"Ferrari Enzo Replacement Will Have Carbon Chassis and Mid-Mounted V12"
From Inside Line
Just the Facts:
- The Ferrari Enzo replacement will use a mid-mounted V12.
- It will feature carbon composite construction.
- A hybrid system is in development and likely to debut in the Enzo replacement.
- Production models will continue to use an aluminum chassis.
REGGIO EMILIA, Italy — Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa has confirmed that the replacement for the Enzo will have a mid-mounted V12 and use a carbon-fiber chassis. Speaking at the launch of the 458 Spider, Felisa told
Inside Line that the car may also employ hybrid technology and confirmed that, "Ferrari is testing hybrid prototypes."
The CEO admitted that some of the knowledge gained from the development of Ferrari's Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) in Formula One could prove relevant to road cars. However, he said that any future Ferrari hybrid system "must focus on improving efficiency and not just be about performance." The introduction of hybrid technology on a future Enzo replacement would be consistent with Ferrari's philosophy of using these cars as test beds for nascent technology.
The use of carbon-composite construction in Ferrari's hypercars is nothing new — both the F50 and the Enzo employed a carbon monocoque. However, Ferrari will not follow McLaren's lead in introducing the technology on regular production models.
"Today it does not make sense," Felisa said. "The weight benefits compared with an aluminum chassis [such as the 458's] are very small and the costs are huge. In the event of an accident, it is also very difficult to identify whether the chassis has been damaged."
Inside Line says: Carbon chassis, V12 power and hybrid sounds like a recipe for a Bugatti Veyron-baiting hypercar."
Ferrari Enzo Replacement Will Have Carbon Chassis and Mid-Mounted V12