With ever-tightening emission regulations and climbing fuel economy mandates, low volume manufacturers like Ferrari are scrambling to produce cleaner, more fuel efficient cars. Ferrari’s chairman, Luca di Montezemolo, confirmed that the legendary marque will be bringing back a V6 engine option for cars like the California.

Autocar asked Montezemolo about the possibility of a V6-powered Ferrari and he replied, “An engine smaller than a V8? Why not?” Six-cylinder engines are not foreign to the brand, just unexplored in recent years as the company has predominantly moved towards bigger V8, V10, V12 power plants. Montezemolo did add any move towards increased efficiency will not spoil the brand’s amazing heritage.

Ferrari is no stranger to V6 power plants, and supplied 2.0 liter V6 motors to Fiat for the Dino from 1966 to 1969. In 1969, Ferrari changed to a 2.4 liter V6, which was used in the Fiat Dino, the Dino 246 and the legendary Lancia Stratos. In racing trim, power output was 280 horsepower for a normally aspirated Stratos. Turbocharging was allowed in Group 5 competition, and some Stratos race cars made as much as 560 horsepower. Briefly, as reliability proved to be an issue when running massive amounts of boost.

Already the company has begun to employ some technological tools to keep power up while reducing fuel consumption. The California, for example, uses the company’s first direct-injection engine and as Ferrari moves forward with the next generation of engines, focusing on the development period from 2013 to 2016, there’s also the possibility of using a turbocharger or other forced-induction methods to strike a balance between power and economy.

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Source: ridelust.com, green.autoblog.com and motorauthority.com

Ferrari Logo Prancing Horse

Ferrari could put a hybrid car on the market by 2015, according to the automaker’s CEO and General Manager Amedeo Felisa. In an interview with Autocar, Felisa says that either European Union or Italian environmental regulations could force the company to put a hybrid up for sale.

Speaking to Autocar at the last Beijing Motor Show, Felisa had some rather interesting remarks on the future of his company, notably regarding the powerplants needed to meet future emissions and fuel mileage requirements. Says Felisa: “Our customers are looking for the essence of Ferrari-the emotion, the performance, the technology and so on. The way in which we fix emissions is not their problem but ours. If we are not able to fix it, only then will it become a problem for them.”

That’s rational, we’d say. But here’s the point where Felisa’s comment’s seem sure to raise some eyebrows amongst the environmental crowd: “[Hybrid will come in] 2015, if we are forced to by the [government] regulations. The issue of emissions for Ferrari is more a political one than real one. Lowering emissions of every Ferrari will not save the planet, but it will cost us a lot of money…In the next five to 10 years, hybrid technology will develop and maybe something else will come up. Maybe it’ll be hydrogen, but for our cars only hybrid is ready.”

According to Autocar’s quote from Felisa, “Hybrid means we can protect the V12,” suggesting Ferrari believes its unassisted 12-cylinder will live on. Autocar’s theory is that the next Enzo could see its V12 paired with an electric motor to keep the government watchdogs happy. Of course, this contradicts Autocar’s Ferrari piece from about ten days ago when, after speaking with Felisa, it wrote, “Felisa also hinted that the new Ferrari Enzo will be powered by a direct-injected twin-turbo V8 when it is launched in 2012.”

From this perspective you could say that hybrid drivetrains are doing something unimaginable, they are saving the possibility of having a massive V12 engine in the supercar of your dreams.

Felisa said that the only reason behind the company developing hybrids is not to compete with Porsche’s KERS or any other mainstream application but simply to find a loophole in fuel economy that would save their way of thinking up Ferraris of the future.

Currently, Ferrari is only exploring hybrid powertrains to reduce emissions within the next ten years. The company has not ruled out the eventual use of hydrogen.

What do you think about a hybrid Enzo?

