Ferrari Enzo replacement artistic impression

The Ferrari Enzo successor is codenamed F70 or FX70. It seems that Ferrari is planning to shock its fans by replacing the V12 engine with a V8 engine boosted by a turbocharger or two. Sources indicated that Ferrari is developing a V8 and V12 option. The turbo V8 with a staggering 710 hp seems to be winning more points over the naturally aspirated V12 engine which could produce in excess of 800 hp.

The information is not coming from Ferrari, but through a ‘very reliable source.’ So that leaves room for doubts. However, the source is a valued customer and a prospective owner who was contacted by Ferrari seeking his opinion. Upon inquiring what sort of engine the car is going to have, the reply mentioned that it might be a V8. The company also clarified that the engine will not be plagued with turbo lag, which is often associated with turbocharged engines that make it dangerous in the hands of a novice driver. The car will incorporate many of the latest developments in the Ferrari F1 car and also the FXX experiment.

What does this say? It appears Ferrari is getting back to the times where the F40 had a turbo-charged engine. So it will be some kind of mix between the Enzo and the F40 engine setup.

A test mule wearing the body of the current 430 Scuderia was recently spotted being tested.

We will therefore have to wait until 2012 to see what the Italian car maker has come up with.

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A concept car of the Ferrari F70

It’s being hailed as the ultimate, most advanced road car Ferrari has ever made.

Aiming to leave exotic rivals including the Lamborghini Reventon and Bugatti Veyron behind, the ferocious flagship will break from the norm in more than one way. And our stunning illustrations show how such a model could look.

It will not only be quicker and more focused than the Enzo, but smaller, lighter and more fuel efficient too. In addition, the latest rumors suggest a twin-turbo V8 will provide the power. It will be the first use of turbos in a production Ferrari since the 1987 F40, making this the spiritual successor to that definitive supercar.

Internally codenamed the F70, the newcomer will use knowledge gathered from the FXX scheme. This invited customers to buy a pumped-up and stripped-out version of the Enzo for 1.5 million GBP, but allowed them to drive their purchases only on approved track days. Afterwards, they briefed Ferrari on possible improvements.

The philosophy behind this new downsized and lightweight supercar is derived from 2007′s Millechilli concept. Although little more than a fiberglass model, it demonstrated Ferrari’s aim to increase the performance of future models by shedding weight, not by increasing horsepower.

Millechilli means 1,000 kg in Italian. It’s an ambitious target for the F70 kerbweight- a full 365 kg (803 lb) less than the Enzo-but Ferrari is ready to apply every weight-saving measure possible.

Rival McLaren is leading the way in lightweight construction, with an F1-style carbon fiber tub forming the basis of its MP4-12C supercar, so Ferrari wants to regain the initiative in this area.

An overhauled and shrunken tub, carbon fiber body panels-plus carbon-ceramic brakes and a no-frills cabin-should keep weight to a minimum. Ferrari already heads efforts to reduce CO2, having slashed output by 10 percent in 2009. It promises further cuts from its current 387 g/km average by 2012.

But reducing body mass alone won’t be enough to achieve this. To slash CO2 significantly, the engine also needs an advanced design. The Enzo’s V12 will make way for a new direct-injection twin-turbo V8-the same layout as in the legendary F40. Output is likely to be on a par with the Enzo’s 660 bhp, but that lower weight should put performance on another level. Expect a three-second 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) time and top speed in excess of 230 mph (370 km/h).

A twin-turbo V6 is also under consideration, to replace the 458 Italia and California’s V8s. Yet before either unit is signed off, engineers are keen to eliminate turbo lag. The F40 was famous for the delay between throttle inputs and the arrival of a savage wave of torque. But Ferrari claims it won’t resort to turbos again until it’s perfected the technology to give the instant response for which its naturally aspirated cars are renowned.

One option is electric or hybrid chargers. These use a small electric motor to spool the turbos up to operating speeds much faster than in a normal set-up, where exhaust gas has to be recirculated.

The result is a virtual elimination of turbo lag and a linear power delivery that will be familiar to owners of current Ferraris. Just like the Enzo, the F70 will be strictly limited to a production run of 399 examples, adhering to Ferrari’s philosophy of always building one less car than you think you can sell. But not just anyone will be able to put their name on the waiting list. Buyers will need to be personally invited by Ferrari to pay for the expected $1 million (600,000 GBP) asking price when the car goes on sale in 2012.

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Source: autoexpress.co.uk

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.

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

With the new 458 Italia ready to go, the 458 Spider on its way, and the California still fresh on the market, Ferrari is turning its attention from the V8 range to its V12 flagships. CAR sat down with the company’s CEO and managing director Amedeo Felisa, who revealed the full roll-out schedule for not one, not two, but three new V12 supercars currently under development in Maranello.

First to be replaced will be the 612 Scaglietti which has been on the market since 2004. Five years on the market may not seem like a long time, but the Scag hasn’t exactly won the hearts and minds of enthusiasts and customers. And due to this, Ferrari is apparently moving ahead with its replacement, due to hit the market by 2012.

Around the same time, we can expect to see the long-anticipated supercar to follow in the footsteps of the 288 GTO, F40, F50 and Enzo. Although Ferrari has been working on hybrid propulsion and other forms of green technology, those bits won’t be ready by the time the Enzo’s successor rolls around, so expect a more conventional V12 (or possibly twin turbo V8) to drive Maranello’s new benchmark.

So with the supercar already in the works, next up will be the replacement for the 599 GTB Fiorano but that will take a little longer. The two seater GT was just introduced a few years ago and was recently treated to a new HGTE package to keep it ahead of the competition. Though the new 458 Italia is already expected to outrun the Fiorano, and with arch-rival Lamborghini hard at work on a successor to the Murcielago, Ferrari insists it isn’t planning to replace the 599 before 2015.

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Source: zerotohundred.com and autoblog.com