Ferrari's director general: "A hybrid Ferrari will come"
Turns out the Ferrari importer we quoted recently was wrong; Ferrari will make a hybrid. Here is Ferrari's Director General Amedeo Felisa in an interview with Auto Motor and Sport (pardon the rough Google translation of the article from German to English):The CO2-Diskussion achieved even more sports car manufacturers. How important is the issue of hybrid you?
Felisa: A hybrid solution will come. We see the hybrid but also dynamic aspects. Besides which: From now on, every new model is more economical than its predecessor.
I think Amedeo is asked next if the Enzo will be a hybrid and he replies "no. The main focus of Enzo - successor will be on his performance." Amedeo also had a few words to say about diesel too (again, pardon the Google translation from German to English):
If the diesel an alternative?
Felisa: diesel models achieve extraordinary performance. But their power-to-weight is bad. We achieve our consumption targets without diesel.
Amedeo also says "we reduce the weight through a clever chassis architecture. Less weight equal to less consumption. " On behalf of all the green car lovers out there, YIPPIE!
Update: Patrik posted a very good translation of the interview in comments.
[Source: Auto Motor and Sport via tipster Patrik]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
detroit9000 12:33PM (12/05/2007)
Ferrari makes fast red race cars. If hybrid is legal and faster, they will use it. If it is a rule of a series, they will use it. Otherwise, they will not use it.
If you want to win races, you have to be economical.
It's pretty straightforward. I don't perceive any malice or laziness w/r/t the environment in Ferrari's plan. If you don't like their plan, chances are you don't like the kind of racing they're in.
If Fiat were to come out and say they has some categorical bar against hybrid, then I guess I'd be surprised.
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Patrik K 12:34PM (12/05/2007)
I can translate the original article for you if you want and if that is legal:)
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Lascelles Linton 2:33PM (12/05/2007)
Patrik K, That would be great. I think it's legal. To be careful, you could just give us a summary of things the Google translation may have missed.
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Phil L. 12:47PM (12/05/2007)
More importantly, Ferrari has always been driven by racing. They've built cars for sale - but it has always been to support their racing efforts, whether through design and development or just revenue (yes, there have been some forgettable, rust-prone cars with the prancing horse logo built merely to raise money).
This raises the possibility that if some of the big-name racing series rules change to favor non-traditional drivetrains, automakers like Ferrari will build cars to meet those regulations.
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Patrik K 1:01PM (12/05/2007)
Phil L, you are spot on, F1 will allow/ require energy recovery systems starting 2009.
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Phil L. 2:51PM (12/05/2007)
Patrik K -
Yes, I recall reading about the F1 energy recovery system rule change.
I'd like to see what will happen as more hybrid and EV technologies mature. Suppose F1 tweaked their rules to encourage cars with these technologies? We've already seen the surge of development in Le Mans/ALMS with the rule changes in regard to diesel.
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Patrik K 8:04PM (12/05/2007)
Q: The CO2 discussion has reached sportscar manufacturers. How important is the subject of hybrids to you?
AF: A hybrid solution will come. We are looking at hybrids also from a performance point of view. Anyhow: From now on, every new model has to use less fuel than its predecessor.
Q: Will the successor of the Enzo come with this technology?
AF: No. The main focus of the successor to the Enzo will be performance.
Q: Is a supercharged six cylinder an option for the future?
FA: Everybody thinks of a six-cylinder engine as an entry-level engine. We are instead working on a supercharged eight-cylinder engine in order to reach our emission goals of a reduction in CO2 of 40% till the year 2012.
Q: Is diesel an alternative for you?
AF: Diesel cars reach remarkable performance levels. But their power-to-weight ration is less than ideal. We will reach our mpg goals without using diesel engines.
Q: So far, every new Ferrari has been bigger than its predecessor. Haven't the limits [of growth] been reached?
AF: For the 360 Modena, we wanted a more spacious interior than we had in the 355. The 599 GTB Fiorano grew bigger because we had moved the engine behind the front axle. Additionally, it's got a bigger trunk. But from now on, we want to keep or even reduce exterior dimensions without reducing perceived interior spaciousness.
Q: Weight has also gone up.
AF: We are lowering the weight through clever chassis-architecture. Less weight equals more mpg.
Q: Increasing engine torque is becoming more and more difficult to put on the road. What about your plans for all wheel drive?
AF: Seven years ago, we did 4x4 studies for the F430. All wheel drive gives you more traction, but it also adds up to 200lbs of weight. You drive with that extra weight every day, even though it only gives you an advantage on wet surfaces. On dry surfaces, we can reach the performance of all wheel drive. Weight distribution and tires are more important.
Q: And body options, like a four door coupe?
AF: This is one area where we don't compromise: We build two door cars and we will stay in this segment.
Q: That means there won't be an SUV?
AF: Nope. An SUV would be a possibility for Maserati. We have different ideas [for the future].
Q: Are you referring to the front engined V8 model you are going to unveil next year?
AF: No comment.
Q: You are not saying no?
AF: I am not saying yes, either. We are, as always, trying to increase our product range.
Q: Are you developing these ideas together with Maserati?
AF: No, we don't believe that there could be a common platform for both brands, apart from the engines.
Q: What about a 599 convertible?
AF: Even though there is no 599 convertible in the pipeline as of now, we considered that option when we were developing the car. We would probably rather be talking about a limited series like the Superamerica.
What about a light-weight 599?
AF: Probably not, that would be too close to the F430 Scuderia.
Q: We are expecting the successor of the F430 in 2010. Will it again be mid-engined?
AF: For the successor of the F430, we will be faithful to the mid-engine concept. Also for the successor of the Enzo, by the way.
Q: How is Ferrari developing the theme of everyday usability? Even the Scuderia can be quite comfortable.
FA: New models will have to perform better than their predecessors, while at the same time be more usable for everyday driving. But not at the expense of performance. We have been very successful with this strategy so far: In the early nineties, our customers drove an average of 3000 kilometers annually, now this figure is up to 10'000.
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Lascelles Linton 10:48PM (12/05/2007)
Patrik, Thank you again! I updated the article with a direct link to your comment.
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