Ferrari’s New Hy-Kers Hybrid is Green Squared

04
March

Ferrari’s New Hy-Kers Hybrid is Green Squared

Written by AaronT. Comments Off Posted in: Hybrids
Tagged with al gore, ferrari fiorano

Now that the plug-in Porsche has been unveiled, Ferrari had to hurry and show off their green machine. Literally. It’s green. Here, look:

Personally, I think the paint looks killer. The car is called the Hy-Kers. It’s a vettura laboratorio (concept venture), but is very cool in many ways. Mostly in the fact that it’s only a hybrid, apparently, to make the European Union’s governmental regulators happy. Details on the car are on Ferrari’s website here. I’ll boil them down for you.

The car is innovative, I’ll give it that, and it looks awesome (which it should, since it’s basically a 599 GTB Fiorano). The 599 is the latest in the V12 Fiorano line. Now for the fun bits. But before we get to that, here’s some rich guy standing next to the Hy-Kers attempting to impersonate Magnum P.I.:

Tom Selleck he ain’t. Anyway, back to the car.

Two things to know about the Hy-Kers right off the bat: it retains Ferrari’s ultra-low stance and center of gravity(sub 599s) and weight distribution (55% to the rear) are retained despite the added weight of the hybrid system over the top of the huge 6.0L V12 engine under the hood.

Well, not literally over the top. Most of the hybrid components (battery, motor, etc.) are actually behind the transmission, between it and the drive shaft. The motor has a clutch connecting it to the dual-clutch trans and puts out 107hp (about 76kW) and 111lb-ft of torque.

The getup is a parallel hybrid, with the motor able to move the car at low speeds without the engine, though not for long on the 3kWh li-ion batteries pancaked under the floorboards. During foot-stomping, pedal to the metal action, though, both the engine and the motor power the car together. And really? Who wouldn’t drive this car like that?

I mean, 0-60 in 3.5 seconds and 125mph in 10.5? Holy G-Suit, Batman!

Finally, we come to where Ferrari’s experience in hybrid systems really pays off. Regenerative braking. Unlike Toyota, who can’t seem to make it work right, Ferrari has thoroughly tested and vetted their regen system thanks to their Formula One experiences with the KERS flywheel. Porsche is now using this in their 911 GT3, by the way. And yes, this is where the “Kers” in the name comes from.

Basically, the regenerative system the Hy-Kers uses is exactly the same as what they were testing in F1, except the flywheel has been replaced with batteries.

Now for the real reason Ferrari is fiddling with a hybrid supercar: emissions. The EU requires specific improvements in the overall fuel-economy and CO2 emissions of a company’s fleet of cars. Similar to the American CAFE standard, but with more rules about carbon. Because, you know, the Europeans totally believe in Al Gore.

Those requirements are basically forcing every car maker who doesn’t build ultra-compacts and tiny diesels to go hybrid or electric (or both) to “clean up” their line. Even the luxury sports car makers like Ferrari. Hence, Ferrari makes a hybrid.

So the Hy-Kers gets a totally green 25mpg (EU) over its original Fiorano’s smooth 16mpg. It cuts CO2 by about 35% as well. This car will probably see limited production inside the next few years.