Report: Ferrari investing into more hybrid technology, CEO “strongly believes in hybrids”

Bloomberg reports that Ferrari is seeking to expand its hybrid portfolio after the viral success of the all-new flagship LaFerrari. Now, if this was a little more than 15 years ago, everyone would think hell is freezing over to this sort of news—who else would’ve thought that the world’s most renowned manufacturer of supercars would end up being completely gussied up Toyota Priuses, back then?

I’m just kidding, but not really…

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Click here for our original post on the 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari after its debut in Geneva.

Anyway, while the insane LaFerrari hypercar benefited from an instant sell-out, Ferrari’s Luca Cordero di Montezemolo said, “I don’t believe in the electric cars, but I strongly believe in hybrids,” in a brief interview with Bloomberg.

Ferrari isn’t the only performance automaker to take hybrid technology even more seriously, as Porsche has their 918 Spyder on the way along with McLaren and their P1 hypercar. And of course, to a slightly less substantial extent, BMW’s i8 is on the way to Frankfurt as well.

Additionally, it’s important to keep in mind that technology pioneered in motorsports—like the LaFerrari’s Formula 1-sourced HY-KERS hybrid system—will eventually climb down the ladder and into more mass-market vehicles as technology progresses and decreases in cost.

That’s pretty much the plan here, but more to the point that Ferrari buyers tend to be more frivolous, increasing the chances for innovation. There weren’t any specifics as to which models will receive the new hybrid technology Montezemolo has in mind.

Refresher: Power for the 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari is provided by a 6.3L V12 mated to Ferrari’s patented HY-KERS hybrid propulsion design. This all-new 2014 LaFerrari’s V12 is capable of 789hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to the electric motor, which makes an additional 161hp and 148 lb-ft, the 2014 LaFerrari produces a grand total of 950hp and 664 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to zoom past 62 MPH in less than three seconds, for a top run of 217 MPH.

– By: Chris Chin

Source: Bloomberg