Autoblog Green http://green.autoblog.com Autoblog Green http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog Green http://green.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.<![CDATA[Ferrari reportedly confirms all-wheel drive hybrid system]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/02/ferrari-reportedly-confirms-all-wheel-drive-hybrid-system/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/02/ferrari-reportedly-confirms-all-wheel-drive-hybrid-system/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/02/ferrari-reportedly-confirms-all-wheel-drive-hybrid-system/#commentsFiled under: ,


Ferrari 612 replacement test mule - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's long been suspected that Ferrari was hard at work developing a hybrid powertrain for its line of supercars and grand touring machines, especially since a series of patents were located proving that the Italian automaker had at least sketched plans for such a system. Still, Ferrari had never confirmed such rumors.

But, according to Autocar in the UK, an unnamed source tells the British magazine that the hybrid drivetrain will debut on the next-gen 612 (could the recently-spotted long-wheelbase 612 be a hybrid mule?) with a pair of torque-laden electric motors that will be connected to the front wheels. Ferrari's traditional V12 or possibly a turbocharged V8 engine would send power to the GT car's rear wheels.

As befitting an automobile wearing the coveted Prancing Horse badge, Ferrari is said to be using the system to benefit handling and not to improve fuel efficiency. Whatever the case, we'll surely know more by 2014 or so when Ferrari is actually expected to have the hybrid ready for production.



[Source: Autocar]

Ferrari reportedly confirms all-wheel drive hybrid system originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ferrariFerrari 612ferrari 612 scagliettiferrari hybridFerrari612Ferrari612ScagliettiFerrariHybridhybridhybrid ferrarihybrid ferrari 612HybridFerrariHybridFerrari612Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:14:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Ferrari Hybrid to get V12 powerplant]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/09/15/report-ferrari-hybrid-to-get-v12-powerplant/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/09/15/report-ferrari-hybrid-to-get-v12-powerplant/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/09/15/report-ferrari-hybrid-to-get-v12-powerplant/#commentsFiled under: ,

Ferrari Millechile concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Over the next few years, we're expecting pretty much every automaker in the world to address its fuel consumption and overall emissions in the face of increased scrutiny from both the public and the various national governments. Even supercar makers like Lamborghini and Ferrari are likely to introduce hybrid models, probably somewhere around the 2015 model year.

Fans of the Italian automaker from Maranello need not worry that their favorite brand has lost the plot when it comes to making performance cars. Speaking to Autocar at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Ferrari's Amadeo Felisa says that future Prancing Horse models will continue pushing the boundaries of horsepower with its trademark V12 engines. Interestingly, those V12 engines will even power the company's hybrid cars, though we can also expect turbocharged V8 powerplants.

The Ferrari California is slated to get stop/start technology starting in March of 2010, and Felisa suggests that this is the model that the automaker will use to introduce further innovations. We'll see how quickly that includes hybrid powertrains soon enough.



[Source: Autocar]

REPORT: Ferrari Hybrid to get V12 powerplant originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ferrariferrari hybridFerrariHybridhybrid sportscarhybrid supercarHybridSportscarHybridSupercarTue, 15 Sep 2009 16:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Ferrari, Alpina lead supercar race to not-quite-as-high CO<sub>2</sub> levels]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/09/15/ferrari-alpina-lead-supercar-race-to-not-quite-as-high-co-sub-2/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/09/15/ferrari-alpina-lead-supercar-race-to-not-quite-as-high-co-sub-2/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/09/15/ferrari-alpina-lead-supercar-race-to-not-quite-as-high-co-sub-2/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Ferrari F430 Spider Bio-Fuel - Click above for high-res image gallery

CO2 emission numbers for cars from companies like Ferrari and Aston Martin are, to a Prius or clean diesel fan, pretty much a joke. Bentleys, for example, average over 400 grams of CO2 per kilometer. There are even some luxury vehicles that can put the supercars to shame, like the Mercedes-Benz S 500 Hybrid - with just 74 grams per km - shows. Still, if you start out ridiculously dirty, there's a lot of room to clean up. This cleaning process is what JATO recently measured in a study of supercar company CO2 emission reductions. The average improvements are pretty big.

