- The Ferrari Enzo replacement will use a mid-mounted V12.
- It will feature carbon composite construction.
- A hybrid system is in development and likely to debut in the Enzo replacement.
- Production models will continue to use an aluminum chassis.
REGGIO EMILIA, Italy — Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa has confirmed that the replacement for the Enzo will have a mid-mounted V12 and use a carbon-fiber chassis. Speaking at the launch of the 458 Spider, Felisa told Inside Line that the car may also employ hybrid technology and confirmed that, "Ferrari is testing hybrid prototypes."
The CEO admitted that some of the knowledge gained from the development of Ferrari's Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) in Formula One could prove relevant to road cars. However, he said that any future Ferrari hybrid system "must focus on improving efficiency and not just be about performance." The introduction of hybrid technology on a future Enzo replacement would be consistent with Ferrari's philosophy of using these cars as test beds for nascent technology.
The use of carbon-composite construction in Ferrari's hypercars is nothing new — both the F50 and the Enzo employed a carbon monocoque. However, Ferrari will not follow McLaren's lead in introducing the technology on regular production models.
"Today it does not make sense," Felisa said. "The weight benefits compared with an aluminum chassis [such as the 458's] are very small and the costs are huge. In the event of an accident, it is also very difficult to identify whether the chassis has been damaged."
Inside Line says: Carbon chassis, V12 power and hybrid sounds like a recipe for a Bugatti Veyron-baiting hypercar.
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truecarfan says:
12:15 PM, 10/06/2011
Sorry - meant to say "their cars sell cheaper in America than other places".
I agree though - regardless of what happens with the Euro... it is ridiculous to think Europe as a whole (the biggest and richest single economy) will fall apart any moreso than the state of Tennessee and North Carolina (no disrespect to them) went bankrupt. Now if NY or California fell apart that WOULD certainly affect the country greatly.... to which the equivalent would be Germany and France going bankrupt.
truecarfan says:
12:01 PM, 10/06/2011
syrax - no Audi does not make much money in America... they just started to turn a profit. Europe and Asia are where it makes it's profits. Most Euro car companies don't make as much profit. There cars actually sell cheaper (even taking currency into account) in America than they do elsewhere... and they also don't have to deal with financing/leasing as much overseas (which can eat into profits).
syrax says:
09:37 AM, 10/06/2011
@julianb - Everything you said is right, except most of VW money doesn't currently come from Europe. Audi money comes form USA and China. Bentley money comes form USA and China. VW money comes from China, India, S. America. If the Euro fails they have other means.
akula1 says:
03:50 AM, 10/06/2011
Yes, carbon fibre is harder to diagnose and repair. It's a lot easier when your aluminum Ferrari splits in half like an Egg McMuffin. You can figure out which part of that would be the driver.
rollk says:
02:10 AM, 10/06/2011
The Enzo is in a whole different league - It'll compete with the Aventador, yes, but it's more of a One-77/Veyron/Huayra collector car.
angry_mushroom says:
09:45 PM, 10/05/2011
Soo.... In other words make a Aventador competitor?
julianb says:
04:01 PM, 10/05/2011
Jeremy it is less obvious to notice that "Yeah the Euro Automakers are actin as nothing is going on..." I think the Euro will fail and if that happens the Euro Autos are making themselves more and more vulnerable everyday it seems.
I'm not talking about this one car, but how Ferrari & Porsche sell trucks and 4-doors, how VW owns way to many Luxury brands to survive in a Euro Recession and also just anounced they plan to invest more just to beat GM & Toyota for such a title, Maserati is getting Chrysler engines and its own truck. I just think Euro Autos forgot what it means to be Luxurious or Exclusive! With the cheaper Ford brand having a good presence in Europe and GM planning to do the same with Chevrolet (i.e. 2013 Chevy Malibu Euro launch) it seems like the PERFECT STORM is brewing. Additionally, Cadillac, Lincoln, and Chrysler brands all want to continue (Cadillac & Hyundai) or start (Lincoln & Chrysler) competing better with Euro Luxury brands in the states (i.e. Lincoln is getting it's own dedicated Design Studio Finally).
If the Euro fails there will probably be cheaper foreign brands (Cadillac, Hyundai, Ford, etc.) in Europe & maybe Lincoln, Chrysler, Cadillac, Hyundai will have a better luxury presence in the states. A HUGE DISADVANTAGE TO EURO AUTOS AND THE EUROPEAN ECONOMY IF SUCH A THING WERE TO HAPPEN WHEN THE EURO FAILS. Euro Luxury (Auto, Clothing...) sells already aren't that good, they're doing what some U.S. companies did, NOT HEDGING BUT BUILDING MORE WITH LITTLE JUSTIFICATION IN A TIME OF CRISIS!
jibz says:
03:20 PM, 10/05/2011
So Jeremy, your solution to get out of the financial crisis they're in is for them to stop making cars?
jeremy_c says:
02:13 PM, 10/05/2011
Nice... Europe is suffering from a major financial meltdown with Spain, Greece and Italy at the blunt of it and these guys continue to build cars with million dollar price tags. God bless them. Should call this the Ferrari Bailout special.
Reminds of a story I read about how some French winemaker bragged about his best wine made was the 1942 and 1943 vintages. A reporter then questioned why he was busy making wine when the Germans occupied his country. I guess wine, cars and women are very important for Europeans.
a1c_scg says:
02:13 PM, 10/05/2011
I hate the word 'hypercar'. Anyways, I'm glad their deciding to stick to V12 power, rather than using a forced induction V8 as rumored. I'm less thrilled by the hybrid system. Can't have your cake and eat it too, I suppose.