A Ferrari F8 Spider convertible supercar accident in China has caused a stir on social media. The incident turned complicated when it was revealed that the car belonged to a man who had loaned it to a friend, who then hired a driver through a driving service company.
On June 29, a Ferrari F8 Spider was traveling through the Beiqing Road Tunnel in Shanghai when it suddenly burst into flames. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing, but the circumstances surrounding the car have captured the attention of netizens.
A friend borrows a Ferrari F8 Spider worth over VND 16 billion from its owner, only to call for a driver from a driving service company.
The owner, a man with the surname Jiang, had lent the car to his friend. However, for unknown reasons, the friend then hired a driver through the AutoNavi taxi platform. Unfortunately, the Ferrari F8 Spider caught fire and was badly damaged, particularly at the rear where the 3.9-liter V8 engine is located.
“My friend called to tell me that the car’s water tank had exploded. I thought it was a simple issue and told him to take it to the dealership for repairs. I even sent him the dealership’s location. But just 10 minutes later, he called again to say the car was on fire,” said Jiang.
When Jiang questioned the driver, he found out that the driver had been driving at high speeds in first gear throughout the journey. “The car has both manual and automatic transmission. The driver probably didn’t switch to automatic and drove in first gear at speeds of 50-60 km/h, causing the engine to overheat due to prolonged high revs,” Jiang explained.
Jiang speculated that the fire may have been initially caused by the explosion of the water tank, leading to a coolant leak. The driver apparently failed to take timely action to address the issue. Jiang is now preparing to sue the driving service company, while the company and the booking platform have stated that they are conducting an internal investigation and will contact the car owner as soon as possible.
Jiang had purchased the Ferrari F8 Spider convertible supercar in September 2022 for over 5 million Chinese yuan, equivalent to more than VND 16.2 billion. He also took out an insurance policy with a maximum liability coverage of 2 million Chinese yuan, or approximately VND 6.5 billion.
The Ferrari F8 Spider impresses with its muscular design, similar to the Coupe version, the Ferrari F8 Tributo. The main difference between the two models is the retractable hardtop on the F8 Spider, which can be opened or closed in approximately 14 seconds. Another distinguishing feature is the small glass partition between the two seats in the F8 Spider.
The addition of the retractable hardtop makes the Ferrari F8 Spider about 70 kg heavier than the hardtop version, the Ferrari F8 Tributo. However, it is still 20 kg lighter than its predecessor, the Ferrari 488 Spider. The F8 Spider is powered by a 3.9-liter V8 engine with twin-turbochargers, producing a maximum output of 711 horsepower and a peak torque of 770 Nm.
This power is transmitted to the rear wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, enabling the Ferrari F8 Spider to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds. With the roof open, the supercar can reach a top speed of 325 km/h, while with the roof closed, it can attain a maximum velocity of 340 km/h.