The chairman of Ferrari says he does not believe in electric cars and that his company will never make one.

Luca di Montezemolo’s comments will anger many who say electric cars offer the only environmentally-friendly future for the industry.

He said: “I don’t feel they represent an important step forward for [fighting] pollution, CO2 and the environment.”

He said instead that the company was working on other alternatives.

“We are working very, very hard on the hybrid Ferrari,” he said.

“This should be the future and I hope in a couple of years you’ll see it.”

More efficient Ferraris

Despite a slow take up of electric motor technology the car industry has over recent years begun to invest heavily in it.

Nissan is one of the big manufacturers to commit to the idea with its Leaf design one of the first to go into mass production.

German car maker BMW is among the latest to announce its plans.

It recently unveiled two new models which will launch its new electric motoring division BMWi.

The i3 is an all-electric small city car, while the i8, a powerful sports car, combines an electric motor with a three-cylinder combustion engine.

Despite dismissing a fully electric model di Montezemolo says he is ready to embrace any technology that will make Ferraris more efficient.

“We have improved fuel consumption 30% and we are working day and night in this direction,” he said.

“[Also] the KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) that we are using in Formula 1 is an innovation that we will put in our cars very soon.”

Do you think that electric cars are an important step forward for fighting pollution, CO2 and the environment? Do you agree with Luca di Montezemolo?

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Source: bbc.co.uk

At last, we get to know what Ferrari has in plans for its future. At a private press gathering in central London, CEO Luca di Montezemolo discussed Ferrari past, present and future as well as confirmed that an ‘open-top 599′ would debut at the Pebble Beach Concours in California this August.

These images above and below show how the 599 could look. It’s likely to be fitted with some roof mechanisms but it’s believed that the technology developed for the 575 Superamerica in 2005 fits the bill. The limited-run car features an electric roof section that flips back over the rear windscreen.

To handle the added weight, the car gets a 25bhp power increase. Montezemolo also revealed that the roadster will have a “very romantic name.” However, he said that the Superamerica badge won’t be used.

Some valued customers requested that the open-top 599 be produced as part of an extremely limited production run. With regards to Ferrari’s hybrid plans, di Montezezmolo said that the future for Ferrari will be built on the hybrid for the 12-cylinder and new [turbocharged] technology for the eight-cylinder.

Montezemolo also said that three or four years from now, the company will be ready with a V12 hybrid based on the HY-KERS concept. What this comes down to is that the replacement for the Enzo, as well as the next 599 GTB Fiorano and 612 Scaglietti, will feature smaller-capacity V12s coupled to electric motors to raise efficiency. Meanwhile, future Ferrari V8s will be focusing on conventional turbo power to follow the performance and CO2 emissions targets.

What do you think about an open-top Ferrari 599 roadster and Ferrari’s plans for V12 hybrids & turbocharged V8s for the future? 

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Source: 4wheelsnews.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 599 GTO

This grainy picture claims to show the upcoming GTO version of the Ferrari 599.

The Ferrari 599 GTO was expected to be shown earlier this month at the Geneva International Motor Show, but instead Ferrari revealed a hybrid version of the V12-powered supercar. It’s supposedly will be publicly unveiled in September at the 2010 Paris Auto Show.

The peculiar thing is Ferrari’s reuse of the GTO tag hasn’t been applied to one of Ferrari’s road cars since the launch of the much-revered 288 GTO in 1984. Nevertheless, Ferrari 599 GTO will be a lightweight version of the 599 GTB Fiorano.

The GTO (translated as Gran Turismo Omologato) will be a more focused version of the 599 than the current GTB and HGTE models, and was confirmed by Ferrari boss Amedeo Felisa on a trip to Australia last month.

This model will have a 6.0-liter V12 engine derived from the Ferrari Enzo. Power will likely be north of 650 bhp, with a similar rise in torque and performance.

Weight will be reduced to less than 3,630 lb (1,650 kg), and the car will likely feature the higher performing ferous iron brake pad technology pioneered on the hardcore 599XX model plus, perhaps, the more aggressive gear shift software and certain elements of the aerodynamic upgrades seen on the 599XX. The new model will feature a set of carbon-fiber exterior panels and a stripped-out interior and specially developed alloy wheels.

This car is capable of racing from 0-60 mph in just 3.3 seconds which is 0.3 seconds faster than the Enzo. With a top speed at 210 mph, this model is limited to 500 editions only and will cost around a half a million dollars.

What do you think about the picture of the Ferrari 599 GTO?

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Picture used courtesy of FastLane Daily.

Source: autocar.co.uk, automotto.org, and mibz.com

Red-colored Ferrari 599 GTO test mule

Spy photographers over at Arthomobiles managed to get a few photos recently of a few Ferrari test mules running around outside the factory. The car’s are believed to be mules for the expected 599 GTO or could be for the hybrid 599 that we know is due to be unveiled at this years Geneva International Motor Show.

The photos themselves are stunning quality and depict three different colors-red, blue and black. The reasons why we think this is more likely to be the GTO than the hybrid stem from the visual similarities that the red car shares with the 599XX project; most notably, the matte black roof.

Whatever these cars may represent, it’s obvious that Ferrari are testing each of them to their limits.

What do you think about the spy shots of the three different colored Ferrari 599 GTO test mules?

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Blue-colored Ferrari 599 GTO test mule

Black-colored Ferrari 599 GTO test mule

Source: gtspirit.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 Enzo

Down under in Australia the launch of a brand new Ferrari and Maserati dealership in Sydney, Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa has revealed some of the automaker’s future projects, confirming plans for the revival of the legendary GTO badge as well as the replacement for the Enzo supercar.

Putting the recent global financial crisis well behind it, Ferrari will be launching a number of new models in the coming years, starting off with the brand new 458 Italia. Felisa confirmed this model would be followed by a 458 Spider convertible next year but said there were no plans for a track-focused ‘Scuderia’ version just yet.

He went on to disclose that the 599 Hybrid set for next month’s 2010 Geneva International Motor show isn’t destined for production, although the limited edition 599 GTO is. Speaking with GoAuto, Felisa said early hybrid prototypes are already showing improvements in fuel economy of more than 25% but stressed that the technology is just not ready for production and likely won’t be for another five years.

“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 that period [2015], but not before five years,” Felisa explained. In the meantime, Ferrari will launch milder fuel saving technologies, such as cylinder deactivation, engine stop-start and electrically-powered auxiliary systems to take the load off the engine. The first of these systems will appear in the California next year.

As for the new GTO based on the 599, Felisa said the car “is coming” and in the process revive the legendary three letter badge last used on the 288 GTO almost a quarter century ago. Similar in theory to the 430 Scuderia and the 360 Challenge Stradale before that, the new 599 GTO is essentially a lighter and more hardcore version of the regular V-12 powered 599 GTB.

The story doesn’t end there as Felisa also confirmed the news we have all been salivating about for months-a replacement for the Enzo supercar is in development. He said it will be available in left-hand drive only and designed with all the characteristics Ferrari is famous for, which we can safely interpret as being loud, fast and bursting with Italian flair.

What do you think about the future models coming from Ferrari?

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Source: motorauthority.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