Ferrari boss Luca Cordero di Montezemolo confirmed earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show that the Italian automaker is readying a hybrid drivetrain, but failed to give any details on the new system. However, thanks to some recently discovered patent drawings, we may have an idea of what Ferrari is up to.
The drawings reveal Ferrari is working on an all-wheel drive hybrid system. Like all traditional Ferraris, an internal combustion engine would drive the vehicle’s rear wheels while electric power would drive the car’s front wheels. This setup would allow Ferrari to keep its rear-wheel drive driving dynamics while adding the sure footedness of all-wheel drive and the added efficiency of a hybrid system.
However, it remains unknown if the production version of the system will use a single electric motor or two smaller in-wheel units.
Although compact, next-generation lithium-ion batteries could provide enough juice from a small package to allow for electric-only propulsion. Ferrari will likely be looking to keep the system’s weight down – ensuring maximum performance — through the use of smaller and light electric motors and batteries.
Ferrari has set the goal of reducing emissions by 40 percent by 2012, but it’s highly unlikely a hybrid system is part of those plans. Instead, look for Ferrari’s first hybrid vehicle to hit the market sometime around 2015.
