Patent search confirms Ferrari working on all-wheel drive hybrid
by Jeremy Korzeniewski on May 22nd 2009 at 7:59PM 
Ferrari all-wheel-drive hybrid patent images - Click above for an image gallery
We've known for quite some time that Ferrari was working on a hybrid sportscar, so it's not too surprising to see these patents for a new all-wheel-drive vehicle with hybrid propulsion filed by Ferrari back in February. The Italian automaker's documents suggest that this particular design is intended to "improve the drivability of a sports car in conditions of poor grip," not necessarily to improve the vehicle's overall environmental friendliness.Ferrari outlines four possible ways it could introduce its hybrid technology and illustrates the design with six individual diagrams, which you can see below. In each of these possible designs, one set of wheels would be powered by the car's internal combustion engine through a locking differential, while the other set of wheels would be motivated by either a single electric motor or by two smaller in-wheel electric motors.
Ferrari believes a system such as this could provide the advantages of all-wheel drive while keeping the weight low and allowing the driver to choose standard rear-wheel drive when desirable. Of course, depending on the on-board batteries and electronics used in such a system, the car could potentially be powered solely on electricity under certain circumstances, reducing fuel consumption and lowering overall emissions. Click here to see the actual patent filing and check out the images in our gallery below.
[Source: European Patent Office via Autocar]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
VW GTi 8:14PM (5/22/2009)
Even the Italian Prancing Horse is developing hybrid technology. It was only a matter of time. All-wheel drive will be interesting.
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naggs 1:41PM (5/23/2009)
i really do not understand why all hybrids are not like this
you need the motor/generator on the front axel to recapture braking energy, it always seemed unnecessarily complicated and redundant to have the electric and ICE powering the same axel at the same time
this is the best way to get back that kinetic energy while doing as little damage as possible to rwd dynamics
Trevor 12:47AM (5/24/2009)
Nailed it, naggs.
Yet when it comes to the "terrible idea" of a hybrid sports car,... Well lets just say that the full power and immediate responses of electric motor really push the limit of sporting automobile up a notch.
And if that's what Ferrari is intending to develop, count me in.
Cheers
Sea Urchin 8:27PM (5/22/2009)
I really am surprised that Ferrari and Lambo and Maseratti just let Tesla come in and become the face of sporty hybrids.
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efw 8:36PM (5/22/2009)
but tesla *isn't* a hybrid.
why not the LS2LS7? 8:51PM (5/22/2009)
The Tesla isn't a hybrid and it is outperformed by its cheaper, lighter, gas-powered cousin, the Lotus Elise. And that's even before you talk about range.
Reydli 11:04PM (5/22/2009)
Dear sea urchin,
It's a good point but Ferrari really isn't looking to make an electric or hybrid vehicle. Those companies are low volume manufacturers and by those I only mean Ferrari and Maserati. Lamborghini is under a German regime and to be honest you can expect to see anything out of that camp. Back to business, Ferrari and it's principles are only worried about racing. They build cars to finance their racing activities which are dominated by racing fuel and rear wheel drive. The day I or you see formula 1 powered by a electric or hybrid propulsion system then it's all down the drain for us purist. The aftermath of such an event will trigger such a vehicle by Ferrari.
Stephan Wilkinson 9:00PM (5/22/2009)
Who draws these patent-application diagrams? They all, no matter what the company, whether it's Microsoft or Ferrari, look like they're done by a six-year-old.
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ScuderiaFerrariF1 10:51PM (5/22/2009)
I believe it's a standardized format dictated by the patent offices. They want consistency with the drawings instead of having some companies have different markings represent different things (ie. hashed marks usually means a section view)
aj121489 9:07PM (5/22/2009)
This is a sad day
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Reydli 11:11PM (5/22/2009)
Don't be worried by such an event. Read my comment. I take it that you are also a purist?
naggs 1:42PM (5/23/2009)
i still think that a hybrid sportscar is a terrible idea but this is the best way to do it if you must
Michael 9:25PM (5/22/2009)
I 'm more shocked about the AWD. O_O
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tgriffinsb 9:41PM (5/22/2009)
Well, Ferrari is owned by Fiat. Maybe they're doing the R&D on the parent company's behalf.
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macshome 12:02AM (5/23/2009)
Well, Ferrari does run the KERS hybrid system in F1 this year.
larry a 10:01PM (5/22/2009)
Hybrid Ferrari = WTF
AWD Ferrari = WTF
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aj121489 10:16PM (5/22/2009)
EXACTLY
Reydli 11:37PM (5/22/2009)
Hybrid Ferrari no, All-wheel-drive maybe but as described in my plea. If such an event like a hybrid Ferrari were to occur then that will be the day that I,you, and all purist alike will have to turn to then, the last real sports car companies like TVR and Panoz.
Tourian 6:16PM (5/23/2009)
I agree, WTF. It goes against everything Ferrari is supposed to mean. If they do this I might have to stop dreaming about owning one.
Reydli 10:43PM (5/22/2009)
I'm not an engineer but I tend to know a thing or two about cars. From what I saw, I think it goes like this.
Figure one: This looks like a mid-engine layout with split 50/50 all-wheel-drive but I think it lacks the kinetic energy recovery system, I could be wrong.
Figure two: This two is a mid- engine layout but it's not all-wheel-drive. This sample is the traditional ferrari layout with a kinetic energy recovery system.
Figure three: This one is like figure one with the exception that it doesn't look like a 50/50 all-wheel drive, I think that the system employed here is much like the Nissan GT-R ATTESA E-TS which allows you to choose power distribution. It also seems to lack the KERS.
Figure four: This looks like a front-mid-engine with rear-wheel-drive and it's accompanied by the KERS.
Figure five: It looks like figure four but it has it's mechanism rearranged.
Figure six: Like figure two, it's your traditional Ferrari with front-mid engine and rear-wheel drive.
My conclusion is that if Ferrari is looking to make an all-wheel-drive it will most likely go with figure three. The reason for this is Ferrari purist such as myself and honestly I, like other purist will be able to swallow such a blasphemous drive layout by allowing me to choose how power is distributed. If any Ferrari technician is reading this please send my advice to the big head such as Montezemolo, Ferrari, Felisa, or Coppa. Please listen to my warning or maybe you sould just make an SAV or maybe a four door sedan like the German or the british. I like both brands but lost me as a fan.
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