The Ferrari SF90 Stradale sits at the very top of Ferrari’s road car lineup – a plug-in hybrid that produces 1,000 horsepower and redefines what a street-legal Ferrari can do. It is the most powerful production Ferrari ever made, and if you are buying one in Australia, it comes with a price tag and a set of ownership realities that match its ambition.
What Makes the SF90 Special
The SF90 Stradale takes its name from Scuderia Ferrari 90 – a reference to the 90th anniversary of Ferrari’s racing team. But this is no commemorative car. It is a genuine technological showcase: a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 working alongside three electric motors – one on the crankshaft and two on the front axle – to produce a combined 735 kW (1,000 hp) and 800 Nm of torque.
The result is a 0-100 km/h time of 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 340 km/h. The SF90 will also run on electric power alone for up to 25 km, though nobody is buying this car for the fuel savings.
The four-wheel-drive system uses the two front electric motors to vector torque between the front wheels independently – a system Ferrari calls eAWD. It is sophisticated enough to make the SF90 feel all-wheel-drive when you want grip and rear-wheel-drive when you want drama.
The Engine and Performance
The V8 is Ferrari’s most powerful internal combustion unit in a road car, producing 574 kW on its own. Add the electric motors and you have a powertrain that feels genuinely different from anything Ferrari has made before.
There are four driving modes: eDrive (pure electric), Hybrid, Performance and Qualify. In Qualify mode, the full 1,000 horsepower is available. The 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox is one of the quickest in the business, and the combination of torque-fill from the electric motors and the turbocharged V8 means there is no waiting – power arrives everywhere in the rev range with immediate force.
The SF90 also has Ferrari’s side-slip control system tuned specifically for this car’s weight and power distribution. At 1,570 kg – heavy for a Ferrari but light for a hybrid supercar – the SF90 demands respect, but the electronics allow talented drivers to access the full performance envelope safely.
Australian Pricing and LCT
Ferrari does not publish official Australian pricing publicly, but the SF90 Stradale has been landing in Australia at approximately $950,000 to over $1 million before options. Given the standard Luxury Car Tax threshold is $80,567 for 2025-26, the LCT on a car at this price is substantial – adding roughly $100,000 to $150,000 to the base price depending on the specific variant and how it is configured.
There is also the SF90 XX Stradale, a harder, more track-focused variant with 1,016 horsepower that commands an even higher premium. Production of both is limited, and Australian allocation typically runs through Ferrari’s Sydney and Melbourne dealerships with waiting lists measured in months to years.
Options on a Ferrari of this price are not trivial. A fully specified SF90 with carbon fibre body panels, the Assetto Fiorano handling package and bespoke interior can push past $1.2 million on Australian roads.
Driving Experience
Every journalist who has driven the SF90 remarks on the same thing: how accessible the performance feels despite the numbers. The electric motors fill the torque curve so completely that the car never feels violent – it simply accelerates at a rate that takes time to process mentally.
The steering is sharp and the carbon ceramic brakes are powerful beyond what the road can usually absorb. Ferrari’s magnetorheological suspension does a reasonable job of balancing ride and handling, though the SF90 is never going to be comfortable in the way a GT car is comfortable. It is a focused machine that happens to be capable of running its battery down in a shopping centre car park.
On a track, the SF90 is simply remarkable. Fiorano – Ferrari’s test track – was reportedly seeing lap times from this car that challenged the LaFerrari, a car with a more extreme philosophy.
Running Costs and Ownership
Owning an SF90 in Australia is not for the budget-conscious. Annual servicing through a Ferrari dealership starts at approximately $3,000 to $5,000 for routine work and can climb significantly for major service intervals. The hybrid system adds complexity – the battery is a 7.9 kWh lithium-ion unit that will eventually need replacement, though Ferrari has not yet published replacement cost figures for Australian customers.
Tyres are Michelin Pilot Sport 4S items, 245/35 ZR20 at the front and 305/30 ZR20 at the rear. Budget approximately $4,000 to $6,000 for a full tyre replacement.
Insurance through specialist exotic insurers runs from approximately $8,000 to $15,000 per year depending on use, storage and the owner’s profile.
Verdict
The Ferrari SF90 Stradale is a genuine landmark car. It is the product of decades of Formula One technology transfer into a road car, and it represents a genuine step forward rather than just a performance number exercise. The hybrid system works, the four-wheel drive system works, and the end result is a Ferrari that is faster and more complete than anything the company has made before.
At a million dollars in Australia, it sits in a rarified space. But for those who can afford it, the SF90 Stradale delivers on every promise Ferrari has made about what this car is.