Ferrari F80

Just based on photos, I would have initially appreciated the F80 more if its exterior design more closely resembled the Le Mans-winning 499P.

 

Polarizing yes.
Simply because it is another new Ferrari "cars like this" are not automatically art objects.
There is no such automatism.

Marcel Massini

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Absolutely agree.

One important thing that has not been sufficently emphasized is that most of the design choices, have huge repercussions on aerodynamics.
For example, the much-discussed 120° V6 engine, besides being a technological marvel in itself, exhibits a very low center of gravity (better dynamics) and leaves much more room for aerodynamic channels and the diffuser. But most importantly, the car has active suspension. This implies that aerodynamics can be managed real-time not only with moving surfaces, but also controlling the overall attitude of the car under different driving conditions and dynamic transients, ensuring, for example, a constant ground clearance or a optimal rake angle. This is an immense advantage...

 

I like the car.... I really do and not because I've gotten an allocation (I didn't get the SP3 and I still find it one of the most beautiful ones out there)


Why I do like the F80?

Two years ago, I stood next to the 499P, dismantled in the workshop of AF Corse, a few days before the car was presented in Imola. I have seen every little detail, and I was simply blowed away. The Ferrari board gave the green light just under one year before and there she was. Needless to say, that the commitment of Ferrari to not even go the LMH route (and not the LMDh Marketing way) but also to win the 100 years of Le Mans outright is a huge achievement without any other example of today’s sport cars manufacturers. Where is Aston? Lambo? McLaren? Porsche? None of them is in F1 AND WEC Hypercar class. Enzo Ferrari was ONLY interested in Racing, nothing else. And there is where the DNA of the brand is. The DNA is not about cylinders, the DNA,the heart and blood of the founder was about winning at Le Mans, Monza and Monaco (and MM etc back then). the link to the current Motorsports technology was always one of the key factor who fascinated me about Ferrari. Also needless to say the success of the 296GT3, plenty of Teams moving to Ferrari as it has set new standards.

When we visited the F80 presentation on October 6th, and we had a look at the bare chassis and the technology I found a lot of similarities to the 499P, and this is what it made a true successor of the F50. Why the F50? The F50 was the road version of the 333SP (and that engine was based on the 412T1 V12). F1 and Sportscar Technology transferred to the road car. And this is the same Philosophy applied to the F80. I remember VERY WELL how people were complaining about the styling of the F50.... it’s almost the same with every new Model.

You don’t need to like the Styling but try to appreciate the F80 for his technological approach. it is the most technological advanced road car out there. A Valkyrie or RB17 might be more radical but lets see how reliable those cars will be.

I’m not offended by people who disagree or have another opinion but try to see the entire picture. Calling Ferrari dead or saying that only a V12 Ferrari is a real Ferrari is nonsense. Ferrari has launched 3 Limited Edition V12 in the last 2 Years so it would have been a bit “cheap” just to use the current V12 over and over again and as said, the Top Range car of Ferrari should always reflect the link between the Gestione Sportiva and the Road Car department.

And from a sporting point of view, some of the most successful race Ferraris never had a V12...


.

 

Post of the day!
And please don’t call me schizophrenic, I would love to see Ferrari cooking a brand new V12 generation..

 

willcrook Formula 3

Feb 3, 2009
2,326
UK
#157 Thursday at 1:56 PM
in that carwow video they said that Ferrari have deliberately made it look bad as to not annoy the clients who've bought 1 off custom models they comissioned, sounds nuts if true.
This is possible, in the past Ferrari has used the "Special projects" to develop features used in production - smart - Owner pays for R&D
roma1280 likes this.

 

for that matter, given the whole silly question regarding how many cylinders a Ferrari engine should properly be equipped with, it is quite funny to mention that Enzo Ferrari himself authorized engineer Lampredi to design a twin-cylinder engine for F1 in the early 1960s

 

Both 12 Cilindri and F80 have their front crash structures exposed. I don't think this is purely a styling decision mandated by Manzoni. The traditional grille has been removed due to ever increasing power requirements. Larger cooling frontal area improves cooling and efficiency. By removing all obstacles the nose can be made also lower. Other alternative is to have huge grille (see e.g. the new Vanquish), which does not look particularly good in my view.

If you think that changing the head of styling will improve he looks of future "F90", that might be a rather optimistic view.

 

I’m a fan of form follows function rather than “art” for arts sake when it comes to car design. I like 90% of the F80s lines, but the rear quarter is a little lacking, imo. There’s so much happening with every inch of this body, but the rear quarter seems to ignore that. It’s lacking bulk/tension, and just seems out of place. It’s an aero decision I’m sure, but I was convinced the camo was hiding something interesting in this zone. I’m sure the FXX version will correct all if this, and they did have to leave some room for future iterations.. Still want to see some wing up pics because I think it will help carry the eye up and over that area and emphasize the design overall. It’s a race car for the road, and our eyes are used to seeing a wing.. MWGA
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one thing is clear.... people don't like a square ferrari

 

Justification for black visor?
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Not really, the T50 revs to 12k without them, but there is no need for a turbocharged engine to rev that high. From a point upwards it becomes inefficient and ineffective, as the turbos cannot push enough air into the cylinders. Even F1 engines rev up to 12k these days. Gone are the days of the 20k RPM, N/A V10s. With N/A engines you need revs, turbocharging works differently.

