentic finishing touch to the cabin’s styling. 

The key works in a full keyless mode so that the driver not only can start the ignition but also open the doors without taking it out of their pocket.

Project: Ferrari SF90 Spider
Designers: Flavio Manzoni, Ferrari Design, Ferrari SpA.
Manufacturer: Ferrari SpA.