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A hybrid electric system is expected as a performance option, starting in 2014, on the upcoming successor to the Ferrari 612 sports coupe. The standard (non-hybrid) edition is shown here in spy shots taken during recent testing in Europe.  (Source: Autocar UK)
Ferrari's hybrid system is all about improving performance, not fuel economy

Ferrari will reportedly become the latest player to enter the hybrid vehicle market, with a 4x4 (all wheel drive) hybrid electric variant landing in 2014.  With Volvo, BMW, Mercedes, and others showing off powerful and sporty electric vehicles, it's hardly surprising that Ferrari would be cooking up an electric of its own.

The system reportedly will come in Ferrari's GT (gran turismo) and 2+2 (two large seats in front, two smaller seats in the back) families of sporty convertibles and coupes.  The hybrid electric system will drive the front wheels, providing additional torque and acceleration.  Ironically, while most of the industry uses hybrid systems to improve fuel economy, Ferrari isn't going to be improving its fuel economy at all with the system -- rather its look to the hybrid system as a performance solution.

According to Autocar, which first broke the news, the inboard mounted motors, attached to the front wheels will offer superior control of torque and better cornering.

The system is expected to first be offered as an option on the successor to the Ferrari 612, Ferrari's two-door fastback coupe.  The current 612 which has been in production since 2004 and can muster a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 4.3 seconds.  It tops out at speeds of 196 mph.  Its replacement is currently undergoing testing in Europe, and is rumored to be even more powerful.

As mentioned, the optional hybrid system is expected to land for the 612 in 2014.  Autocar claims "senior sources" at Ferrari to have confirmed the leak.

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Fuel Economy
By lightfoot on 11/3/2009 3:44:33 PM , Rating: 2
They claim that this is for performance, not fuel economy, but the fact remains that it will likely get better fuel economy than a non-hybrid system with similar performance.




RE: Fuel Economy
By 67STANG on 11/3/2009 4:20:13 PM , Rating: 2
Depends on the weight of the system. Batteries and motors weigh quite a bit.


RE: Fuel Economy
By Shig on 11/3/2009 6:24:05 PM , Rating: 2
I just want to start off by saying ~4 second 0-60mph acceleration and ~200mph top end speed isn't that impressive for Ferrari anymore. It's been done by nearly every car maker that spends enough designing a 'supercar'. That was cutting edge 10 years ago, now most can do it. I mean if you spend 100k+ on a car, you SHOULD get that performance.

Show me a car that can do those numbers that gets 40mpg, and I'll be impressed.

Also @ 2014, that is a pretty long time...


RE: Fuel Economy
By Spuke on 11/3/2009 6:46:18 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Show me a car that can do those numbers that gets 40mpg, and I'll be impressed.
I'll admit, that would be impressive but fuel efficiency isn't Ferrari's mission, performance is. Leave Ferrari alone.


RE: Fuel Economy
By Spuke on 11/3/2009 6:46:54 PM , Rating: 1
quote:
Also @ 2014, that is a pretty long time...
It's Ferrari, not Toyota.


RE: Fuel Economy
By fic2 on 11/3/2009 9:15:10 PM , Rating: 2
And yet the top speed limit on U.S. highways is still 75 mph...


RE: Fuel Economy
By Omega215D on 11/3/2009 11:37:06 PM , Rating: 2
In Montana it's more than 85. I believe there's a section that says 100 is the limit. Even so there are also things called Track Days where people who want to take it to the track and there are people who would do it with half million dollar machines.


RE: Fuel Economy
By FITCamaro on 11/4/2009 9:28:21 AM , Rating: 2
I'm sure you never go above the speed limit on any road....

Get a grip. Some people use their cars for things other than driving down the road at or above the speed limit. And yes some people break the law and go extremely fast on public roads.

I certainly have but I try to be smart about it and do so when no one else is around. And I don't do so for extended periods of time. I get up to a speed I want, get that adrenaline rush, and slow back down.