Ferrari came out on top by dropping 40.4 g/km, followed by Lamborghini with 39.1 g/km. When ranked by percentage difference, Alpina took top honors with 14.1 percent, with Porsche's 10.6 percent improvement good enough for second place. Maserati decided to ignore the issue and actually increased average emissions by 20.9 g/km. We're clear eyed enough to realize that the small volume and limited miles driven in these supercars means that, overall, their tailpipes don't have much of an impact on the environment, but it's good to see improvements being made anyway. Well, except for those Maserati's. There's a table with all the numbers after the jump.

[Source: JATO Consult]

Continue reading Ferrari, Alpina lead supercar race to not-quite-as-high CO2 levels

Ferrari, Alpina lead supercar race to not-quite-as-high CO2 levels originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>co2 emissionco2 emissionsco2 reductionsCo2EmissionCo2EmissionsCo2Reductionsemissionsfalseferrarigrams per kilometerGramsPerKilometermaseratiTue, 15 Sep 2009 14:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Ferrari CEO outlines green plan, hybrid concept could debut at LA show]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/06/08/ferrari-ceo-outlines-green-plan-hybrid-concept-could-debut-at-l/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/06/08/ferrari-ceo-outlines-green-plan-hybrid-concept-could-debut-at-l/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/06/08/ferrari-ceo-outlines-green-plan-hybrid-concept-could-debut-at-l/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ferrari F430 Spider Bio-Fuel at NAIAS 2008 - Click above for a high-res image gallery

While the intertubes are abuzz with Lamborghini's announcement of a comprehensive carbon emissions reduction plan, arch-rival Ferrari is keen to show it's keeping pace as the company's CEO has reportedly indicated the direction Maranello is heading with regards to its greenification.

Two approaches that Ferrari chief executive Amadeo Felisa confirmed the company is looking into include turbocharging and E85 bio-ethanol. Regarding the former, Felisa assures that the weight of Ferrari's technical know-how will be thrown into ensuring that turbocharged engines retain Ferrari's trademark high-revving feel, while he revealed that the ECU on the company's latest model, the California, is already ready to burn E85. Beyond turbos and corn-fuel, Felisa also revealed that they're working on a hybrid concept, likely to incorporate the F1-derived KERS regenerative braking system, to debut at an upcoming auto show in the United States following the Frankfurt show in September where Ferrari is expected to debut the replacement for the F430 line. Sources suggest Los Angeles as a strong possibility for the hybrid Ferrari's debut.

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Ferrari F430 BioFuel


[Source: Car and Driver]

Ferrari CEO outlines green plan, hybrid concept could debut at LA show originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amadeo felisaAmadeoFelisaferrariferrari bio-fuelferrari ceoferrari e85ferrari ethanolferrari hybridferrari turboferrari turbochargeFerrariBio-fuelFerrariCeoFerrariE85FerrariEthanolFerrariHybridFerrariTurboFerrariTurbochargeMon, 08 Jun 2009 12:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Ferrari files patents for all-wheel drive hybrid!]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/05/22/ferrari-files-patents-for-all-wheel-drive-hybrid/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/05/22/ferrari-files-patents-for-all-wheel-drive-hybrid/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/05/22/ferrari-files-patents-for-all-wheel-drive-hybrid/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Ferrari four-wheel-drive hybrid patent images - Click above for an image gallery

We've known for quite some time that Ferrari was working on a hybrid sportscar, so it's not too surprising to see these patents for a new four-wheel-drive vehicle with hybrid propulsion filed by Ferrari back in February. The Italian automaker's documents suggest that this particular design is intended to "improve the drivability of a sports car in conditions of poor grip," not necessarily to improve the vehicle's overall environmental friendliness.

