2018 Ferrari FXX-K Evo – 1035HP Special with Track Attack Aero

The hottest ever Ferrari just tripled its downforce and slashed its drag.  The full makeover outside brings new ductwork and streamlining — best seen from its giant real wing and central spine.  Three massive uprights are actually horizontal stabilizers for its Corso Clienti gentleman racers.  The outermost corners of the car are intense: like a shark fin slicing through the air!

It is safe to assume all the aero learnings of this FXX-K Evo will go right into the next-gen LaFerrari.  For now, we can just marvel at its skills on track — there is no road version.

This new Evo pack is available as a select number of new cars or as an upgrade to existing XX models.

Ferrari FXX-K Evo: an innovative new package for the laboratory car

Mugello, 29 October 2017 – The Finali Mondiali provided the backdrop to the world premiere of the new FXX-K Evo which will be available both as an extremely limited-run model and as an upgrade package for the existing XX cars.

This latest arrival marks a significant evolution of the XX programme launched in 2005 with cars developed specifically to play an active role in the eponymous research and development programme which itself has become a byword for innovation and uncompromising performance.

As was the case with the Evo versions of the FXX and the 599 XX, the Ferrari FXX-K Evo benefits from an extensive package that applies innovative concepts derived from all of the various track categories in which Ferrari competes with its cars:  the Formula 1, GT3, GTE and Challenge, the latter being the single-make championship bearing its name.

Derived from the racing world and adopting track-specific content, the FXX-K Evo, like all the previous XX cars, is not homologated for road use and will not be used in competition outside its dedicated programme.

Mirroring the vocation of its predecessor, it, however, is aimed at a small, highly-select group of Ferrari Clients: supercar enthusiasts eager to share the development of technologically-innovative content with the Prancing Horse technicians, through driving a closed-wheel laboratory car.

At the development stage, the designers worked on a broad range of different aspects of the FXX-K Evo, starting with reducing its overall weight. By drawing on Ferrari’s Formula 1 experience and adopting innovative carbon-fibre component crafting processes, they succeeded in producing a lighter car than the previous FXX-K despite introducing new elements such as the fixed rear wing.

The FXX-K Evo features an evolved aero package developed by Ferrari’s engineers in synergy with the Ferrari Style Centre’s designers, to push to the very limit the performance of a model that already represents the state-of-the-art in terms of Ferrari track-only supercars.

The product of over a year of CFD simulations and wind tunnel testing, the FXX-K Evo’s aerodynamics deliver downforce figures very close to those of the cars competing in the  GT3 and GTE championships, all to the advantage of lateral acceleration in cornering, stability and, ultimately, exhilarating driving pleasure.

The FXX-K Evo’s downforce coefficient has been improved by 23% on the previous version, which is the equivalent of a 75% increase on the road car from which it is derived. Downforce of 640 kg is generated at 200 km/h, and exceeds 830 kg at the car’s red-line speed.

The FXX-K Evo’s downforce level is boosted by a twin-profile fixed wing on the tail. This new addition was developed to work in seamless synergy with the active rear spoiler. In fact, the pressure fields developed by the two downforce-generating systems support and amplify each other.  To guarantee both excellent downforce and drag results, the mobile spoiler’s control logics and range of movement were also meticulously reviewed and reprogrammed.

The twin-profile rear wing is supported by two side fins as well as by a central fin. The latter plays a dual role: firstly it acts as a vertical fin, boosting stability at low yaw angles, and secondly, it supports the action of the three delta (triangular) vortex generators.

The vortex generators, on the one hand, clean the flow field striking the wing of the effects of the wake of the hot air flow from the radiators which vents onto the bonnet. On the other, they create a downwash component in the flow which boosts the twin-profile’s downforce capacity. The result is a 10% increase in the downforce developed by the rear system.

The design of the rear bumpers was also modified in the light of the new flow structures. The by-pass vent from the rear wheel arch has been enlarged, hollowing out the volume behind the wheels to ensure the wake from the wheels is efficiently channelled. The result is that the flow to the rear diffuser is protected and losses are reduced so that downforce has been boosted by 5%.

The significant increase in rear downforce demanded in-depth review of the design of the front bumpers and underbody to guarantee a balanced development of the downforce.

The geometry of the sides of the front bumper was altered by hollowing out the surfaces beneath the headlights.  This made space for a couple of flicks divided by a vertical turning vane and an additional intake ahead of the front wheels. This system guarantees efficient downforce generation (10% of the increase in downforce gained on the FXX-K). It also makes good use of know-how acquired in the GT programmes in which rules introduced in 2016 permitted extensive study of the interaction between horizontal (flicks) and vertical (dive plane) flow management systems, optimising their efficiency.

Ground effect was also boosted by the introduction of vortex generators on the undertray. This capitalised on the accelerations created by the rear system and the front underbody, generating 30% of the extra downforce the car delivers compared to the FXX-K.

The FXX-K Evo’s boosted performance also demanded new front brake air intakes which, although no wider to avoid increasing drag, are more efficient thanks to a complete redesign of the intake itself.

Furthermore, the suspension was specifically calibrated to adapt it to the car’s new aerodynamic efficiency figures.

The clearly racing-inspired cabin is characterised by a conceptually-different steering wheel brilliantly suited to hugely powerful performance levels achievable in the FXX-K Evo. Formula 1-derived with integrated gear-shifting paddles, the new steering wheel now also sports the KERS Manettino to improve both control of that system and overall ergonomics.

The rear video camera screen to the right of the driver has been replaced with a larger 6.5” version.

It also now displays data from a new telemetry system with clearer, more direct performance parameter and car status readouts. The driver can check the KERS status and the times being clocked by selecting from the various screen options available.

After undergoing around 5,000 km of development runs and 15,000 km of reliability test-drives, the FXX-K EVO will be a very active protagonist in the XX Programme in the 2018/2019 season which spans nine track outings in all between the start of March and the end of October. As is now traditional, the XX cars will also be taking part in the prestigious Finali Mondiali weekend which marks the end of each racing season.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 

HY-KERS System

Max. power output                  1050 cv

Max. torque                            >900 Nm

Power output – ICE*               860 cv @9200 rpm

Max. rpms                               9400 rpm

Max. torque – ICE                  750 Nm @6500 rpm

Power output – electric

motor                                      140 Kw (190 cv)

ICE

Type                                       V12, 65°

Bore and stroke                       94 x 75.2 mm

Overall displacement               6262 cm3

Compression ratio                   13.5:1

Specific power output              137 cv/l

 

Dimensions and weight

Height                                                1116 mm

Wheelbase                              2665 mm

Weight distribution                41% front, 59% rear

Gearbox

F1 dual-clutch transmission,   7-speed

 

Suspensions

Front                                      Double wishbone

Rear                                        Multilink

Tyres                                      (Pirelli P Zero slicks with sensors)

Front                                       285/650 – R19 x10½

Rear                                        345/725 – R20x13

Carbon ceramic brakes            (Brembo)

Front                                       398 x 223 x 36 mm

Rear                                        380 x 253 x 34 mm

Electronic control systems

ESC                                        Stability control

High performance

ABS/EBD                               High performance anti-lock brakes /electronic brake distribution

EF1-Trac                                 F1 Traction Control integrated with hybrid system

E-Diff 3                                   Third gen. electronic differential

SCM-E Frs                             magnetorheological damping system with twin solenoids (Al-Ni tube)

Aerodynamics                         Active

*with dynamic ram effect, both electric and ICE

Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine.

He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.

Mr. Burkart is available for all questions and concerns by email Tom(at)car-revs-daily.com.

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