Meet the Ferrari SF90 Stradale. SF is short for Scuderia Ferrari and it has been 90 years since that division was formed. That means this model should be special as it is a tribute to its makers. And, it is. From Ferrari, it is the first plug-in hybrid, the fastest-accelerating and the only model to boast a four-digit horsepower figure. That figure, by the way, is a neat 1,000PS.

So, let’s unravel how it gets that power and how it is channelled to the wheels. Filling in for internal combustion technology is the iconic and widely acclaimed 4.0-litre, turbocharged V8 from the Ferrari 488 Pista. It has been modified and upgraded to churn out 780PS/800Nm all on its own. Mated to it are three electric motors – one mounted at the back between the engine and the gearbox and two in the front are independent. All three draw their juices from a 7.9kWh, lithium-ion battery pack and together put out 220PS. Grand total = 1,000PS.

The oomph is harnessed by a new 8-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission and it is fed to all four wheels. Ferrari claims the new unit not only slicker in shifting the cogs around but also promises an 8 per cent reduction in fuel consumption. 0-100kmph can be dealt with in 2.5 seconds and 0-200kmph in 6.7 seconds. Flat out, the Ferrari SF90 can hit 342kmph. And as far as its braking prowess is concerned, it can leave jaws dropped with a LaFerrari-beating 160-0kmph stopping distance.

A total of four driving modes are available – eDrive, Hybrid, Performance and Qualify. The first one cuts off the V8 completely and the sportscar becomes all-electric in nature. But that would last for up to 25.7km as the small battery will need recharging. That said, you can still hit speeds of up to 135kmph on electric power alone. The second mode cleverly switches between petrol-power and battery-power, depending on the driving inputs and conditions. Engaging the Performance mode enables charging of the lithium-ion battery pack from the V8, while in Qualify mode the car has all the power available all the time.

In pure Ferrari fashion, the SF90 Stradale tries to create a balance amongst style, substance and sexiness. And to our eyes and many others, it does so brilliantly. Looking like it does, its shape has been created more by science than anything else. Ferrari claims that at 250kmph, the SF90 Stradale’s shape is generating 390kg of downforce, which is 30kg more than Ferrari’s previous range-topper – the LaFerrari. That is thanks to a clever aero package that works out everything on its own.

Inside, there is a new steering wheel and it looks even busier than before. The folks from Maranello claim that to ensure the driver’s hands are on the steering wheel most of the time, nearly 80 per cent of car’s functions can be controlled by the wheel, whose primary job is to tell which way the front wheels go. Behind it is a 16-inch, HD-resolution digital instrument cluster which has a new interface. Further ahead is a head-up display – another first.

The Ferrari SF90 Stradale is a series production model and yet the company is saying that it will build only as much as it can. The Italians have already invited 2,000 prospective clients to see the car and most have already ordered one. There are no pricing details as of now but deliveries are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2020.