Ferrari boss confirms hybrid program

Posted Sun Jul 6 2008 7:25 AM by James Martinez

Governments around the world are bowing to public pressure to reduce greenhouse gases, and more often than not the first sector they look at is the auto industry. The European Council has proposed a ruling that could see carmaker’s forced to limit their fleet average CO2 levels to 130g/km by as early as 2012, something that could have disastrous effects for niche players like Ferrari.

The supercar company is now working on cutting its vehicles' greenhouse gas emissions by nearly half and is working on several different strategies including building lighter cars and implementing new hybrid technology. Speaking with Germany’s Welt am Sonntag, Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo told reporters the carmaker is aiming to reduce CO2 emissions by 40% between now and 2012.

"We are currently working on the development of a Ferrari that will use alternative energy sources and which will be based on what we are doing at the moment in Formula 1," he revealed, referring to the new Kinetic Energy Recycling System (KERS) that works on the principle of brake-energy-regeneration. The KERS is basically an efficient CVT gearbox joined to a flywheel that rotates when the cars undergo braking. The stored energy can then be used to boost acceleration for overtaking and cornering.

Montezemolo insisted that any future hybrid Ferrari would still be "fundamentally a Ferrari". However, the first models aren't expected to be available for sale until around 2015.

In a further effort to reduce emissions, future Ferraris could also come powered by smaller and more fuel-efficient turbocharged V6 engines. A company spokesman revealed last week that Ferrari has ruled out nothing in terms of technology as it works to keep high-performance a priority while accommodating strict emissions rules.

Reader Comments

Sun Jul 6 2008 10:21 AM
Roy says

I think this whole hybrid thing is ridiculously overblown. The energy to move a car has still got to come from somewhere! Ferrari's ideas about re-capturing energy that would be otherwise wasted as heat (KERS and similar systems) and concentrating on moving less mass (which takes less energy) are the way to go.
Sun Jul 6 2008 11:17 AM
Gus says

Agreed.
I really don't want to see a battery pack in a Ferrari (unless it's the sole power source, like a Tesla)...
Sun Jul 6 2008 12:57 PM
Michael D. says

I hope Ferarri isn't selling out and humbling!

I thought before that the Ferarri boss was basically stating "no small ferarris".
As far as a turbo-fed V6; Ill accept and respect if it's added in addition or (as well as hybrid tech, etc.) to expand the line-up, but if it's to replace any V8s and or V12s, then I'll certainly lose the respect as will many other enthusiasts!

Ferarri, like many other premium, or upper-eschelon marques, is NOT about humility!
Sun Jul 6 2008 1:39 PM
CarFanaticsUnleashed says

When Ferrari sticks their head out into a new technology, it tends to be for the better.
I would say that Ferrari is demonstrating that they have the ability to maintain their own standards of excellence and power, but also conserve the already diminishing environmental state. I agree, that the loss entirely of V12 and V8's would be cataclysmic to Ferrari's quality and image, however, the downsizing of such monstrous motors would not be. If they can figure out a way to balance environmental awareness, and extreme performance and passion in the realm of motorsport, than that should just be another demonstration of Ferrari's versatility and excellence.
Sun Jul 6 2008 2:31 PM
Chris says

yeah I'm with CFU on that one.. just because its a V12 doesnt mean it has to be 6L... why not a 3L V12? throw a turbo on it and it's going to growl just like a big V12.

KERS done well can replace any demand for an electric hybrid because the KERS recovers the same lost energy as an electric hybrid but with SIGNIFICANTLY less wieght.

decrease the displacement, not the engine format, introduce KERS, and cut the fat like there's no tomorrow. If Tesla can make a Carbon Fiber Elise for 100 grand, surely ferrari can use liberal CF in their cars without too much premium on their already rediculous price tags.
Sun Jul 6 2008 3:19 PM
Michael D. says

Truthfully, If the litre displacement is a little lessened, but not the cylinder count, I can live with that. When turbos are added, the litre-displacement is generally lessened - BMWs famtastic twin-turbo DI 4.4L V8 for example, lesser than it's 4.8L predecessor, but superior to the 4.8L on many levels, and much greater power stats.

If Ferarri lessened the Litre size with it's V8s & V12s, but increased the stats with various technologies and applications such as DI, KERS, Hybrid tech, and even turbos and blowers, as well as lowered weight with more exitic materials, but maintained an equivlent footprint and overall dimensions, I'll support and admire all the efforts.

If anything goes downhill and backward, for-going all the brilliant development since the maliase period(s), that is indeed depressing.
Mon Jul 7 2008 3:07 AM
CK says

Some of these comments are spoken as if Ferrari is turning it's back on decades of heritage to follow a path that is new to them......they are being forced to do it, people. It's petualnt and erroneous to suggest that they are 'selling out'. If they don't look at these alternatives they will cease to exist as a company so lets not criticise them for trying to continue making spectacular exotic cars withing the new legislation.

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