RE: Fuel Economy
By jbwhite99 on 11/4/2009 11:39:56 AM , Rating: 2
it's 88 miles per hour in my Delorean! (of course there are no roads in this case).

Actually, stretches of I-20 in west Texas are 80 MPH.

To the Montana poster, Montana used to have no daytime speed limit (the sign said prudent), but the Feds threatened to take away highway funds, so the limit is 75, and tickets are $5 if you are caught.


RE: Fuel Economy
By Sunrise089 on 11/4/2009 10:53:52 AM , Rating: 2
Please list other 2+2 options that can go 200mph. I think you'll see what few exist have similar brand cachet themselves. This article isn't talking about an all-out Enzo replacement, it's talking about the softest, least sporty model in the lineup.


RE: Fuel Economy
By Beno on 11/3/2009 8:01:38 PM , Rating: 5
im sure you know that its not a selling point for ferrari.
Ferrari's customers have their own oil pipelines


RE: Fuel Economy
By Flunk on 11/3/09, Rating: 0
RE: Fuel Economy
By amagriva on 11/4/2009 6:00:22 AM , Rating: 3
How do you dare to put Ferrari and Mazda 3 in the same sentence?


By B166ER on 11/3/2009 9:06:20 PM , Rating: 1
Just mention the term 'change'. People will freak the bottom fuck out.
I like cars. No, I love cars. but for some reason the mere idea that Ferrari is changing things just doesn't seem to make me cry. I hope they make an all electric Corvette soon. And change the name. And make it sound like an electric wheelchair. yeah. yeah...




At first
By uglyone888 on 11/3/09, Rating: -1
RE: At first
By andylawcc on 11/3/2009 3:15:06 PM , Rating: 5
did you read even at the very least read the title? How is it a sad day when they using technology to improve performance?


RE: At first
By Souka on 11/3/2009 6:35:35 PM , Rating: 2
Did I miss something...but do they give any info on how much the hybrid helps?

I'd like to see these acceleration numbers:

Car1: ModelX without hyrbrid
Car2: MolelX with hybrid option enabled
Car2: ModelX with hybrid option turned off

Just curios how much it helps compared to a regular model...and with it engaged and disengaged.

Not like I'd ever ....ever...buy one.


RE: At first
By Spuke on 11/3/2009 3:29:48 PM , Rating: 2
They already use a similar tech in their F1 cars. Only natural that the street cars get this. I'm more stunned that they went with AWD than I am with hybrid tech.


RE: At first
By corduroygt on 11/3/09, Rating: 0
RE: At first
By Spuke on 11/3/2009 3:50:18 PM , Rating: 1
They haven't stopped using it. It's getting banned next year.


RE: At first
By PrinceGaz on 11/3/2009 8:17:41 PM , Rating: 2
KERS is not banned for next year, on the contrary almost all F1 teams will be using it because whilst the FOTA (Formula One Teams Association) members agreed not to use it, the Williams F1 team (who had left FOTA because of disagreements over regulations next year) continued to develop their KERS system, leading now to several other teams already re-introducing it towards the end of this season.

With Williams almost certain to use KERS next season (the FIA approved it for the 2010 regulations, only FOTA were against it and non-FOTA members can ignore them) it is likely all teams will end up using a KERS system developed over the winter break.


RE: At first
By KGBird on 11/3/2009 8:53:47 PM , Rating: 1
YES. KERS is banned for 2010. No F1 team will have it in their cars. KERS was introduced as some goofy nod towards being green and to improve passing. It was great at passing, giving the car with KERS an extra 85 horses. It was amazing to see an F1 car getting its doors blown off (if it had doors) like a Yugo. The problem was, it was too difficult (impossible) to pass a KERS car.


