For the new F80, Ferrari is using 3D-printed metal parts in series production for the first time in the company’s history. The Italian sports car manufacturer is implementing the additively manufactured components specifically in the area of active chassis control.
The suspension’s upper wishbones are produced entirely using the 3D printing process. The active system works with four 48-volt electric motors and enables fully independent wheel suspension. According to Ferrari Head of Development Matteo Biancalana, this design offers decisive advantages: “Additive manufacturing allows us to optimize the component design to the maximum. This not only reduces the unsprung masses, but also enables more precise control of the wheel movements.”
The use of 3D printing allows complex internal structures that would not be possible with conventional manufacturing processes. The engineers can use the material specifically where it is needed for stability. This leads to a significant reduction in weight while maintaining the same strength. The technology also shortens development cycles thanks to faster prototype iterations.
Ferrari is thus following a trend in the super sports car industry. McLaren and Bugatti Rimac are also already using 3D-printed metal components, albeit in much smaller quantities. The integration into a Ferrari production model could now act as a catalyst for the wider use of the technology in the automotive industry.
The development of the F80 benefited greatly from Ferrari’s involvement in Formula 1 and the World Endurance Championship. Many of the technologies used, such as the electric turbocharger system and the MGU-K engine, originate directly from motorsport. Here, 3D printing builds another bridge between racing and road vehicles.
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