Ferrari outlines four possible ways it could introduce its hybrid technology and illustrates the design with six individual diagrams, which you can see below. In each of these possible designs, one set of wheels would be powered by the car's internal combustion engine through a locking differential, while the other set of wheels would be motivated by either a single electric motor or by two smaller in-wheel electric motors.

Ferrari believes a system such as this could provide the advantages of all-wheel drive while keeping the weight low and allowing the driver to choose standard rear-wheel drive when desirable. Of course, depending on the on-board batteries used in such a system, the car could potentially be powered solely on electricity under certain circumstances, reducing fuel consumption and lowering overall emissions. Click here to see the actual patent filing and check out the images in our gallery below.

Gallery: Ferrari all-wheel-drive hybrid patent images


[Source: European Patent Office via Autocar]

Ferrari files patents for all-wheel drive hybrid! originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 22 May 2009 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all wheel drive ferrariall wheel drive hybridall-wheel driveall-wheel drive hybridAll-wheelDriveAll-wheelDriveHybridAllWheelDriveFerrariAllWheelDriveHybridferrariferrari hybridFerrariHybridfour wheel drive ferrarifour wheel drive hybridFourWheelDriveFerrariFourWheelDriveHybridhybrid ferrarihybrid ferrari patentHybridFerrariHybridFerrariPatentFri, 22 May 2009 18:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Only four cars to run KERS at Monaco Grand Prix]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/05/20/only-four-cars-to-run-kers-at-monaco-grand-prix/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/05/20/only-four-cars-to-run-kers-at-monaco-grand-prix/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/05/20/only-four-cars-to-run-kers-at-monaco-grand-prix/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The ongoing debate among Formula one teams over whether to run kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) continues as those teams head to the streets of Monaco this weekend. While as many as eight cars have used the new hybrid systems at races earlier this year, only four are expected to use it this week. Only the cars of Ferrari and McLaren have committed to running KERS in Monaco.

The KERS system adds weight to the car but Ferrari says its F60 was designed and weight balanced around the system so removing it would yield little benefit. The tight Monaco course makes passing extremely difficult and qualifying well critical. It's possible that running KERS will allow Ferrari to get some advantage when not running in traffic for qualifying.

Because the current rules limit how much KERS boost can be used per lap, the extra acceleration doesn't help much at a track like Monaco. Other teams are more skeptical about the KERS benefits at Monaco and have opted not to install the system.

[Source: Ferrari, F1-Live]

Continue reading Only four cars to run KERS at Monaco Grand Prix

Only four cars to run KERS at Monaco Grand Prix originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 20 May 2009 12:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>formula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOnekerskinetic energykinetic energy recov...kinetic energy recovery systemKineticEnergyKineticEnergyRecov...KineticEnergyRecoverySystemWed, 20 May 2009 12:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Ferrari 599XX may not have hybrid powertrain now, likely will in the future]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/04/28/ferrari-599xx-may-not-have-hybrid-powertrain-now-likely-will-in/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/04/28/ferrari-599xx-may-not-have-hybrid-powertrain-now-likely-will-in/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/04/28/ferrari-599xx-may-not-have-hybrid-powertrain-now-likely-will-in/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Ferrari 599XX - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Ferrari has just unleashed some fresh details about its ridiculously powerful 599XX prototype, and there's nary a hint of hybrid terminology. The Italian supercar manufacturer only says that its track car puts out 700 horsepower at a stratospheric 9,000 RPM. Regardless, the internet rumormill still suggests that the car's future development will include road-going versions of the kinetic energy recovery system that Ferrari is currently running in the Formula 1 racing series - without much success up to this point, we may add.