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Source: autoblog.com, automotorblog.com and worldcarfans.com

Ferrari Enzo

People are eager to see Ferrari’s replacement for its famous Enzo supercar, and more details about the car are beginning to emerge as it moves along from concept towards production. The latest information comes from Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa, who indicated that the car will in fact use a direct-injected, twin-injected turbocharged V-8.

Ferrari verified it is working on a ”special series Enzo” set to debut in 2012 at Fiat’s five-year business plan. Other details include the use of lots of carbon fiber and no hybrid powertrain. Amedeo Felisa also hinted that the car is going to use a direct-injected, twin-turbocharged V-8, the opposite of earlier reports of the possibility of a twin-turbo V-6 or twin-turbo V-12. Reports indicate the engine will produce around 700 horsepower and use the vehicle’s lower weight for mind-bending performance.

“There are no plans for a six-cylinder engine today. Ferrari will not build a six-cylinder engine until customer attitudes towards smaller engines change,” Felisa told Autocar. “The perception today is that the number of cylinders equates to the possibilities of the car. That is why we are developing hybrid technology that can be applied to our V-8 and V-10 cars. Hybrid means we can protect the V-12.”

The most interesting aspect of Felisa’s statement is the mention of V-10-powered cars–an engine not found in Ferrari’s current lineup, not even in racing. This demostrates Ferrari is planning a V-10 engine for use in a car in the near future. Given Ferrari’s current lineup and the unveiling of the 599 HY-KERS, the future V-10 engine, if used at all, is likely to power Ferrari’s next large grand tourer, the 612 Scaglietti replacement.

Additionally, Felisa confirmed that Ferrari will use carbon fiber to lower the weight of the Enzo successor. “We will only use carbon fiber on very special cars which have a very low rate of production and which are not for everyday use, such as the new Enzo,” he said.

Besides validating that Ferrari will continue to use copious amounts of carbon fiber in its supercars as it did on the Enzo and F50, this shows Ferrari won’t follow rival McLaren’s example of using carbon fiber in its “everyday” cars. McLaren uses a carbon fiber monocoque in its latest MP4-12C roadgoing car. Both BMW and Mercedes-Benz have committed to using carbon fiber extensively in the future as well.

“The fact is that nobody today has a real understanding of what happens if you damage a carbon fiber structure. After 20 or 30 years of use, who knows what state a carbon fiber structure will be in?” Felisa gave as his reason behind limiting the use of carbon fiber to Ferrari’s exotic supercars.

What do you think about the Ferrari Enzo replacement and what Amedeo Felisa has to say about it?

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Source: autocar.co.uk via rumors.automobilemag.com

2010 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

Ferrari won’t be pressured into producing a four-door sports saloon, unlike its rivals Aston Martin and Porsche. “As Enzo Ferrari would say, we will never do four doors,” Amedeo Felisa, Ferrari’s vice general manager, recently told Autocar. “We will keep this tradition.”

Although his company has broken into some new (and unusual) territory with the likes of the 599 HY-KERS hybrid and is using fuel-saving stop-start technology on its cars-which it previously has said that it won’t ever do, Felisa points out the European Union regulates emissions and fuel economy–not the number of doors a vehicle must incorporate.

“We stand 60 years and never needed four doors,” he said. “Frankly speaking, no one is asking for a four-door Ferrari. If you want a four-door Ferrari, we have a Maserati.” He said that one of Ferrari’s strong points has been that its products are kept “in the right way.” He said further that while he can’t categorically state that four doors isn’t right for its image, it’s just not part of its heritage.

On that note, look for a few new four-doors in Maserati’s future. During Fiat’s five-year product plan rollout, it was revealed that a new Quattroporte is in the works, as is a smaller sedan, designed to compete with the BMW M5. No time frame was given for either model offering.

