RE: Ferrari Go Green
Tuesday 28th October 2008
The next Greenpeace company car...?Ferrari’s F430 replacement could lose displacement in favour of forced induction, according to the latest rumours circulating on the web.
Ferrari Go Green
F430 replacement signals change for the prancing horse
The next Greenpeace company car...?
The switch to a smaller turbocharged V8 will be part of Ferrari’s plan to reduce the new model’s carbon footprint, alongside measures to reduce bulk and mass.
Ferrari first signalled its greener intentions with the Millechili concept last year – a sort of shrunken Enzo with a hybrid powertrain and active aero among its many exciting innovations.
While the new F430 due next year or in 2010 won’t be anything like as advanced, a report by well-known German automotive scribe Georg Kacher for Car claims the model will mark Ferrari’s first real step towards a tree-hugging future. While the report does not claim to have an authoritative line on the new F430, it does suggest we could be getting semi-active aerodynamics, a system that taps brake energy for torque loss compensation during upshifts and something called a ‘ballistic’ valve train to maximise output at high revs.
The project is codenamed F142, and unlike today’s F430 will be a new design from the ground up. Apparently the launch will also mark the demise of a separate Spider model, as the car will only be available in coupe-convertible guise with lightweight powered hard-top.
Discussion
I disagree. For a start, nobody is going to decide not to buy a Ferrari because it's greener, but people might if the opposite is true.
Secondly, due to the costs they can put the funds into low volume tech in these cars and if it works out, it filters down to Fiat and their partners. Kind of like how ABS and various other safety devices first appear in the S Class because at that price the early, expensive new technology is viable where it wouldn't be in a 10k hatch.
Secondly, due to the costs they can put the funds into low volume tech in these cars and if it works out, it filters down to Fiat and their partners. Kind of like how ABS and various other safety devices first appear in the S Class because at that price the early, expensive new technology is viable where it wouldn't be in a 10k hatch.
If Ferrari build a car that's as fast as (or even faster than) the 430, but uses less fuel, then surely that's a good thing.
The Millechili concept was for a significantly smaller and lighter car than the current 430. I'm all in favour of Ferraris losing weight and becoming big Exiges.
The Millechili concept was for a significantly smaller and lighter car than the current 430. I'm all in favour of Ferraris losing weight and becoming big Exiges.
Sadly i think its where Marketing and facts tend to ride very different paths.
We all know that if you look at the total environmental cost of a Ferrari compared to more mainstream cars it's probably far less just down to the fact they tend to do a miniscule mileage and they are rarely scrapped (not to mention the initial low-ish volume of manufacturer. So ultimately their impact on the environment is gonna be pretty small.
However when did the facts get in the way of 'Green Politics' You only have to look at the Prius. People drive them thinking they are squirrel-friendly and environment-loving but if you looked at their actual MPG, manufacturer and what will happen to the batteries when they die then you are probably better off driving a Ferrari.
I'm sure there is alot of pressure from government and the EU to look more environmentally friendly (regardless of the actual facts) and no doubt a good percentage of the public will be drawn to Ferrari for the same reason.
We all know that if you look at the total environmental cost of a Ferrari compared to more mainstream cars it's probably far less just down to the fact they tend to do a miniscule mileage and they are rarely scrapped (not to mention the initial low-ish volume of manufacturer. So ultimately their impact on the environment is gonna be pretty small.
However when did the facts get in the way of 'Green Politics' You only have to look at the Prius. People drive them thinking they are squirrel-friendly and environment-loving but if you looked at their actual MPG, manufacturer and what will happen to the batteries when they die then you are probably better off driving a Ferrari.
I'm sure there is alot of pressure from government and the EU to look more environmentally friendly (regardless of the actual facts) and no doubt a good percentage of the public will be drawn to Ferrari for the same reason.
As a very general rule of thumb, most forced induction engines tend to have more power than their N/A counterparts right? More power, less weight seems to be what most supercars strive for is it not?
So what is it thats so offensive? Is it because we are all petrol heads and have to be seen to hate anything that is seen to be Green? Grrr...god damn them all, give me a big 9.0 litre V8 that runs on kittens and emits 999g/km of CO2 and that'll make me a true petrol head....oh wait, doesn't that happen already and get slated as well??
Just no pleasing some people is there?!
So what is it thats so offensive? Is it because we are all petrol heads and have to be seen to hate anything that is seen to be Green? Grrr...god damn them all, give me a big 9.0 litre V8 that runs on kittens and emits 999g/km of CO2 and that'll make me a true petrol head....oh wait, doesn't that happen already and get slated as well??