The balance sheets just show that Ferrari builds cars that the customers want. The fact that they are great cars is proven by testing (numbers) and driving them (emotions).

It is a driving machine, it is supposed to do the driving things well (performance, driving experience). If it was just an immobile piece of art, I would agree with you. A pretty car (and we all know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder) that drives badly is a bad car that is good only when parked. An ugly car that drives nicely is still a good car, just not a sexy one.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. In this case when one tries to "drive" said woman. If she rides badly, she is not a good model. (Apologies for the sexist comment, but I am trying to make an automotive point here).

 

F80 bare chassis

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/6axqQTzReTF6t79T/?mibextid=UalRPS

 

I’m fastening my seatbelt here, but does anyone else think the SF 90 XX looks way better than the F80?

 

I know the Koolaid is spiked on this forum, but be honest and admit that IF the F80 had identical specs but a CORVETTE badge on it, 99% of you would be sh*tting on it right now. Dance around it all you want...it's just not attractive. I'm saying that for the FIRST time compared with any of their previous hyper cars.

This car just doesn't move the needle enough after 12 years. The F40/959 felt extremely special when they came out and had the performance to back it up. The McLaren F1 decimated all previous benchmarks (and looked good doing it). The F80?? Not so much...It would be forgivable if it looked sexy or were extremely visceral. To be fair...it's much harder to move the performance needle these days with all of the niche cars: AMG ONE, Valkyrie, RB117, Nevera etc...I think 'true' (non-collector only) people want more of an 'experience' when they drive. They want to be connected, not just have a computer do everything for you...GMA 'gets it.'

2004 V10 F1 Car or a 2024 V6 F1 Car? I'd love to see a poll on that!

In terms of technology...particularly engine tech, I'd say the AMG ONE takes the cake on that.

 

Caught myself thinking the same thing. Perhaps the F80 is more impressive in the carbon. The LaFerrari looked like an alien spaceship from the first time one laid eyes on her. Perhaps the F80 is more of an acquired taste. Anyway, appearance is subjective. What matters is performance and the driving experience.

Americans and their Corvette fixation. Precious! Nobody would disparage such a car, as no one disparaged the amazing new ZR1, or the Ford GT (6 cylinders that one as well...).

In truth only in a straight line and even that amazing top speed was rigged, as no customer car ever came close to it. As a matter of fact, the commercially available F1's official top speed was 340 kph. The prototype (not a production model) that reached 240 mph was fitted with a trick engine and special tyres, not available to customers. Regarding looks, as always it is in the eyes of the beholder, but what an unimaginative and bland design that was, just like all of Murray's cars.

Remains to be seen, but the F80 has all the ingredients to succeed. The Valkyrie will be a hard nut to crack though. As you said, the competition these days is relentless, unlike 30-40 years ago.

Different people want different things. That doesn't make them less "true" to the automotive ethos.

 

Go off king. You’re making some good points here and you’ve got a pedigreed perspective.

 

Um. No. That’s just crazy. Full stop.

 

I agree it’s anticlimactic after 12 years. A hybrid mid-engine V12 would have been THE SH*T.

 

I was thinking the exact same thing.

 

I spent some time really looking at these images and videos and while i stand by my assertion that compared to the rest of the Hypercars, the F80 is weak as far as making a huge design leap from the LF, Im starting to like the design.

I like the F40 homage aspects.

 

You think the F80 is more technically advanced than AMG One? F80 doesn't even have center locks ( I know center locks is not new tech, just had to be sarcastic lol)

 

Okay, there are two things that puzzle me regarding the F80.

1) No centre lock wheels, as found in all previous halo Ferraris.
2) Sliding driver's seat, instead of a fixed one, as found in the LaFerrari.

I have a theory about the wheels. Could it be that centre locks are incompatible with carbon fibre wheels?
The seat is more puzzling. Perhaps the raised foot well does not allow movable pedals? Or is it that the owners of the LaFerrari objected to this arrangement?

Any thoughts on these would be appreciated.

Cheers!

 

AMG ONE is the only one here in the same league with the F80 as a design philosophy.
However, as much as it is a remarkable piece of engineering, it represents a mere act of vanity IMO. The choice to adapt an F1 engine to the road proved almost disastrous. It required immense effort, with targets on reliability and emissions barely achieved. It is a fact that the first examples were delivered to customers FIVE years after introduction. The car has cumbersome procedures due to the engine, and it does not even meet the homologation rules for the US.
In the end, the car came to the market already old, and (for what it's worth) its spec sheet is not so exciting when compared to many current supercars.
Ferrari did a much smarter and rational job by deriving the F80 engine from that of the 499P, which is an endurance car.

Strangely, I heard no outrage that AMG ONE has a "miserable" 1600cc V6. Could it be that the silver coloring has a calming effect on people's moods?