Ferrari just gave us a glimpse of its hybrid supercar technology

Ferrari may not be the first automaker you would associate with a hybrid engine, but the famous Italian supercar manufacturer has come up with a new innovative electric turbocharger that could offer both performance and band iconic sound. This is another sign that although Ferrari has been careful about electrified sports cars, the automaker does not reject the idea immediately.

One of the lingering concerns that some high-end automakers have had about electrified supercars is the emotional connection. Maserati – which used Ferrari engines for its recent performance cars – has highlighted hearing impairments as a major concern about sports vehicles, for example. Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne, meanwhile, said last year that in the face of the Tesla Roadster, the automaker could not avoid electrification, but promised that the company would sneak up in the segment of way clearly "Ferrari". is described in a recently published European patent application, identified by AutoGuide, describing a potential electric turbocharger. Designed to be deployed in a supercharged internal combustion engine, the turbocharger could not only compress the air that would be used to help drive the engine, but also power the electric motors on the wheels.

While electric turbochargers are not new, the implementation of Ferrari would be. Typically, a turbo is used to compress the air and force more into the engine, using the exhaust gases from the engine itself to drive it. Some automakers have used electric turbochargers, which use electric motors to turn the turbo rather than relieve pressure, and thus react more quickly.

What Ferrari describes, however, would not have a mechanical link between the turbine wheel installed in the exhaust duct and the compressor. Instead, the turbine would act as an electric generator, with the car storing that power in a battery and then able to selectively apply it to either an electric compressor, or directly to the electric motors for the wheels. It should be noted that, although the Ferrari patent shows a four-cylinder engine in the above diagram, this does not imply that it can only be applied to such an engine.

However many cylinders, the system could have serious performance benefits. could also help the car to sound better, too. Ferrari points out that since it could adjust the speed of the turbine wheel, it could actually adjust the tone of the soundtrack. Even if the desire for a pleasant sound outweighs the production of more power and as the turbine speed is reduced, the battery could serve as a stop to maintain the compressor and the electric motor working.

This is not the first flirtation of Ferrari with the electrification, the spirit. The FXX-K "kinetic-hybrid" back in 2014, for example, cajoled 1,036 horsepower from its combination of a V12 gasoline engine and an electric motor. Intended solely for track use, it could deliver 0-60 mph in 2.4 seconds, but only about forty cars were produced.

The LaFerrari, meanwhile, have taken the electrification to the road. Produced in limited numbers between 2013 and 2018, it also used a V12 gasoline engine and electric motor coupling, and effectively distilled the FXX-K technology into a more usable vehicle. He delivered 950 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque, and could match the runner's performance.

According to Ferrari's patent application, the result of the electrified turbocharger system would be a softer and more responsive car. At low speeds, where turbochargers may experience a turbo lag because the exhaust pressures are not high enough, the battery system could weigh. Meanwhile, it could offer better economy and avoid accusations of "soulless" driving on the road. It remains to be seen if this will be the hybrid implementation of Ferrari's choice.