Ferrari goes Hybrid

Get out of the way LaFerrari (it was a stupid name anyway), the next Ferrari's are slated to get a hybrid drivetrain to partner the V12 petrol engine. For all you Ferrari tifosi’s*, there is no need to worry though, as in true Ferrari and Sergio Marchionne style, the addition of a hybrid lump within the slender and refined lines of a Ferrari is not about our favourite prancing stallion becoming all green and environmentally conscious. So, fret not about having to don hemp trousers before you get in your future Ferrari; the inclusion is all about getting even more power to increase the performance further.

According to a report carried by Autocar, Ferrari CEO, Sergio Marchionne, broke the news during a recent phone conference with investors, during which he explained that the combination of traditional combustion engines and electric power would make Ferrari's faster AND more efficient. Whilst the move is undoubtedly linked with various EU directives about the combined fuel efficiency of new vehicles manufactured, it is great to know that the ethos of those bad boys over in Maranello, home of the Prancing Horse, is still about how to get from A to B in the quickest time possible.

During the same call, Sergio also stated that Ferrari would make a fundamental shift in the way that it puts its rides together, with the aim of ramping up production. However, this does not mean that there is the intent to make the Ferrari a ubiquitous feature of our roads, as the annual target will still only be about 10,000 cars a year, which is a modest increase of just 2000 units over its 2016 production run and is of course a realistic target.

The question is, will the Ferrari-buying public go for the new hybrid powertrain? Looking at the report, it doesn’t seem like they will have much choice as the change will happen for all Ferrari's by 2019. So, if you don’t like hybrids, best wander off to your local Ferrari dealership and put your pennies down before then.

*we shouldn’t have to explain the meaning of tifosi, but it is the Italian word for fan.