Even in lieu of hybrid componentry, Ferrari is still seeking to improve the efficiency of its future supercars through the use of lightweight materials like carbon fiber. This composite material is used extensively on the 599XX prototype, including for its outer body panels, engine intake plenums and brake pads. Also new is an adjustable "ActiflowT" system that can vary downforce and drag, which could be a boon for both performance and efficiency. See the full press release after the break.



[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Ferrari 599XX may not have hybrid powertrain now, likely will in the future

Ferrari 599XX may not have hybrid powertrain now, likely will in the future originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ferrariferrari 599xxferrari hybridferrari kersFerrari599xxFerrariHybridFerrariKersTue, 28 Apr 2009 14:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Confirmed: Ferrari going hybrid]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/03/04/confirmed-ferrari-going-hybrid/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/03/04/confirmed-ferrari-going-hybrid/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/03/04/confirmed-ferrari-going-hybrid/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for gallery of the Ferrari 599XX

One of the stated reasons that automakers send prototype race cars around tracks at high rates of speed is to further the development of new technology for their road-going automobiles. There's no higher form of automotive motorsport than Formula 1, so it stands to reason that fuel-saving advancements like the kinetic energy recovery hybrid systems that F1 is currently in the midst of implementing will someday make it into production cars. According to Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, the Italian automaker is in fact testing its KERS system in a prototype based on the 599 chassis.

There's some speculation that the Dale Earnhardt edition 599XX at the Geneva Motor Show may have some form of the KERS system installed, but that's not confirmed. With this technology, energy that would otherwise be lost to braking can be stored and reused the next time the vehicle accelerates, thereby boosting both performance and efficiency, and that's something we can all get behind.


[Source: Motor Authority]

Confirmed: Ferrari going hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingferrariferrari 599xxferrari hybridFerrari599xxFerrariHybridgenevageneva 2009geneva motor showGeneva2009GenevaMotorShowkerskinetic energykinetic energy recovery systemKineticEnergyKineticEnergyRecoverySystemWed, 04 Mar 2009 12:39:00 EST<![CDATA[High Performance, Higher Education: Ferrari estalishes lightweight research lab at Italian university]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/02/18/high-performance-higher-education-ferrari-estalishes-lightweig/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/02/18/high-performance-higher-education-ferrari-estalishes-lightweig/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/02/18/high-performance-higher-education-ferrari-estalishes-lightweig/#commentsFiled under: ,


Ferrari technical training center pictured above for illustrative purposes

If there's one thing on which treehuggers and tire-smokers can agree on, it's the need to reduce weight in vehicles. It hurts performance and it hurts fuel efficiency. Few know that as well as Ferrari, which has just taken things to another level by dedicating a new research lab at the University of Modena and Regio Emilia.

Called the Mille Chili lab, it bears the same name and the same purpose as the lightweight concept car which the sportscar-maker unveiled in 2007. In the new lab, students will work with faculty members and Ferrari engineers to find new ways of reducing weight in automobiles, which is something we can all get behind, whether your banner color is red or green. Details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading High Performance, Higher Education: Ferrari estalishes lightweight research lab at Italian university

High Performance, Higher Education: Ferrari estalishes lightweight research lab at Italian university originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ferrariferrari researchFerrariResearchlight weightLightWeightmille chiliMilleChiliuniversity of modena and regio emiliaUniversityOfModenaAndRegioEmiliaWed, 18 Feb 2009 08:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Ferrari tested at least three different KERS configurations in F1 car]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/ferrari-tested-at-least-three-different-kers-configurations-in-f/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/ferrari-tested-at-least-three-different-kers-configurations-in-f/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/ferrari-tested-at-least-three-different-kers-configurations-in-f/#commentsFiled under: ,



Ferrari reportedly tested at least three different kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) configurations on its Formula One cars during 2008 and was dissatisfied with all of them. The most unusual setup involved mounting the batteries in the nose of the car. From a weight distribution standpoint, this was considered the most desirable approach. Unfortunately, this layout caused problems and required running the high voltage wires alongside the cockpit. The front-mounted battery also caused issues with the front wing which is critical to the performance of modern F1 cars.

A system that was developed with Magnetti Marelli had technical problems and a third different configuration simply didn't provide the required performance benefit. Ferrari engineers also encountered one of the big problems that engineers on road-going hybrid systems have to deal with: learning to blend friction and regenerative braking. This is no easy task on road cars and, given the performance required of these race cars, it must be particularly difficult.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Ferrari tested at least three different KERS configurations in F1 car originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ferrariferrari kersFerrariKerskerskinetickinetic energykinetic energy recovery systemKineticEnergyKineticEnergyRecoverySystemFri, 30 Jan 2009 16:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Ferrari goes green with rooftop solar installation]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/21/ferrari-goes-green-with-rooftop-solar-installation/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/21/ferrari-goes-green-with-rooftop-solar-installation/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/21/ferrari-goes-green-with-rooftop-solar-installation/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above to enlarge the Ferrari solar roof

What's red, green and Italian all at the same time? That would be the rooftop solar installation that Ferrari has recently installed on its Engine Mechanical Machining facility in Maranello, Italy. The system, created and installed by a company called EnerRay, features a total of 1,075 solar modules from Mitsubishi Electric that provide 213,985 kWh of power per year. Nobody in their right mind is going to argue that Ferraris are green cars (strike that, there are a few...), but the Italian automaker has indeed been working on technologies like direct injection, dual clutch gearboxes, biofuels, weight reduction and hybrids, and it's doing what it can to reduce the environmental impact of its facilities as well. In addition to the solar roof, Ferrari claims around 165,000 square meters of green areas in its buildings and claims to have planted more than 200 trees in the last six months alone.

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Ferrari goes green with rooftop solar installation

Ferrari goes green with rooftop solar installation originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ferrariferrari solarferrari solar roofFerrariSolarFerrariSolarRoofrooftop solar ferrarirooftop solar panelsRooftopSolarFerrariRooftopSolarPanelsWed, 21 Jan 2009 12:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Ferrari to fund 6 research programs including CO<sub>2</sub> and weight reduction]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/16/ferrari-to-fund-6-research-programs-including-co2-and-weight-red/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/16/ferrari-to-fund-6-research-programs-including-co2-and-weight-red/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/16/ferrari-to-fund-6-research-programs-including-co2-and-weight-red/#commentsFiled under: ,

Ferrari may not be the biggest automaker out there but that doesn't mean the Italian exotic car maker is ignoring environmental and efficiency concerns. Internally, for its own cars, Ferrari is working on adding technologies like direct injection, dual clutch gearboxes, biofuels, weight reduction and even hybrids. Ferrari is not averse to bringing in outside technology and to that end has announced that end it will fund study grants for research in some of these areas.

The company will provide six grants of 25,000 euros to graduate and undergraduate students who study CO2 reduction, weight reduction and human/machine interfaces. The grants will be awarded on a competitive basis. Anyone interested in applying needs to get their submissions into Ferrari by Feb. 15, 2009. Details can be found in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Ferrari to fund 6 research programs including CO2 and weight reduction

Ferrari to fund 6 research programs including CO2 and weight reduction originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 08:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ferrariresearch grantsResearchGrantsFri, 16 Jan 2009 08:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Huge fine for Mercedes-Benz for poor fuel efficiency]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/08/huge-fine-for-mercedes-benz-for-poor-fuel-efficiency/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/08/huge-fine-for-mercedes-benz-for-poor-fuel-efficiency/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/08/huge-fine-for-mercedes-benz-for-poor-fuel-efficiency/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Every year, automakers that fail to meet the federally-mandated CAFE fuel efficiency standards receive fines in proportion to their gas-guzzling crimes. Last year, DaimlerChrysler set a record with a fine of $30,357,635.50, and that figure is proving tough to beat. Still, Mercedes-Benz, which made up half of the failed marriage that was DaimlerChrysler, tried its best to top itself by recording a whopping $28.9 million fine for cars produced in 2007, again taking the gold medal. Come on, guys, we know you can do better ... or worse, or whatever.

