Ferrari has completed development of a four-wheel drive system for its future sports cars, according a report by Italiaspeed. Rumors of a Ferrari AWD system first surfaced exactly a year ago when the U.K.’s Autocar magazine published patent drawings made by the Italian automaker for such a system.
Unlike the full-time all-wheel drive systems used by Lamborghini and Audi, the Ferrari setup is an “insertable” four-wheel drive configuration. This means the car will typically operate with power going to the rear wheels only, and engage the front wheels as needed. A computer-controlled clutch determines when to activate the front wheels.
The system will work in both mid-engine and front-engine Ferraris, according to the report. The Autocar report suggested sister company Maserati could also use the technology.
10/11, 9:10 AM
posted by:
WEKS
Hmmm… sounds quite like the ATTESA E-TS then. Which is in no way a bad thing.
10/11, 9:11 AM
posted by:
???
This should be interesting. Its a bit uncharacteristic for a Ferrari to have 4-wheel drive. But hey if they offer it as an option, then why not. Slap on some serious winter tires and have fun in the snow… yeah right!
10/11, 9:28 AM
posted by:
Renton
Ferraris should just be RWD.
If the weather is bad, just take your 911 Turbo to work, it is a couple of cars over in the 5 car garage.
10/11, 10:26 AM
posted by:
Fatstrat
I am sure it will be a good system. I am not sure if it feels right for Ferrari though.
Oh, well, they rarely make mistakes.
10/11, 10:48 AM
posted by:
1c3d0g
Now they’re one step closer to Lamborghini…still a long way to go.
10/11, 11:00 AM
posted by:
A4
yeah really take your 911 turbo and leave the ferrari for a nice day.. they better make it an option and not standard across the lineup. id want a RWD F430 to smoke those tires.
10/11, 11:17 AM
posted by:
b_shizzle
it’s just such a long walk to the other end of the garage though! maybe I’ll drive the Ferrari over there so I don’t have to walk!
10/11, 12:20 PM
posted by:
JS
An AWD Ferrari looks like a sacrilege to me. If front wheels are only engaged when you turn the rear ones into smoke, then this system is just gonna be a dead weight the most of the time. Ferrari should remain RWD. If you want AWD, buy a Lambo.
10/11, 12:40 PM
posted by:
Renton
1c3d0g — “Now they’re one step closer to Lamborghini…still a long way to go.”
Dude, that is funny.
10/11, 12:48 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
Renton:
10/11, 1:28 PM
posted by:
Freshshoebox
1c3dog, you remind me of GMrules sometimes…
10/11, 1:29 PM
posted by:
theshadow
I’d just worry about the excess weight…weight is the enemy of good handling.
Hope it’s an option only.
Err…not that it affects me either way since I can’t afford a Ferrari in the first place hehe
10/11, 3:02 PM
posted by:
nowei
I think this strengthens my case for Ferrari building cars outside of their traditional market segments.
also, I agree with WEKS, Nissan has a 20-year head start on this technology… maybe the patent expired or something.
/no
10/11, 3:37 PM
posted by:
Fatstrat
Nowei has hit it on the head here.
All wheel drive now on the menu, an SUV cannot be far behind.
Market sense or not, I bet some folks in the front office do not like BMW/Porsche/Range Rover and even Jeep to have the fastest anything in any catagory.
Cayanne sales might also be a motivating factor…just some speculation on my part.
10/11, 4:49 PM
posted by:
Egbert Souse
AWD + Ferrari = weiiiird
10/11, 5:21 PM
posted by:
Dav is Dead
rally car perhaps? maybe theyll make 200,000 competitor for the evo and the sti. think about it… 2.0t, 400 bhp, the prancing horse, and an anemic bank account. or an SUV perhaps (NOOOO). a stable, all weather sedan to compete with audi? who knows.
10/11, 5:25 PM
posted by:
Dav is Dead
and i love that they called maserati the “sister company” of ferrari. they are girly i guess.
10/11, 8:57 PM
posted by:
Veda
Safety perception is increased though any real benefit remains to be seen…
10/12, 10:26 AM
posted by:
somedriver
Am I the only one that sees this as indicating that Ferrari is running into limits with how much power they can safely run to the rear wheels? I think that this foretells a power bump past 600hp…
10/12, 10:38 AM
posted by:
Veda
Or just to get into the AWD craze that seems to be selling these days. But I’ll take AWD over RWD anytime…
10/12, 3:12 PM
posted by:
Toy Yoda
Not that I’m a driving expert, but I’m sure Ferrari has thought of all the things everyone has complained about here. Another angle, is perhaps AWD is better than RWD and Ferrari engineers recognize something that us RWD biased brains can’t understand. Afterall, when I go AutoX’ing, the Evos and Subbies continue to dominate those events.
Finally, if you get like over 600 bhp in a RWD car, and try to floor it, it feels like the rear wheels want to pass the front wheels. My friend has a souped of Vette and it’s quite scary to launch off. Maybe Ferrari wants to be the Ferrari of 1000+ bhp cars.
10/12, 11:09 PM
posted by:
WonbyOne
I smell Crossover/suv cooking.
And it smells pretty good.
10/13, 12:41 AM
posted by:
girlwholovescars
I doing a little drinking and thinking maybe a 4-door sedan in the future?