Friday, March 5, 2010

Ferrari 599 Hybrid Eco-friendly Supercar

The current trend of motor vehicles today is “green”, the only problem is creating an eco-friendly hybrid car that can actually deliver high levels of performance while still being fuel efficient.

Ferrari is the latest manufacturer to enter into the ring by showcasing its first eco-friendly supercar at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland.

Powering the Ferrari 599 hybrid is a 6.0-litre V12 petrol engine that produces 463 kW, the petrol engine is joined by Ferrari's newly developed electric motor which features a super slim 20 mm lithum-ion battery pack and is good for around 75 kW this boosts the total power output figure to 538 kW.

As seen in most hybrid cars of late is the use of brake force regeneration, the Ferrari 599 hybrid is said to use its own KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) from Ferrari's Formula One cars. Under braking the vehicle uses the kinetic energy produced to recharge the batteries.

To help keep fuel economy in check and CO2 emissions low, the Ferrari 599 hybrid makes use of a new start-stop system which works with the hybrid powertrain. This combination is said to reduce CO2 emissions from 415g/km to around 250g/km, while fuel economy improves from 14.8-litres per 100km to 10.6-litres per 100km, making the 599 hybrid more efficient than the standard car.

The Ferrari 599 hybrid's Formula One roots are apparent in that the electric motor automatically kicks in during acceleration, providing instantaneous torque when moving away from a standstill and during overtaking manoeuvres.

Ferrari says drivers will be given the option of a steering wheel-mounted button to boost performance when required, similar to Porsche's E-Boost which is used in their 918 Spyder Concept.

But, eager customers will have to wait, as a production version of the 599 Hybrid is not likely to hit the streets before 2015.

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