Other manufacturers that fared poorly in CAFE reporting include Volkswagen, which was hit with a $4.5 million fine (much of which was due to the Touareg light truck), Porsche and Maserati, which tied with $1.2 million fines each, and Ferrari, which had $1.1 million in CAFE fines pulled from the clutches of its purse strings.

These huge fines are exactly why automakers are worried about the impending increase in fuel economy requirements. Those companies that managed to stay under the requirements are also going to need to know as soon as possible what mileage requirements are going to be in the coming years if they have any hope of staying in the clear. It looks like that will not happen quickly.

Gallery: AutoblogGreen Garage: 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL320 BlueTec


[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Continue reading Huge fine for Mercedes-Benz for poor fuel efficiency

Huge fine for Mercedes-Benz for poor fuel efficiency originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cafecafe finecafe finescafe standardsCafeFineCafeFinesCafeStandardsmercedes-benzmercedes-benz cafemercedes-benz fineMercedes-benzCafeMercedes-benzFinenhtsanhtsa cafe finenhtsa cafe rulesnhtsa finenhtsa finesNhtsaCafeFineNhtsaCafeRulesNhtsaFineNhtsaFinesThu, 08 Jan 2009 16:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Ferrari denies working with Peugeot on KERS development]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/07/ferrari-denies-working-with-peugeot-on-kers-development/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/07/ferrari-denies-working-with-peugeot-on-kers-development/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/07/ferrari-denies-working-with-peugeot-on-kers-development/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click the Peugeot 908 HY for high-res images

Last September, Peugeot announced that it had built a experimental hybrid version of its 908 HDi Le Mans prototype coupe using kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) similar to those currently being developed by Formula One teams. The 908 HY uses an electric motor/generator and lithium ion battery pack to store electrical energy. Earlier this week, rumors surfaced that the Ferrari F1 team might be working with Peugeot on the KERS development because of technical problems the Italian company was having. The rationale for the move was to circumvent the new testing ban that goes into effect for F1 teams during the race season this year. The idea is that Ferrari would use Peugeot to track test its system. However, Ferrari has vehemently denied the stories. The team claims it would be politically foolish to try to avoid a rule that all teams agreed to. After all, no other race team has ever cheated to try to get an advantage on its competitors, so why would Ferrari?

Gallery: Peugeot 908 HY


[Source: GrandPrix.com]

Ferrari denies working with Peugeot on KERS development originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ferrarikerskinetic energy recovery systemKineticEnergyRecoverySystempeugeotWed, 07 Jan 2009 17:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Car and Driver gets in on the "Ferrari's are greener than Priuses" myth]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/02/car-and-driver-gets-in-on-the-ferraris-are-greener-than-priuse/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/02/car-and-driver-gets-in-on-the-ferraris-are-greener-than-priuse/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/02/car-and-driver-gets-in-on-the-ferraris-are-greener-than-priuse/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Way back in October at the Paris Motor Show, Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa raised a few eyebrows when he asserted that Ferraris produce fewer emissions than Priuses. On the surface, it's true - the total amount of fuel used in and all the emissions from every Ferrari in the world combined is less than those of all Priuses combined. Sadly, many people seem to stop right there, forgetting that mile-by-mile, the Prius is vastly more efficient. On average, Ferrari's aren't driven all the much, so of course they don't burn that much fuel. When they are running, though, they are anything but green.

Car and Driver waited a few months to pick up the story, but here it is on their pages today with the title, "Save the Earth: Drive a Ferrari." We're not fans of perpetuating an obvious myth, and this seems like one of those stories that's set to pop back up once every few months, much like the HUMMER versus Prius myth that still infects the internet from time to time. Shouldn't C&D be above this?

