Ferrari has confirmed its next generation Ferrari 612 will get a hybrid powertrain and electrically driven front wheels, making it the first four wheel drive model in the company's history.
The next one of these will have hybrid 4x4
We say 'confirmed', but there's not been an announcement through official channels - instead the confirmation is attributed to an 'inside source' at Ferrari who has spilled the beans to
magazine, saying the 4x4 set-up could appear as soon as 2014.
That's a good couple of years after the new 612 arrives around 2012, and the system under development apparently uses twin motors mounted in-board of the unsprung bits. The units are apparently suitable for fitting to both front and mid-engined Ferraris, so don't expect the electrification process to stop at the new 612.
The full hybrid 612, on which the 4x4 system will debut, could be slated for a Geneva motor show introduction in 2014 according to Autocar's musings. It is likely to feature an exotically turbocharged V8 instead of the existing machine's V12 as Ferrari attempts to tread the difficult path of exhibiting good Corporate Social Responsibility without losing its mojo. Perish the thought...