Just no pleasing some people is there?!
Hummm.... Ferrari are using phrases like "Twin Turbo V8" "Ballistic Drive Train" and "Light Weight" so we start complaining?
It get's me excited.
They HAVE to go down a greener route to comply with European emission standards - it's just the way it is. Maybe the F140 will be the worlds ultimate expression of performance tree hugging motoring.
All the best to them i say
It get's me excited.
They HAVE to go down a greener route to comply with European emission standards - it's just the way it is. Maybe the F140 will be the worlds ultimate expression of performance tree hugging motoring.
All the best to them i say
LexSport said:
I disagree. For a start, nobody is going to decide not to buy a Ferrari because it's greener, but people might if the opposite is true.
Secondly, due to the costs they can put the funds into low volume tech in these cars and if it works out, it filters down to Fiat and their partners. Kind of like how ABS and various other safety devices first appear in the S Class because at that price the early, expensive new technology is viable where it wouldn't be in a 10k hatch.
^ Sense being spokenSecondly, due to the costs they can put the funds into low volume tech in these cars and if it works out, it filters down to Fiat and their partners. Kind of like how ABS and various other safety devices first appear in the S Class because at that price the early, expensive new technology is viable where it wouldn't be in a 10k hatch.
Not too fussed about the 'green' things that they are doing infact that could prove to be quite good providing they can save fuel without compromising performance or drivability.
The thing that gets me is that they're only going to make these silly coupe cabriolet things. A Ferrari should be relatively lightweight not be stuck lugging around a heavy roof with the mechanism to make it work and then still need the extra structural rigidity to make the chassis not flex when the roof is down.
The thing that gets me is that they're only going to make these silly coupe cabriolet things. A Ferrari should be relatively lightweight not be stuck lugging around a heavy roof with the mechanism to make it work and then still need the extra structural rigidity to make the chassis not flex when the roof is down.
Gotta go and wipe a bit of dribble.LexSport said:
I disagree. For a start, nobody is going to decide not to buy a Ferrari because it's greener, but people might if the opposite is true.
Secondly, due to the costs they can put the funds into low volume tech in these cars and if it works out, it filters down to Fiat and their partners. Kind of like how ABS and various other safety devices first appear in the S Class because at that price the early, expensive new technology is viable where it wouldn't be in a 10k hatch.
I thought the first road car to have ABS brakes was the Jensen FF? It may have been the first company across a range but not the first car, shouldnt listen to Clarkson so much!Secondly, due to the costs they can put the funds into low volume tech in these cars and if it works out, it filters down to Fiat and their partners. Kind of like how ABS and various other safety devices first appear in the S Class because at that price the early, expensive new technology is viable where it wouldn't be in a 10k hatch.
Bizzle said:
Hummm.... Ferrari are using phrases like "Twin Turbo V8" "Ballistic Drive Train" and "Light Weight" so we start complaining?
It get's me excited.
They HAVE to go down a greener route to comply with European emission standards - it's just the way it is. Maybe the F140 will be the worlds ultimate expression of performance tree hugging motoring.
All the best to them i say
Totally agree - it's about engineering challenges. Fast car without the emissions hang-ups? Bring it on. Otherwise Ferrari would have put the biggest engine they could build in the back of a two-seater chassis if they wanted to keep the dick-swingers happy.It get's me excited.
They HAVE to go down a greener route to comply with European emission standards - it's just the way it is. Maybe the F140 will be the worlds ultimate expression of performance tree hugging motoring.
All the best to them i say
madrob6 said:
Not too fussed about the 'green' things that they are doing infact that could prove to be quite good providing they can save fuel without compromising performance or drivability.
The thing that gets me is that they're only going to make these silly coupe cabriolet things. A Ferrari should be relatively lightweight not be stuck lugging around a heavy roof with the mechanism to make it work and then still need the extra structural rigidity to make the chassis not flex when the roof is down.
My thoughts exactly - plus you know the styling will also be severly compromised by having to hide a roof in its boot. Show before go should not be what a Ferrari is about - fine, make your money by pandering to the market with that pos California, but don't make the whole range that way...The thing that gets me is that they're only going to make these silly coupe cabriolet things. A Ferrari should be relatively lightweight not be stuck lugging around a heavy roof with the mechanism to make it work and then still need the extra structural rigidity to make the chassis not flex when the roof is down.
I blame rich trophy wifes and americans for the trend to build these compromised cars!
Gassing Station | Motoring News | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff