Ferrari Prepares All-Wheel Drive Hybrid

Ferrari is reportedly planning an all-wheel drive hybrid system that could hit the streets in the next few years. The Italian manufacturer has already made a patent application for the hybrid, with the official papers pointing that Ferrari aims to ease up on the tasks the traditional engine was responsible for by adding a new electric unit. Furthermore, according to autocar.co.uk, the hybrid is not mainly aimed at reducing fuel consumption, as one would expect for, but to improve handling in the future models.

Basically, the hybrid system would be incorporated in cars featuring front- and rear-mounted engines, with some of the layouts hinting to an architecture in which the electric unit and the combustion engine operate separate pairs of wheels.

“The four-wheel drive that can be engaged enables the driver of the automobile to decide whether to use the rear drive or the four-wheel drive; in this way, the driver can use the rear drive in optimal conditions of adherence and can use the four- wheel drive in poor conditions of adherence," it is mentioned in the patent application according to the aforementioned source.

Nevertheless, the hybrid system still has some similarities with the current hybrids prepared by other manufacturers. For instance, the system will be solely used for starting the car from a naught, in order to reduce fuel consumption as much as possible. Moreover, the system would only start the combustion engine when the car runs with a speed higher than 10 mph (16 km/h) to reduce CO2 emissions at low speeds.

There will be two different modes available, city and performance, which could allow drivers select the most appropriate driving style and optimize engine performance, emissions and fuel consumption. Sensors installed outside the car, such as the ones for rain and temperature, will be used to control the all-wheel drive system and activate it whenever the driver needs it.