Ferrari reportedly confirms all-wheel drive hybrid system
Posted Nov 2nd 2009 4:14PM by Jeremy Korzeniewski
Ferrari 612 replacement test mule - Click above for high-res image gallery
It's long been suspected that Ferrari was hard at work developing a hybrid powertrain for its line of supercars and grand touring machines, especially since a series of patents were located proving that the Italian automaker had at least sketched plans for such a system. Still, Ferrari had never confirmed such rumors.
But, according to Autocar in the UK, an unnamed source tells the British magazine that the hybrid drivetrain will debut on the next-gen 612 (could the recently-spotted long-wheelbase 612 be a hybrid mule?) with a pair of torque-laden electric motors that will be connected to the front wheels. Ferrari's traditional V12 or possibly a turbocharged V8 engine would send power to the GT car's rear wheels.
As befitting an automobile wearing the coveted Prancing Horse badge, Ferrari is said to be using the system to benefit handling and not to improve fuel efficiency. Whatever the case, we'll surely know more by 2014 or so when Ferrari is actually expected to have the hybrid ready for production.
[Source: Autocar]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mark Kiernan 4:27PM (11/02/2009)
So the prancing horse is slowly moving out of the dark ages. *slow hand clap*
Reply
wincros 4:49PM (11/02/2009)
Are you going to buy one? Thought not. I don't think their customers care. In their minds fuel efficiency is for the little people. Ferrari is just getting a model ready to meet national requirements that may occur in some of their markets.
AutoCritical 7:49PM (11/02/2009)
I dunno, I think there would be a fair 'few' people who would be in the market for this type of car, and at the same time, wanting to appear 'environmentally conscious'.
These cars are all about image - and at the moment, trying to be 'green' is on everyone's minds...
I think it suits.
Nozferat 4:43PM (11/02/2009)
That's pretty dumb....overweight AWD system on a hybrid....bravo.
Reply
Boyprodigy1 5:00PM (11/02/2009)
Yeah its clearly stupid since BMW Subaru and Toyota all are working on similar systems...
Nozferat 9:06PM (11/02/2009)
Tell me....wtf do you need an AWD system on a hybrid??? Particularly when weight factors are extremely important in such systems?
Just because BMW and Toyota are doing it doesn't make it right...they also built overweight, lumbering SUVs....does that make it right too?
I like your lack of logic...
Boyprodigy1 10:02PM (11/02/2009)
I live in Colorado. There have been times when i could get nowhere without all wheel drive (especially when there is 3 feet of snow on the ground)
But beyond my own needs i was merely pointing out that this is the same kind of parallel hybrid all wheel drive system that other auto makers have been working with. And by the way, Subaru makes pretty much undisputably the best all wheel drive system that you can buy, and you mean to tell me that they don't know what they are doing when they just released a parallel hybrid using the same basic idea... right.
Boyprodigy1 10:04PM (11/02/2009)
Correction: The Subaru was a concept but they were pretty much saying that that was the direction that they wanted to take with hybrids...
Nozferat 1:03PM (11/04/2009)
Wow...a few times in your lifetime that you've not been able to go out in bad weather...astounding reason to build an overweight bucket that's got a hybrid system.
No they don't know...it's counterproductive to build a hybrid system in a heavy, AWD vehicle....especially when from the onset the whole concept defeats the purpose.
One manufacturer builds an SUV...does that mean they all have to follow suit? It's the same logic.
ForgedInternals 5:08PM (11/02/2009)
Does Ferrari need a Hybrid sytem of any sort?
Their consumer is not going to be looking to show off at the stop lights not coast at a fuel friendly speeds and it's not like I could say that it would lesson the harmful effects a Ferrari would have on the enviroment since most Ferrari's aren't driven on a daily basis anyway.
Reply
xyz 5:10PM (11/02/2009)
Is it just me or do you also think that this is sooo '90s? Along with big V8s, loud exhausts, spoilers and body kits???
Reply
Mark Kiernan 6:00AM (11/03/2009)
I don't see the lure of Ferrari, so they put a V12 into light frame, it goes fast and makes lots of noise, woopy f**king doo. Tesla in my opinion are a company who deserve merit for its achievements, they have produced a cool looking car that is as quick pretty much ICE it doesn't pollute and continually improves. I think Tesla should be credited with bringing EVs mainstream, not directly but be innovating. Ferrari is so 1980s.
ForgedInternals 5:12PM (11/02/2009)
I wish I could edit comments it should read
"Their consumer is going to be looking to show off at the stop lights"
Also Ferrari's parent company Fiat is the one should be looking at AWD Hybrid sytems
Reply
3PeaceSweet 6:19PM (11/02/2009)
Stick a Telsa size electric motor on the rear axle then add a small fiat diesel range extender.
Reply
jill 12:59PM (11/04/2009)
This car will be so sick.
http://www.electroniccigarettesinc.com
Reply
Tubal 6:55PM (11/04/2009)
This isn't a hybrid in the traditional sense.
The electric motors are on the front wheels strictly as a performance enhancement. The rear wheels will still be using traditional ferrari power.
If anything, this is LESS green because of the additional weight. I'm guessing that the electric motors will do little to help with gas mileage, and will most likely not even be running a majority of the time.
Reply
scobb 11:28AM (11/08/2009)
I'm with 3PeaceSweet on the removal of petroleum from the drive process: Go all electric for the drive train and gas/diesel for extension, if needed.
Some folks seem to forget there are several reasons for AWD/4WD, ability to go around corners faster/safer being one, maintaining traction in slick conditions being two (e.g. Ferguson P99 Climax in F1 and Audi Quattro in the Alpine Rally). Getting up, and down, a steep dirt road in the snow is another (e.g. we rely on my wife's Jeep Liberty CRD in 4 Wheel Lo to get off the hill where we live without sliding off the track and down the ravine).
The history of automotive engineering is full of lessons learned from the extremes, applied to the mainstream. The genius of the Tesla folks is that they built a kick-ass electric sports car to grab people's attention and educate them to the fact that EV does not mean the death of enjoyable motoring. In fact, they have created the idea that Tesla = Performance and that is going to be a big factor in the success of the Tesla Sedan. I've had a test drive and I think it's a very impressive family car that could go mainstream.
IMHO one of the big mistakes in the electric vehicle and green car movement has been the notion that there's an small, lightweight, vehicular ideal at the end of this journey and we all have to adopt it as our sole means of transportation, whether we like it or not. I don't own a Prius because a Prius can't get up my drive in winter.
But the right AWD hybrid could make it, and could make driving safer in northern states, just as Subaru AWD gas models have done (there are more Subarus in this part of Upstate New York than any other make).
And if Ferrari is willing to spend money developing technology that makes this happen, that's fine by me. I buy the line that supercar/F1 research helps improve mainstream automotive technology. That said, I'm not excited by this particular approach to AWD hybridization. My EV AWD preference would be electric hub motors on each wheel. This offers almost unlimited possibilities for delivering the right amount of power to any combination of the 4 wheels. Also creates opportunities for improved ground clearance.
Reply