In the world of supercars, no matter what yourjustifications are, horsepower is the king. But with the oil crisis andpressure for a better environment, exotic car companies have to find ways toadapt its old thinking to the modern world. With that, Ferrari is working on aV12 hybrid engine for its supercars.
We’ve recently witnessed the new V12 engine in the all-newF12 Berlinetta supercar, which produces about 730 horsepower. And that is amassive power output that we can’t really justify in this Eco-minded world.According to Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa, he said that the F1-developed kineticenergy recovery system (KERS) will ensure that the company will keep the V12 inits engine line-up for years to come.
“We will roll out new technology that is there first andforemost to introduce a green factor to our cars and ensure that we can keepour product where it is in terms of CO2”, Felisa told British publicationAutocar.
In other words, we will be seeing the V12 engine coupleswith a pair of electric motors in the near future. Already at the 2010 GenevaMotor Show, we’ve seen the Ferrari 599-based HY-KERS concept with a hybridconfiguration, which included a small electric motor coupled to a dual-clutchgearbox and battery pack. According to Ferrari, the hybrid system reduces CO2emissions by 35 percent while adding another 100-hp to total power output.
“This technology is expensive today, but it has beendesigned to fit all our future architecture. If we go ahead, it will be fittedas standard. It’s not the sort of thing you offer as an option,” explainedFelisa.
Source: carguideblog.com