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Source: rumors.automobilemag.com and 4wheelsnews.com

For those hardcore Ferrari owners and collectors-who have a few million to toss around-there is the FXX development program, where Ferrari cleverly uses its client base to test new technologies used in F1 which could carry over to production. The client purchases the car without ever being able to take the car home; however, they have the chance to work closely with Ferrari engineers at dedicated track days providing feedback on the car’s performance and driving characteristics.

Now, I know the Ferrari 599XX is nothing new to many of you as it was launched last year in the Geneva International Motor Show. But since only a handful of Ferrari owners (known as Client Test Drivers) will ever get the chance to get close to one, I thought it would be great to share this Autocar test drive video with you.

The Ferrari 599XX is 10 seconds faster than the Enzo on the Fiorano race track and the price for this supercar, a hefty GBP 1.3 million.

What do you think about the video on the Ferrari 599XX?

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Source: chrisescars.com and brakebanzeen.com

Dino 246 GT

You don’t buy a Ferrari expecting the latest in green technology, but there are signs of environmentally friendly evolution in Maranello.

Not only did Ferrari’s chief executive, Amedeo Felisa, spoke to the British press, he has had several things to say such as that V-6 cars could be in the company’s future and asked about the possibility of V-6-powered Ferraris by Autocar, Mr. Felisa said, “If I had to answer the question a year ago I would have said no, but attitudes are changing and we build cars for customers.” He has said to Autocar in the U.K. saying in regards to the hybridized 599 that the automaker has been testing for quite some time:

“The technology is not ready. The suppliers are not ready. Everything is underdeveloped. There is a lot of work to so. It is not for tomorrow. We haven’t decided when [it will be introduced]. It will be around 2015, but not before five years.”

Luca di Montezemolo, the company’s chairman, also announced recently that it was bringing a hybrid version of the 599 GTB to the 80th Geneva International Motor Show, which runs from March 4-14, 2010. He described the hybrid as “a great path towards the future.”

A Ferrari 599 hybrid model has been in testing for about one year. The vehicle is showing a 25 percent reduction in fuel consumption but that comes with an increase in weight. While a Ferrari hybrid is going to have a smaller impact on the environment, at its core it is still a Ferrari, and Ferraris are known for their performance. This increase in weight may be a deal breaker for Ferrari enthusiasts.

Amedeo Felisa explains that the Italian supercar manufacturer has no plans to introduce electric cars, saying:

“If you look at global warming, the right solution is not full electric. It’s more a marketing solution than a real one. Sound, in the form of a rich exhaust roar, is important to Ferrari,” he said, and the company “will not make engine sounds with speakers.”

The V-6 car, anathema to purists, is probably not imminent – Mr. Felisa said, “In 20 years, who can say?” – but a Ferrari hybrid is definitely coming, though there’s no assurance it will ever see production.

Matteo Sardi, Ferrari North America spokesman, said: “It is going to be a prototype, and it will appear in Geneva. We absolutely think ahead of everybody in technology research, and a hybrid is in line with that.”

The last time Ferrari built a V6 (also used in Fiats and Lancias) was with the Dino 246 (pictured above) that went out of production in over a quarter century ago. The Dino is, however, fondly remembered as a classic, despite its relatively small engine.

The hybrid has long been rumored, especially since the company patented a “four-wheel-drive system with hybrid propulsion a year ago. In that concept, the gas engine and electric motor drive the front or rear wheels separately. In practice, according to Motor Authority, that could enable the driver to switch between rear-and four-wheel-drive, and enable brief spurts of battery-only power. And that, the site said, “will vastly improve Ferrari’s carbon footprint and position in the eyes of environmentalists.”

What do you think of a Ferrari hybrid or a Ferrari with a V-6 engine?

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Source: wheels.blogs.nytimes.com, green.autoblog.com, autoblog.com and mnn.com

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

In addition to unveiling the new 2010 Ferrari F10 Formula 1 car, CEO Luca di Montezemolo used last Thursday morning’s press conference to briefly announce a hybrid version of the company’s 599 GTB Fiorano that will be shown in March at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Though the car at the show will be a prototype, the hybrid 599 is in fact destined for production. The car will be based on technology developed by Ferrari’s F1 team. It is designed by Pininfarina. Rumors of a hybrid Ferrari based on the Ferrari 599 GTB, which debuted at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, have long been making the rounds.

