RE: Ferrari bids to save V12 with new patents

RE: Ferrari bids to save V12 with new patents

Friday 25th October 2019

Ferrari bids to save V12 with new patents

Maranello insists that its flagship 6.5-litre motor must remain unsullied. We agree



Ferrari has patented a new version of its terrific V12 with detailed updates that are intended to keep it viable in the face of tightening emissions limits. Technical drawings published by the US Patent and Trademark Office show the naturally-aspirated 6.5-litre with an altered injection pattern and new induction pre-chamber, which are said to speed up the flow of gases and create a hotter air-fuel mix to boost efficiency and – crucially – leave power output unaffected.

“To obtain an engine that operates well [during cold running], the strategy commonly known as spark coupled injection has been developed,” is how Ferrari puts it in its newly approved patent. “With this strategy, a small injection of fuel is made in each cylinder just before production of the spark by the spark plug, thus generating turbulence near the spark plug at the critical moment of ignition of the air-fuel mixture.”


This represents a significant change to the usual cold running setup of a combustion engine, allowing for a faster flow of gases through the system to heat up the cat. Having the latter run more efficiently is obviously advantageous when it’s connected to twelve high-revving Italian cylinders. As will the hotter air-fuel mix provided by the new pre-chamber, also outlined in the patent.

The technical yarn goes like this: “Advantageously, the engine further comprises for each cylinder a pre-chamber…with a second spark plug [to selectively determine the] ignition of the mixture present in the pre-chamber and for triggering the combustion reaction.” The new hardware is said to speed up combustion while cleanly burning more of the fuel, too, further boosting efficiency. It’s all very detailed and clever stuff.


Ferrari’s new work on its much-loved V12 combustion motor emphasises its determination to extend the V12’s lifespan into the next decade without the help of boost or electrification. It’s in stark contrast to the route taken by Lamborghini, which has repeatedly stated that hybridisation is its preferred choice to keep a V12 in the Aventador’s successor.

Maranello is no stranger to the petrol-electric solution, having taken that route with the LaFerrari. But the firm has since stated that it believes the V12 can be further developed to conform to ever-tightening regulatory restrictions. Naturally its efforts are underwritten by the colossal prices it can charge for the final product - but it’s hard not to flag-wave any manufacturer’s attempts at keeping a pure-bred twelve cylinder engine alive and kicking.


Click here to find V12 Ferraris


Author
Discussion

cib24

Original Poster:

1,117 posts

153 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
Good. I will never be able to afford one but good for them.

Edited by cib24 on Friday 25th October 14:15

simonwhite2000

2,472 posts

97 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
True, but the longer its around the better in my eyes.

drdino

1,145 posts

142 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
Prechamber (with its own spark plug as it's petrol) like older diesel engines?

SweptVolume

1,090 posts

93 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
Great stuff!

Goes to prove that the majority of manufacturers chose to give in and conform, rather than engineer their way out of the problem.

Greg the Fish

1,410 posts

66 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
Fantastic engineering!

FORZA FERRARI!

Dave Hedgehog

14,545 posts

204 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
fantastic that they are not giving up on that glorious V12

sod paying to repair an engine of that complexity at Ferrari's rates

anonymous-user

54 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
Finally, some actual F1 tech filters down to road cars! (well, if you ignore the fact it was originally developed for large capacity stationary engines way back in the early 1900's, and has been trialed by numerous car manufactures since then.... :-)

https://drivetribe.com/p/f1-burning-lean-pre-chamb...

https://www.mahle-powertrain.com/en/experience/mah...


Black S2K

1,470 posts

249 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
Max_Torque said:
Finally, some actual F1 tech filters down to road cars! (well, if you ignore the fact it was originally developed for large capacity stationary engines way back in the early 1900's, and has been trialed by numerous car manufactures since then.... :-)

https://drivetribe.com/p/f1-burning-lean-pre-chamb...

https://www.mahle-powertrain.com/en/experience/mah...
My thoughts exactly!

Seems appropriate for Ferrari's heritage.

Funny how this outdated Diesel technology has come around full circle. These things tend to.

sidesauce

2,468 posts

218 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
SweptVolume said:
Goes to prove that the majority of manufacturers chose to give in and conform, rather than engineer their way out of the problem.
You have factored in cost? The fact this engine will come with 24(!) spark plugs means maintaining this level of tech will not be something 'Lynn in Norfolk' wants to pay for on her Ford Focus come service time...

Manufacturers don't give in and conform, they make the best compromises for the required price point. Ferrari have the luxury of being able to pass the cost of these developments on to their paying customers, who do not number very many in relation to the general buying public.

Edward Robbins

238 posts

60 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
What a wonderful refreshing piece of news! Good on Ferrari for keeping the glorious V12 alive.

All I hear about is bloody environmental protesting, carbon this, carbon that, governments trying to outdo each on who can ban the ICE first, drives me mad.

fido

16,788 posts

255 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
sidesauce said:
Manufacturers don't give in and conform, they make the best compromises for the required price point. Ferrari have the luxury of being able to pass the cost of these developments on to their paying customers, who do not number very many in relation to the general buying public.
Thye generally do though - it takes a Dyson or a Mazda (who don't sell luxury cars) to come out with innovative designs .. https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/technology/unde... .. there's no reason the technology above won't filter into mainstream cars. The idea is already used in F1 cars so to some extent it's already been developered.

wab172uk

2,005 posts

227 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
Someone won't be happy



AmosMoses

4,040 posts

165 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
God bless Ferrari!

Can’t wait to hear this thing when it’s on song cloud9

tektas

293 posts

99 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
wab172uk said:
Someone won't be happy


thumbupbiglaugh

sidesauce

2,468 posts

218 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
sidesauce said:
fido said:
sidesauce said:
Manufacturers don't give in and conform, they make the best compromises for the required price point. Ferrari have the luxury of being able to pass the cost of these developments on to their paying customers, who do not number very many in relation to the general buying public.
Thye generally do though - it takes a Dyson or a Mazda (who don't sell luxury cars) to come out with innovative designs .. https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/technology/unde... .. there's no reason the technology above won't filter into mainstream cars. The idea is already used in F1 cars so to some extent it's already been developered.
Haven't you heard? Dyson have cancelled their car because, as I've pointed out, they can't find a way to make it commercially viable... https://www.newscientist.com/article/2219673-cance...

Thanks for helping re-enforce what I'm saying! smile

Dave Hedgehog

14,545 posts

204 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
wab172uk said:
Someone won't be happy


i suspect she is smart enough to know they sell in tiny numbers and normally do very small mileage so have no real measurable impact on the environment


soad

32,877 posts

176 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
cib24 said:
Good.
Absofkinglutely.

anonymous-user

54 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
"I have always loved V12 twin-six engines, ever since I saw photographs of the first V12 twin-six Packard at Indianapolis back in 1914 and the Delage that came in second at Lyons in 1924. I have always loved the sound of the engine." ~ Enzo Ferrari

I suspect this plays a role in why Ferrari refuse to give up on the naturally aspirated V12 engine. It's in their DNA, much like Porsche and the flat six. It will be a sad day when either company no longer has one in their model range.

impprobable

47 posts

58 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all

"new ferrari patents"

yes say ferrari "we paint da engine red"

OverSteery

3,606 posts

231 months

Friday 25th October 2019
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
A bit like being alive then?