The LaFerrari hybrid supercar is an impressive blend of technology and raw power, but if you weren’t one of the lucky 499 buyers elected to plunk down roughly $1 million for a set of keys, don’t worry.
Ferrari will be building more hybrids, Luca di Montezemolo, the company’s chairman, told Bloomberg.
“I don’t believe in electric cars, but I strongly believe in hybrids,” he said.
Despite its insane price and unorthodox powertrain, the LaFerrari is already sold out. Ferrari will deliver 200 cars this year, and the balance in 2014.
Of course, the 499 buyers could just be motivated by the desire to own a very rare, very expensive collectible that they have no intention of driving. That doesn’t explain Montezemolo’s decision to build more hybrids, though.
The LaFerrari was a good idea because it didn’t break with Ferrari’s tradition of applying Formula One tech to road cars. F1 racers use a hybrid Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), which recovers electrical energy from braking. That’s exactly what Ferrari put in its flagship supercar.
Unless Formula E takes off, there won’t be any all-electric cars on the F1 grid anytime soon. However, the LaFerrari’s hybrid system connects it to the cars actually being raced in F1.
Of course, being unbelievably fast helps too. The LaFerrari’s 6.3-liter V12 and twin electric motors produce a combined 915 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque, propelling it to 62 mph in under three seconds and to a near-200 mph top speed.
It’s also important to note that, while it is a hybrid, the LaFerrari isn’t exactly green. It doesn’t even have an EV mode.
The LaFerrari may be a hybrid, but it’s still a Ferrari. As with past Ferrari flagships, its tech could also trickle down to less exotic models.
One potential candidate for hybridization is the 458 Italia’s replacement. It’s still a few years away, but rumors that it will have a smaller, more eco-friendly engine are already circulating. An adaption of the LaFerrari’s KERS could help make up for any power deficit.
Ferrari’s rivals are also turning out hybrid supercars. The McLaren P1 and Porsche 918 Spyder compete directly with the LaFerrari, while the Acura NSX is positioned against the cheaper 458.
Should Ferrari build more hybrids? Tell us in the comments.
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