Ferrari's HY-KERS concept 2011
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
, Ferrari has made its name selling the sort of testosterone-packed cars that get petrolheads hot under the collar.
But now the Italian car-maker is ditching its famous red livery - temporarily at least - as it experiments with going green.
The company yesterday unveiled the Ferrari 599, a 200mph electric hybrid vehicle that aims to cut pollution and fuel consumption while retaining the brand's breathtaking acceleration and performance.
Ferrari's HY-KERS concept 2011
Green machine: Ferrari's new petrol-electric hybrid 599 can switch between zero-emissions electric power, petrol power, or a mix of the two, cutting emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and boosting fuel consumption
But it remains to be seen whether the 599's ability to start silently and run on a zero-emission electric motor will put off car enthusiasts who delight in the explosive roar of an old-style Ferrari firing up.
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The prototype's appearance at the opening day of the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland stunned visitors.
The hybrid vehicle - which uses the electric motor to back up a more traditional 6.0-litre V12 petrol engine - even sported a bright metallic green paint to reinforce its environmentally friendly credentials.
The aim is to have the green technology as an option across Ferrari's entire range of cars by 2015.
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But don't get too carried away with the idea that the macho Formula 1 stable has suddenly gone all politically correct in an attempt to save the planet.
Rather, it is being driven by the EU's tough environmental targets to cut carbon dioxide emissions, which could otherwise see Ferrari's supercars squeezed out of the market.
Ferrari reckons the 599 would cost twice as much as the £207,000 petrol 559 GTB Fiorano on which it is based. But by the time the technology has been ' industrialised' in four years' time, the price should come down to below £300,000.
Ferrari's HY-KERS concept 2011
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