Silent Ferrari trials hint at hybrid SUV to come

An unusual Ferrari development car with a silent powertrain has been spied testing at the company’s private circuit in the Italian town of Fiorano.

In a video posted by YouTube user PurePerformance, the Ferrari 488-based test mule can be seen stationary on the track for a few seconds before silently accelerating out of frame. 

While the footage hints at a possible all-electric model, Auto Express says the car could be trialling a new hybrid system expected to debut on the Italian marque’s first SUV next year. 

Little is known about the motor, but the magazine says the video suggests that rather than lowering lap times, Ferrari is developing a plug-in hybrid V8 engine aimed at improving fuel economy and reducing carbon emissions. 

The company has already developed own hybrid system to boost the performance of the limited-edition LaFerrari’s V12 engine from 2013.

Despite twelve-cylinder engines being a staple of the brand for more than 70 years, Ferrari chief Sergio Marchionne has hinted that electrified V8 engines may one day replace the iconic motor, Motor Authority reports. 

As it produces less than 10,000 cars per year, Ferrari does not need to be concerned about CO2 emissions targets set by the EU. But Marchionne told Autocar they could become an issue when the SUV arrives in 2019.

“We’re going to embrace electrification and make it a mainstay,” he said.