[Source: Car and Driver]

Car and Driver gets in on the "Ferrari's are greener than Priuses" myth originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ferrariferrari priusFerrariPriuspriusprius hybridPriusHybridFri, 02 Jan 2009 13:36:00 EST<![CDATA[BMW to Ferrari re: KERS: Sorry 'bout your lack of competitiveness ]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2008/12/24/bmw-to-ferrari-re-kers-sorry-bout-your-lack-of-competitivenes/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/12/24/bmw-to-ferrari-re-kers-sorry-bout-your-lack-of-competitivenes/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/12/24/bmw-to-ferrari-re-kers-sorry-bout-your-lack-of-competitivenes/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



It must take guts to call out Ferrari, considering that the Italian marque has been a dominant force in both road-going supercars and in race-ready hardware. In fact, Ferrari managed to take home the coveted Constructors' Championship last year, ably defeating BMW, which finished in third position for the year. Regardless, BMW has some harsh words for Ferrari regarding the 2009 season and the use of the KERS energy-recovery hybrid drivetrain.

Recall that Ferrari has voiced some concerns over the system, suggesting that they are also testing cars for the '09 system without the KERS system installed - just in case. BMW, though, has called out its Italian competitor, with BMW motor sport director Mario Theissen saying "that argument not only speaks of a lack of competitiveness but also a reluctance to play a role in the bigger picture." Ouch, that hurts.

FIA president Max Mosley is also on BMW's side, arguing, "Could you imagine the great F1 engineers like Chapman or Duckworth saying 'I can't do that because it is too complicated'?" No, we can't, Max. And so we expect KERS to move forward as scheduled for the 2009 F1 season. Let the saga continue on the race track.

[Source: F1 Fanatic - Photo:Mark McArdle / CC 2.0]

BMW to Ferrari re: KERS: Sorry 'bout your lack of competitiveness originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmw formula 1bmw sauberBmwFormula1BmwSauberferrariferrari formula 1FerrariFormula1formula 1Formula1kerskinetic energykinetic energy recovery systemKineticEnergyKineticEnergyRecoverySystemWed, 24 Dec 2008 13:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Ferrari Formula 1 KERS system more expensive than estimated]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2008/12/18/ferrari-formula-1-kers-system-more-expensive-than-estimated/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/12/18/ferrari-formula-1-kers-system-more-expensive-than-estimated/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/12/18/ferrari-formula-1-kers-system-more-expensive-than-estimated/#commentsFiled under: ,



All of the teams in Formula One have spent a significant portion of 2008 developing and testing the new Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) that will debut in 2009. Among the teams there is a mix of two basic types of systems, a mechanical flywheel-based system and electrical battery-based systems. Ferrari is among the latter group and development of the systems has proved challenging in the environment of a formula one race car where space and mass are at a premium. Apparently, the development has also cost quite a bit more than originally anticipated, likely due to the extra testing needed. The team still hopes to have KERS ready for the 2009 season opener in Australia but they are also evaluating the new 2009 car without KERS, just in case.

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Ferrari Formula 1 KERS system more expensive than estimated

Ferrari Formula 1 KERS system more expensive than estimated originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kerskinetic energy recov...kinetic energy recovery systemkineticenergyrecov...KineticEnergyRecoverySystemThu, 18 Dec 2008 18:33:00 EST<![CDATA[No oil burning for the prancing horse, Ferrari rejects diesels]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2008/10/29/no-oil-burning-for-the-prancing-horse-ferrari-rejects-diesels/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/10/29/no-oil-burning-for-the-prancing-horse-ferrari-rejects-diesels/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/10/29/no-oil-burning-for-the-prancing-horse-ferrari-rejects-diesels/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Ferrari has set itself an aggressive goal of reducing the carbon dioxide emissions of its cars by 40 percent over the next four years. The company will have to make some pretty drastic changes to its powertrains to achieve that reduction from 400 g/km to about 280 g/km. One change it has no intention of making is adopting diesel engines. Instead it will go to smaller, more efficient engines using technologies like direct injection and turbocharging. The company just announced its first direct injected engine in the new California GT. Another option the company is looking at is hybrid drive. The Formula 1 team is currently developing a hybrid system for use starting in the 2009 season and that technology could be adapted to production. One direction not mentioned is biofuels. The company showed a biofueled version of its F430 Spider at last January's Detroit Auto Show.

