Tuesday, March 5, 2013

217 mph LaFerrari is how Ferrari does a hybrid


You didn’t think Ferrari would go completely green, did you?
The Italian automaker’s first hybrid car debuted at the Geneva Motor Show today, painted in the company’s signature shade of red.
The redundantly named Ferrari LaFerrari features a Formula One-derived hybrid-kinetic energy recovery system (HY-KERS) that supplements its 6.3-liter 789 hp V12 engine with a battery-powered 160-hp electric motor powering the rear wheels for a total output of 949 hp and 663 lb-ft of torque.
The HY-KERS recovers energy under braking and when the internal combustion engine is producing excess torque.
Its chassis and body constructed primarily of carbon fiber, and a focus on aerodynamics is evident in its sculpted form. A movable rear wing and active underbody flaps direct the flow of air to maximize downforce in turns and reduce drag at high speeds.
With a weight expected to be around 2,800 pounds, and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, Ferrari says the LaFerrari (do you use the “the”?) will accelerate to 186 mph in 15 seconds and hit a top speed of over 217 mph.
The interior of the car features fixed seats with an adjustable pedal box and steering wheel, the latter a rectangular unit fitted with a host of buttons and knobs to control many of the car’s functions.
And while the hybrid system is mainly meant to enhance the LaFerrari’s performance, the car emits 330 grams of CO2 per km, roughly the same as a Ferrari 458 Italia, which has a measly 562 hp.
As if its $1.3 million price tag weren’t enough to make it a rarity, Ferrari promises that it will only build 499 examples of the LaFerrari.
For the rest of us, here’s a video to give you a taste of the HY-KERS life.




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