Juicy gossip from the CAR grapevine
FERRARI’S product plan is set until 2022, boss Sergio Marchionne has revealed. It contains the irst series production hybrid, because the V8 will be electri ied. ‘With LaFerrari, it’s an interesting add-on but in the case of the next hybrid, it needs to become more traditional because it needs to fulil a di erent role [ie delivering on emissions, not just power]. We’ve got mules running about now.’ The supremo conirmed the hybrid drivetrain for 2019, which means it will be ready for the forthcoming CUV (which could look like the image below). The four-door, all-wheel-drive coupe will leave McLaren as the last SUV-free zone.
What about Jag-style continuation models? ‘Reinventing the 250, for example, is a tough gig. We’re not going to bank on this because living o the spoils of your past ain’t a happy place to be.’ Marchionne says there’s an ‘opportunity’ to take the simpler elements of Ferrari’s classics ‘to a di erent space’ – could that mean limited runs of retro designs on modern mechanicals? Runs contrary to design chief Flavio Manzoni’s ideals though...
Ferrari HMI was dismissed as ‘prehistoric’ but ‘in the next car you will see signiicant improvement’. And while Aston is busy following the Ferrari blueprint (see p108), Marchionne sees potential in the gran turismo segment. ‘The world of Aston Martin is one that we are not in. We’ve left them alone to do the DB11 and DB9 – phenomenal cars. But I think we can match or exceed.’
Over at Audi, executives have conirmed production of the electric coupe revealed by CAR back in January – the e-tron GT. Spun o Porsche’s Mission E platform, the four-door EV will be propelled by 400, 530 or 660bhp motors. Boss Rupert Stadler says the target price is around €80,000, and the EV will be built at the Neckarsulm plant from 2020.
The J1 components set should spread wider than just Audi: Bentley’s ambitions for a small coupe could realise the Barnato, and Lamborghini might resurrect the Espada coupe. It’s even caught the imagination of new Bugatti boss Stephan Winkelmann, said to be considering a Royale ultra-luxury limo…