[Source: The Telegraph]

No oil burning for the prancing horse, Ferrari rejects diesels originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>co2 reductionsCo2Reductionsdirect injecteddirect injectionDirectInjectedDirectInjectionferrarihybridWed, 29 Oct 2008 12:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Ferraris greener than Priuses? Statistics to the rescue again!]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2008/10/03/ferraris-greener-than-priuses-statistics-to-the-rescue-again/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/10/03/ferraris-greener-than-priuses-statistics-to-the-rescue-again/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/10/03/ferraris-greener-than-priuses-statistics-to-the-rescue-again/#commentsFiled under: ,


Ferrari F430 Spider Bio-fuel

At some point everyone has probably heard the phrase "Tell me which side of the argument you are on and I will give you the statistics to prove you are right!" That is certainly true when applied to comments made by Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa at the Paris Motor Show this week. While speaking to reporters, Felisa claimed that Ferraris as a group produce fewer total emissions than Toyota Priuses. Now anyone who has ever seen a Ferrari fly by would surely have to question this claim, there is certainly some validity to it. But as usual Felisa comes by the statement by cherry picking certain useful facts and leaving everything else behind. The argument is based on the total number of vehicles times the miles driven times the emissions per mile. The keys are the first two data points. Toyota has at least two to three times as many Priuses in the past decade than the total number of cars to come from Maranello in the Italian company's 61 year history. A large proportion of those Toyota hybrids are still on the road while many of the Ferraris are in Museums and other collections. Also Ferrari drivers who put more than just a few thousand miles on their cars annually are comparatively rare. So fewer cars and fewer miles means greener right? Well technically yes, but as usual the devil is in the details. In the grand scheme of things, the high cost of a Ferrari means the brand's overall environmental impact is fairly negligible compared to mainstream cars. It's probably all right to exempt low volume makers like Ferrari from some fuel efficiency standards. Still, making such an argument in general does come off looking rather silly.

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Ferrari F430 BioFuel


[Source: Drive.com.au]

Ferraris greener than Priuses? Statistics to the rescue again! originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Amedeo FelisaAmedeoFelisaferrariferrari vs toyotaFerrariVsToyotaparisparis motor showparis2008ParisMotorShowtoyotatoyota priusToyotaPriusFri, 03 Oct 2008 14:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Ferrari 500? Not really a Ferrari...]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2008/07/16/ferrari-500-not-really-a-ferrari/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/07/16/ferrari-500-not-really-a-ferrari/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/07/16/ferrari-500-not-really-a-ferrari/#commentsFiled under: , ,



There has been quite a lot of speculation about a low-consumption Ferrari, or well, just one that uses less fuel (maybe not that little) but some prayers might have been answered by this: Because Fiat and Ferrari are linked, owners of Ferraris will have a special Fiat 500 as replacement vehicle when they take their cavallini rampanti to the dealers for maintenance. The Fiat 500 is the sportiest version available, the 1.4 liter with 100 HP, and before you comment let me be the one to say that they will surely find a difference in acceleration. The 500 will have Ferrari spirit in the sense that it will be painted in rosso corsa, the "Ferrari red." However, don't take out your checkbook yet, the 200 planned vehicles won't be on sale. At least for now.

[Source: Le Blog Auto]

Ferrari 500? Not really a Ferrari... originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ferrari-500fiat-500replacement-vehiclesrosso-corsaWed, 16 Jul 2008 09:02:00 EST