FobzyFerrari cuts it for the Greens.
July 3rd 2008 20:15
lookin' good
It's still red but it's going GREEN, but well may we ask , for all of these things, WHEN?
From: Fairfax Digital and its DRIVE,
Ferrari has this year started development work on its next-generation engines due from 2013, and the company says it is experimenting with a number of technological solutions to make its sports cars cleaner and greener than today's model range.
Those potential solutions include a return to turbocharged engines - for the first time since the 1987 F40 - as well as electric power.
During last week's opening of Ferrari's new high-tech vehicle assembly line in Maranello, Italy, the company's technical director for GT cars, Roberto Fedeli, said building petrol-electric supercars may be necessary even though it's not convinced the technology is appropriate for Ferraris.
"In terms of ecology and CO2 [carbon dioxide] emissions," says Fedeli, "are we sure that the only way to approach this kind of issue is to build a [hybrid] car according to the regulations [fuel consumption and emissions test cycle]? I don't know."
"For road cars, [petrol-]electric engines are important for approaching the [emissions test] regulations in a good [clever] way. If driving a car in the [test cycle], you can have a very big gain with this [hybrid] technology.
"It is a philosophical approach [that Ferrari takes to building cars]," he says. "[But] from a practical approach we have to meet the emissions regulations.
"Perhaps in the future the [hybrid] technology could be a good solution [to ensure Ferrari meets the emissions targets]."
The European Union has proposed financial penalties from 2012 for car makers who do not reduce their model fleet's average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to 130 grams per kilometre or lower.
Ferrari is targeting a 40 per cent reduction in fuel consumption and emissions for its cars by 2012, although it's coming from a high base.
Ferrari's current average CO2 figure of 433g/km for its range of five models is well short of that target, though the Italian car maker says it's uncertain whether it will be included under the umbrella of owner and small-car builder Fiat should the new regulations be approved.
Well it seems it's cutting the horses to go green, but proposals can only become effective if countries set themselves up to handle the new hybrids, not just Ferraris , of course.
Quite the little philosopher the old fobzy is becoming, aren't I?
well, maybe
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