Ferrari hybrid car? Coming this year, chairman says.
Hybrid car sales rising, Ferrari decides to join the crowd with a Ferrari Enzo hybrid car, due out 'at the end of the year,' chairman says.
Hybrid car sales rising, Ferrari decides to join the crowd with a Ferrari Enzo hybrid car, due out 'at the end of the year,' chairman says.
Luca di Montezemolo is many things: a snazzy dresser, a political powerhouse in Italy, and, most relevant to us, the chairman of聽Ferrari. As part of the most recent quarter's financial results (which were quite good) di Montezemolo announced that the聽new Ferrari Enzo hybrid supercar聽would arrive by the end of the year.
In di Montezemolo's words, "At the end of the year, we'll also be unveiling the new Enzo, a limited series model and our first ever聽hybrid聽car."
With rumors of up to 920 horsepower from the V-12 engine and electric hybrid assist system, the next-generation Enzo is going to be the only car to have a shot at the聽Porsche 918 Spyder's level of performance--and it may well exceed it. It's certainly every bit as advanced, if not even more so.
The V-12 engine itself is no small contribution to the聽whole HY-KERS system, but with two electric motors--one mounted to the gearbox driving the rear wheels, the other used for auxiliary power systems, like steering and climate control--batteries, and all of the electronics that control them, the big internal combustion engine won't hold the spotlight until the key is turned.
As you might expect with an Enzo, there's ample F1 tech under the surface: the ECU that controls the hybrid system, including its regenerative and power delivery elements, borrows from聽Ferrari's聽racing program, as does the advanced chassis structure, the聽traction聽control, the torque management, and brake distribution.
Ferrari says the new Enzo hybrid with HY-KERS will cut emissions by about 40 percent compared to a non-hybrid solution. Who can argue with 40 percent less junk spewed out of the tailpipe and 920聽horsepower? Not us.聽