Ferrari confirms of a hybrid-electric 4×4 system

Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

There have been rumors earlier this year (and even leaked patents) of Ferrari’s hybrid-electric all-wheel-drive system, but until lately, the system had not been confirmed. Senior corporate sources have acknowledged that Ferrari is indeed working on an electric driven 4×4 system for use in its future GT cars.

Autocar claims that the all-wheel-drive system will use two electric motors mounted inboards of the front wheels. Opposite of most automakers who are using electric motors for fuel economy, Ferrari will likely target such propulsion to help improve the performance of its front-engine, rear-wheel-drive GT cars. In theory, the motors can provide different amounts of torque to each front wheel, basically acting like a limited-slip differential to help pull the car through corners.

Even though work is being done on the system, Autocar says such a system won’t be available until at least 2014. The magazine also claims such a system will be ready on the 612 Scaglietti’s replacement, although unavailable at the car’s launch. This quiets the rumors about the system possibly debuting on Ferrari’s Enzo successor, which is due sometime in 2012. The system may be revealed at the 2014 Geneva Auto Show.

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Source: autocar.co.uk, motorcrave.com and blogs.automobilemag.com

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