Whilst the technology that is at the heart of every magnificent sports car from the stable of the prancing horse is undoubted, it would appear that this legendary marque is now diverting their energies, quite literally, into a more eco-friendly approach to supercar design and development.
As resources become scarcer in all fields of nature, science and technology are coming together to see how we can get more out of less. Given the Ferrari ideal of how can we get more and even more, this represents an interesting marriage of the two philosophies. The latest news released from Ferrari this week, straight from the horse’s mouth and so to be well believed, indicates the future direction of engine development at the legendary Italian house of race-bred road cars.
It would seem that Ferrari is planning a V12 Hybrid for their upcoming Enzo. What is truly spectacular though is that whilst being more environmentally-conscious, this will actually result in a power gain, by about as much as 100 hp on the V12 and 110 lb-ft of torque. This mirrors what was seen on the concept HY-KERS in 2010. The aim of this technology is for the Ferraris of the future to meet strict CO2 emissions targets, without diluting anything that makes them true Ferraris. The Enzo will achieve this with its upcoming hybrid system, when released later this year.
The latest release already on the market, the F12 Berlinetta, presented an entirely new generation of V12 engines to the world. This already made use of Formula 1 technology in the form of the celebrated Kinetic Energy Recovery System, or KERS. This gives the car even more performance, to deliver an awesome package.
Taking a bearing that will increase the longevity of endangered beasts like V12 combustion engines, various hybrid systems are now under test and development, according to Head of Ferrari, Amedeo Felisa. He announced that ‘Our hybrid system won’t just be about creating power, but saving energy, too.’ Whilst purists may argue against such a move, and criticise the added cost, Felisa continued that ‘the technology is expensive today, but the road ahead is open and evolution will bring down the cost and weight disadvantages. I’m not saying when, but it is possible that this technology will be on all Ferraris. It has been designed to fit all our future architecture, and if we go ahead it will be fitted as standard. It is not the sort of thing you offer as an option.’
Felisa added that Ferrari may look at engines from even more alternate perspectives in the future. Demonstrating the Ferrari feel for picking up on trends he asked ‘Why not six cylinders? It is far away in the future, perhaps, but it is clear perceptions have altered. Even in the US, where until a few years ago eight cylinders was the minimum, it is clear attitudes have changed. We have to think in that direction,’ he concluded.