Ferrari’s V-8 hybrid likely to be paired to new SUV
Ferrari has confirmed it will build a regular-production hybrid V-8 vehicle beginning next year, saying the prototypes are undergoing testing and the system will be more integral to the drivetrain than the V-12 LaFerrari’s KERS energy scavenging hybrid tech.
That is a strong hint — and one delivered directly from Ferrari chief executive Sergio Marchionne to the hosts of Top Gear — that the upcoming vehicle driven by this power plant will be a plug-in.
The 2019 release date suggests, too, it will likely be the also-confirmed SUV, because everything else in Ferrari’s lineup is too new to be refreshed or replaced.
“There are (test) mules running around right now,” Marchionne said, underscoring the performance the hybrid will bring to the table.
“When you drive the new Ferrari hybrid, well, you can tell me then how much you miss the V-12.”
Top Gear also got out of Marchionne that the automaker is strongly looking at building a continuation car version of its classic 250 GTO some time in the next few years, following in the hugely lucrative steps of rivals such as Jaguar.
“I struggle with the term ‘continuation car.’ What Jaguar has done with the lightweight cars is clever, but reinventing the 250 is a tough gig and living off the spoils of the past is a bad habit to get into,” Marchionne said.