“It has to be the avant-garde in automobile technology. We’re constructing cars with an enormous part of the innovative technology. We’ll present a 599 hybrid in Geneva, which will represent a great path towards the future,” Ferrari Luca di Montezemolo said in Maranello, Italy, at the presentation of the 2010 Formula One Ferrari.

Ferrari filings with the European Patent Office for a “4WD system with hybrid propulsion” were reported last June. Ferrari first disclosed its plan to launch a hybrid to British magazine Autocar also last June, though the company didn’t say when it would first be viewed by the public, but hinted at a release within a year.

The Italian enthusiast magazine Quattroruote first reported last December that the car would be unveiled to the public in Geneva.

At the announcement, which seems appropriate as it was during the 2009 F1 season when Ferrari first began using its Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS)-a kind of mild hybrid system of sorts that captures energy normally lost to braking in a flywheel-was used in actual competition… with mixed results though.

The hybrid we expect will be fitted with a rear-mounted electric motor, lithium-ion battery pack and a street-going version of the KERS Ferrari developed for-but has since dropped from-its Formula 1 cars.

A KERS system recovers energy at one of the car’s axles, rather than in the brakes like most hybrids. As used in racing, it can actually be a performance enhancement, allowing drivers a temporary power boost for a burst of speed and also permits the 612 hp engine to shut down at stop signs.

The hybrid system will decrease overall fuel consumption from around 8.7 miles per gallon to 11.75 miles per gallon with the battery being recharged while the 599 is decelerating. That is about a 35 percent savings in fuel.

Ferrari has already produced a car that can run on biofuel. The ethanol-gulping F430 debuted at the Detroit Auto Show in January of 2008.

Also at the unveiling of the new F1 car event, di Montezemolo mentioned that the automaker will continue to adapt F1 technology for its street vehicles. Ferrari will also continue to look for ways to improve their car’s efficiency as part of the board’s plan to make the company more sustainable.

It was announced also last week that there is the driving debut of the Ferrari 599XX. Seven owners of the car will have them delivered to Spain’s Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia, where they’ll get to drive them for the first time. Upon arriving at the track, the 599XXs will be fitted for their drivers, then the owners will be familiarized with the cars with the aid of individual Ferrari instructors before being let loose on the circuit. Because the 599XX is not approved for any major safety standards, it is reserved for off-highway use only.

What do you think about a Ferrari 599 Hybrid?

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Source: motorauthority.com, worldcarfans.com, blogs.edmunds.com, rumors.automobilemag.com, fwd.five.tv, seekingalpha.com, usnews.rankingsandreviews.com, luxist.com, news.cnet.com, motorcrave.com, and wot.motortrend.com

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

The green revolution in the automobile industry is making its impact on every manufacturer, every single one, including Ferrari. Possibly as a result of this, Ferrari’s first road-going hybrid is getting ready to be displayed next March at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The report comes from a magazine ‘Quattroruote’ which belongs to the automaker’s homeland itself. According to them, the hybrid will be based on the 599 GTB Fiorano.

The January issue of the Italian magazine reports that the Ferrari’s new hybrid concept will use a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS). It is a technology that was successfully implemented by the company in Formula One race cars this past season. The KERS set up will consist of a lithium ion battery pack and the power electronics which are mounted on either side of the rear transaxle. The electric motor will be incorporated into the transaxle itself.

The functions of the KERS system are various. It will enhance the 599 GTB with features such as automatic start-stop functionality, regenerative braking and also a feature to provide an electric boost of energy whenever possible. Overall the system is expected to boost the fuel economy and the city mpg by more than 30%. As a result, the fuel economy rises from the current 8.7 mpg to around 13.8 mpg. These features when combined with the V-12 engine of the 599 must make a superb hybrid.