RE: At first
By Aloonatic on 11/5/2009 5:10:08 AM , Rating: 2
The guy is right when he says that KERS is not banned. The KERS boost is still in the regs, in fact, I believe that they state that more power can be delivered by the KERS unit next season. More than the 80odd HP that you could get from it in 2009, but that's just going from memory.

The teams did agree not to use it in 2001 however.

That's where the grey are comes in and we'll have to wait and see what is going to happen. Teams have agreed things before, like limited testing, only for one team to go their own way.

I'm not sure whether Williams will be adding KERS to their car next season my self. If Toyota (William's 2009 engine supplier) hadn't pulled out, and Williams had not announced that they were going to go with Cosworth, then maybe they would have gone along with their system. I'm not sure that it's all that simple to just stick it on a new engine.

Engines are not a standard size, as we saw With Brawn and they had to make major changes as the Mercedes unit was a different size to the Honda unit that they had designed their car around. Maybe William's have had enough of a heads up, but the Cosworth engine is still up in teh air as far as I know.

As for KERS being a problem. I tend to agree. However, if everyone has KERS, then all drivers will be able to use their boos, and could use it at different times and hopefully more passing will happen again, especially as the double diffuser is banned, which was blamed for the other aero regs not working as well as expected.


RE: At first
By Aloonatic on 11/5/2009 5:15:16 AM , Rating: 2
Gods sake, post instead of preview again, does my head in.

Obviously, I don't mean 2001 but 2010.

grey are = grey area.

boos = boost

double diffuser = double deffuser (actually, I'm not sure on this one, some say diffuser, others say deffuser, including Red Bull who have spent more time than most moaning about it. All I know is that my spell check doesn't like it)

Oh there are probably many more errors, there usually are in my posts :-D


RE: At first
By SublimeSimplicity on 11/3/2009 4:25:02 PM , Rating: 2
The weight of those cars make all the difference though. You're fighting an exponential curve when you're trying to add a hybrid system to a car that will boost fuel economy and performance. Because increasing fuel economy is going to involve some amount of battery weight. The heavier the car was before adding the system, the more battery capacity you need to make an impact. The more battery weight you add in the process, the more battery capacity you need and on and on.

Same paradigm with performance and motor/battery weight.

This is not even taking into consideration the cost. In F1, adding 1 more lap to how far you can go without a pit stop may be the difference between winning and losing and therefore priceless. For a street car adding 1 or 2 mpg has a quantitative value.

Check out the Lexus LS Hybrid to see how this endeavor can go horribly wrong.


RE: At first
By Mitch101 on 11/3/2009 3:34:23 PM , Rating: 5
It will end when Harley Davidson announces their Electric motorcycle with simulated engine sound.


RE: At first
By monomer on 11/3/2009 4:10:06 PM , Rating: 2
It won't be simulated. They'll make a hybrid design as well, only the gas engine will just be used to generate noise.


RE: At first
By walk2k on 11/3/2009 7:04:49 PM , Rating: 4
So basically, the same as they are now.


RE: At first
By 67STANG on 11/3/2009 4:19:07 PM , Rating: 2
An electric Harley? Where would you put the "no fat bitches" sign? Surely a 350lb. dyke would have to limit the range on something so weight sensitive.


RE: At first
By lagomorpha on 11/4/2009 9:50:54 AM , Rating: 2
It's a non issue as long as it has enough battery power to get it far enough into your driveway to wash it.


RE: At first
By Motoman on 11/3/2009 4:27:07 PM , Rating: 2
...I wonder if they'll leak battery acid on the dealer floor...


RE: At first
By mars2k on 11/3/2009 4:45:57 PM , Rating: 2
I'm all for better performance and better gas mileage. Now if they could only make a hi-performance tire that would last longer than 15K miles for these. I barely got 12K on my last set


RE: At first
By Reclaimer77 on 11/3/09, Rating: -1
RE: At first
By Spuke on 11/3/2009 6:49:37 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Yeah. Is nothing sacred anymore ? Sigh...
Like another poster said, look up KERS.


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