‘Turbocharging the V12 is not the answer. When you do that you lose everything that makes the engine so special’
as high a specific power output.’ [The 812’s 6496cc V12 makes 789bhp at 8500rpm, the Sian 774bhp at 8500rpm from 6498cc.]
ARE TURBOCHARGING AND/OR HYBRIDISATION THE ANSWER?
Michael Leiters, Ferrari: ‘If you do a V12 for the future, turbocharging is not the answer. You lose everything – sound, response, power delivery – that makes the engine so special. If you can lose those things, just do a V8 turbo. Look at the SF90. With a V8 turbo and hybridisation you can arrive at 1000bhp quite easily, so the power is not an issue. With the V12, it’s about keeping it alive while also preserving what makes it so special.’
Maurizio Reggiani, Lamborghini: ‘It is clear that the future is more and more hybrid vehicles. Hybrids allow us to have the right mix of emotion. That comes from dynamic combustion engines and compensation in terms of support from an electric motor. The e-motor will allow us to fulfil what is required in terms of homologation, for example in the centre of a city, when you need to run quietly and cleanly.
‘But it’s also clear that the right power-to-weight ratio remains important, and electrification is not helpful here. Also, it is not as simple as just arriving at the best technical solution – you have also to fulfil the request of the customer. We need to do what they desire.’
Michael Leiters, Ferrari: ‘Electrification can help in two ways: the motor can work with the engine, with torque-fill and boosting, as we did on the LaFerrari; and it can help with the social acceptance. Perhaps we can keep the V12 pure by creating a positive image of our brand by making our other cars hybrid. We must understand how to do this.’
Maurizio Reggiani, Lamborghini: ‘The Sian’s supercapacitor has a capacity of 0.18kWh. It drives the electric motor to guarantee performance in terms of smoothness and in improving the comfort with our gearbox [Lambo’s slightly cantankerous single-clutch seven-speeder].
‘The supercapacitor for us is an important asset for the future because it is a symmetrical system – everything that you can put into it, when you charge, you can then deploy – and also there are no issues with weight, size, heat or degradation in time. But it’s also clear that if the successor of the Aventador uses a lithium battery, while that will be much more conservative, it will have the scope to create electric performance for much longer than in the Sian.’
HOW IT WORKS
1 IT KNOWS…
Scan your face to make one of up to five driver profiles. When you get in it will recognise you and adjust your seat and mirror positions.
2 IT NAGS…
Look at the scenery too long or look at your passenger too much while talking? A gentle reminder shows up on the dash.
3 IT AWAKENS…
The system will act with the impact of an alarm clock to jolt you to full alertness if it detects drowsiness.