So it looks like what has been a rumor for a while might finally be exposed. Autocar magazine from England said last month that Ferrari has a hybrid system in the pipeline for 2014, due to be seen in the successor to the 612 Scaglietti. The system that Autocar mentioned is different from the one described here. Autocar said that system would use an electric motor inboard of the front wheels as a way to improve handling, and that there was no consideration given to fuel economy.

Perhaps Ferrari chose to abandon this system or perhaps Autocar was just wrong.

We’ll find out soon enough though.

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Source: nitrobahn.com and automoblog.net

Ferrari F40

Ferrari is hard at work trying to refine the turbocharging process so that future products will use the high-horsepower, low emissions (and low weight) technology. According to a report in the U.K.’s Autocar, Ferrari engine chief Jean-Jacques His confirmed that the company is preparing to use turbochargers, but that it will take time to develop a new version that will mitigate the efforts of turbo lag. This confirms the patent drawings that leaked out earlier this year revealing a developmental two-stage turbocharging system from Ferrari.

Conventionally, turbos take time to spool up to full power, but that doesn’t suit the Ferrari way of doing things. Instead, Ferrari has traditionally opted for naturally aspirated (non-turbocharged or supercharged) engines that deliver better throttle response and a more linear delivery of power. His told Autocar that a delay of any sort in the power delivery was simply unacceptable.

A few years ago Porsche introduced variable turbine geometry (VTG) turbos that helped reduce turbo lag significantly, but apparently even that impressive technology is not enough for Ferrari. The company has also dismissed using Fiat Group’s new MultiAir variable valve system, finding that it wouldn’t work at the kinds of revs and horsepower outputs at which Ferrari engines operate.

Ferrari has used turbos sparily across its model range over the years, including most recently-during the turbo era in F1, the iconic F40 supercar (pictured above), which was last made in 1992 (and the 288 GTO before it) which were powered by a twin-turbo V8s. The legendary F40 supercar has a 2.9L turbo V8 that produces 478 hp with 16 psi of boost and sends it to 60 mph (97 km/h) in the mid-three second range.

Another bit of info gleaned from the interview is that Ferrari’s new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, which debuted in the Ferrari California, is suitable for V12 engines since they can operate up to 10,000 rpm, meaning that we’re likely to see this new technology arrive in the successor to the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti and other future V12 models.

What do you think about a turbocharged Ferrari?

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Source: autoguide.com, autoblog.com and wot.motortrend.com

Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

There is another rumor about a hybrid Ferrari. The British magazine Autocar says “senior officials” at the Scuderia have confirmed they’re hard at work on an all-wheel-drive gas-electric drivetrain that will appear in the successor to the 612 Scaglietti. This has been said before, but this time around Ferrari’s offered a deadline for the technology-2014.

Word that Ferrari was considering hybrid tech first came more than a year ago when company boss Amedeo Felisa told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport “a hybrid solution will come.” The rumor mill kicked into overdrive last summer when Autocar got its hands on patent drawings of a hybrid all-wheel-drive system that uses an electric motor to drive one set of wheels and a gasoline engine to drive the other.

The system is designed to maximize handling, not fuel efficiency. Autocar’s sources say the all-wheel drive system will use motors mounted inboard of the front wheels. The idea is having electric motors up front will improve acceleration and handling because the torque sent to the wheels can be “carefully controlled.”

In a separate report, Autocar says Maranello also is looking at turbochargers but so far isn’t satisfied with the systems it has tested. “Turbocharging will come eventually, but we need to solve the issue of turbo lag,” engine developer Jean-Jacques His told Autocar.

And, as His so eloquently put it, any delay in a Ferrari’s power delivery is simply unacceptable.

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Source: wired.com