In November 2016, former Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne announced that some of its models will be electrified from 2019 onwards. At the same time, he explained that the move is to improve performance and efficiency altogether, and that the Italian automaker had patented a common architecture for upcoming models, allowing them to travel up to 48 km in pure electric mode.
Some may consider a hybrid Ferrari fallacious, but it won’t be the first – the LaFerrari and LaFerrari Aperta were both top-end, high-performance hybrid cars. Now, the test mule here – clad in the 488 GTB‘s shell – was spotted in Sweden, and it might just be powered by a V6 petrol-hybrid powertrain. Not quite wolf in sheep’s clothing, that’s for sure, but our spy photographers noted the distinct sound of a V6.
Recently, a high ranked Ferrari official told Auto Express that the next car to be revealed is a V6 hybrid. Current Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri also said a V8 hybrid will be introduced later this year, one that will surpass the 488 Pista‘s 720 PS/770 Nm output, but that’s a story for another day.
As for the actual car that’s being tested here, it’s rumoured to be powered by the 2.9 litre turbocharged V6 from the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. In the Alfa, the engine makes 510 hp and 600 Nm of torque, but Ferrari could well turn up the wick for it to crank out considerably more. Plus, with assistance from the hybrid system, the V6 hybrid could possibly make in excess of 600 hp.
We don’t know much about the V6 hybrid, or if in fact it would be the revived Dino, but the “entry-level” powertrain offering could be equipped with a fast-shifting dual-clutch automatic, channeling drive to the rear wheels. Some, if not all driver assistance systems can be expected to trickle down from the 488 GTB. This includes the F1-Trac, E-Diff and SSC (Side Slip Control) list of systems. If you’re as curious as us, don’t worry, all will be revealed in due course, possibly within the coming months. Watch this space!
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Plonked their F1 V6 hybrid KERS into this car?
If Ferrari really using the 2.9L V6 from Alfa Quadrifoglio, it’s going to be a good news indeed. Because that engine is one of the best sounding and hardest pulling twin turbo V6s.