MARANELLO, Italy — Ferrari plans to unveil its first-ever hybrid road car, a gasoline-electric version of the 599 GTB, in March at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show.
Ferrari CEO Luca di Montezemolo divulged the news — but no further details — at the official debut this week of the Ferrari F10 Formula 1 racing car.
There has been much speculation in the European press about the 599 Hybrid, including an image leaked to Italy's Quattroruote.
The best guesses center on twin electric motors, a lithium-ion battery pack, a kinetic-energy recovery system (KERS), a stop-start system and regenerative braking, all of which could reduce the car's fuel consumption by 30-35 percent.
Stay tuned for tech highlights from Geneva.
Inside Line says: A new formula for sustainable high-performance motoring — a V12 engine and a pair of electric motors. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
beermagazine says:
10:08 AM, 03/02/2010
And lets not forget a few things. Electric motors will actually drastically increase performance since it's mostly on the lowend most engines lack power, and electric motors are 100% TQ at 0,000RPM. So you gain in performance and still get better mpg. So it's a win win. Hybrid really doesn't mean Prius...it means a blend of two technologies into one.
beermagazine says:
09:48 AM, 03/02/2010
They have to make these cars because the world decided we have to have MPG standards for all cars...kinda dumb considering nobody drives these things, and we can all buy classic cars without CATS and make the world hotter...which I hear is Canada's secret plan.
phenomenon says:
09:46 PM, 03/01/2010
You are missing the real point of a sportscar, wheather it is this Ferrari or the Porsche in Geneva...more power, better performance. The power stored in the KERS will improve performance and performance is what these kinds of cars are about. The same can be said of the Tesla Roadster. Even with all the extra weight of electric motors and batteries it still out performs a standard Elise. The efficiency increase will get people in the door, make them feel better about buying a Ferrari and maybe avoid the "Gas-Guzzler" tax, but the add-ons are about performance...and marketing.
jay_sf says:
04:00 PM, 02/23/2010
Completely pointless. All Comments above are valid. Why would I buy a hybrid Ferrari? No really, Someone tell me...
mikedrud says:
10:55 AM, 02/11/2010
I like the idea of going hybrid on everything (for environmental reasons first, energy independence second and saving on fuel costs third), but if you want a hybrid, just get a real one.
I agree with the earlier posts. This is just to give some arrogant fool yet another reason to feel smug. Not a real enviro execution here.
Great, sleek design though.
charlesb says:
11:46 AM, 02/01/2010
My to-do list:
1. Hug a tree.
2. Buy a Ferrari hybrid.
3. Go to shrink to discuss cognitive dissonance.
scottyscooter says:
05:06 AM, 02/01/2010
Yeah, 35% of 12mpg isn't very much. You are adding the cost and complexity of electric motors, stop-start, regenerative braking, ect to get 16mpg. Whats the point? Most Ferraris are pobably only driven 1000 miles a year anyway.
A 16mpg Ferrari is still a very inefficient method of transportation so it really shouldn't be sparing any owners from feelings of eco-guilt but I'm sure thats what this is really all about...
etanretla says:
04:24 PM, 01/29/2010
seriously, why bother with a hybrid?..people who could afford this car would not worry a bit about its overall fuel consumption...at an average of 12mpg + 35% savings, whats the point?..another false sense of environmental consciousness!..get over it!