Ferrari will show a hybrid concept at the Geneva Auto Show, based on the Italian automaker's 599 flagship. Ferrari CEO Luca di Montezemolo made the announcement while unveiling the company's latest Formula One race car. Di Montezemolo also stated that this prototype is slated for production but did not give any timeline.
Ferrari has been known to be working on hybrid technology, a fact the automaker couldn't deny when patents for a hybrid drivetrain surfaced last year, however, company representatives have said hybrid F-Cars are not in the automaker's immediate plans.
The 599 Hybrid concept is expected to use a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) setup similar to the ones designed for Formula One, including a lithium-ion battery pack with electric motors built into the rear transaxle. This setup would allow for regenerative braking, a start-stop function and an electric boost capability to add even more acceleration to the 599's already impressive 620-hp V12 engine. Under city driving it would also help improve mileage by 30 percent. That will be particularly noticeable on such a gas-hungry beast as the 599, which currently only gets 8.7 mpg, bringing it up to 13.8 mpg.
Di Montezemolo made it clear that that while in the past Ferrari lead the charge in getting race car technology to street cars, it now wants to be a pioneer in transferring the efficiencies found at the pinnacle of motorsport to the street.
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Geneva Preview: Ferrari Readying 599 Hybrid Concept on AutoGuide.com
Geneva Preview: Ferrari Readying 599 Hybrid Concept
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