Try explaining turbocharging to someone who doesn't know cars, and if you do a good job, you're likely to get a reaction something along the lines of, "then why don't they put turbochargers on all cars"? Well, that's a perfectly fair question, and the answer of course is turbo lag. It's one major downside to using spools, and it's what's keeping Ferrari, for one, from implementing them immediately.

Speaking with Britain's Autocar magazine, Ferrari engine chief Jean-Jacques confirmed that the company is preparing to use turbochargers, but that it will take time to develop a new version that will mitigate the effects of turbo lag. This confirms the patent drawings that leaked out earlier this year revealing a developmental two-stage turbocharging system from Ferrari.

Of course this wouldn't be the first time Maranello would use the spools – during the turbo era in F1, the iconic F40 (and the 288 GTO before it) was powered by a twin-turbo V8. But to make it an acceptable addition to modern Ferraris, the company may go the same route as Porsche with variable-vane turbos – or it could come up with another solution entirely.

Meanwhile Ferrari has reportedly dismissed the possibility of using the Fiat Group's new MultiAir variable valve system, finding that it wouldn't work at the kinds of revs and horsepower outputs at which Ferrari engines operate. The report does confirm, however, that the dual-clutch transmission launched on the California is capable of handling the power from V12 engines, suggesting that the gearbox may be implemented across the range for future models.

Source [Autoblog via Autocar]

 

The Italians leap frogging the Germans in the technology of turbo's sound like a dead end.

 

everybody that wants to keep pace will move to turbocharging, it's the best way to efficiently make big power. with the upcoming V8TT mclaren i would imagine the italians have taken notice. nothing quite like boost.

 

Agreed. especially with automakers trying to "go green" nowadays. they have to cut emissions on some cars so they can get their carbon credits so the best way to do that is to do this.

 

I suspect they have already done a ton of work in this area as the Enzo replacement is rumored to have a TTV8. I love the fact that McLaren has entered the fray full force...competition makes every company that much stronger.

 

Why not implement an "anti-lag" feature like on the old F1 and rally cars?

 

They should wander over to the Lancia building and dissect an S4 Delta. Lancia tried to keep turbo lag down with a SUPERCHARGER!

 

What an off the wall solution, what ever became of that?

 

That's so crazy it just might work!!!

 

Because ALS systems eat turbochargers faster than Rosie O'donnell goes through a box of donuts, to say nothing of what would be the reaction of your typical Ferrari driver of today to such a system operating. Hint:

Really poorly written article. Lag is not a concern with any kind of turbo system that's been properly matched to a given engine. You run into lag issues when you start using large turbos on small engines in an attempt to drastically increase power. In what would be a typical Ferrari application-- a 4+L V8 or 6+L V12 with two relatively small turbos running relatively low boost, lag would not be an issue. Even if one wanted to return to ~3L V8s and ~4.5-5L V12s, you can still happily add 100 hp to an engine of that nature without discernible lag. However, if you want a 600 hp 3L V8, that's another story. With that said, it's not like Ferrari is known for engines with a meaty low end, so who cares if they're peaky?

Ferrari could stick a workable turbo solution into production in a few months if they really wanted to. The only thing preventing them from doing it is likely cost, and they're not about to start from scratch on an entirely new engine platform until they absolutely have to. To suggest that they're not doing it because of lag is laughable. They could have a production engine, even a tiny one with huge turbos, with zero lag using VGT turbos, in production inside of six months if they really wanted to.