Ferrari Unveils World's Fastest (and Most Expensive) Hybrid

Hugh Pickens writes writes "Fred Meier reports that Ferrari has unveiled its fastest car ever, a nearly 1000 hp. gas-electric hybrid dubbed LaFerrari that does 0-62 mph in less than 3 seconds, 0-124 in less than 7 seconds, 0-186 mph in 15 seconds. "We chose to call this model LaFerrari," says Ferrari's President, Luca di Montezemolo, "because it is the maximum expression of what defines our company – excellence. ...Aimed at our collectors, this is a truly extraordinary car which encompasses advanced solutions that, in the future, will find their way onto the rest of the range." LaFerrari is the company's first hybrid and has a system that incorporates technology developed for the Scuderia Ferrari Formula One race car's KERS (kinetic energy recovery system) setup. In LaFerrari, the hybrid (HY-KERS) version uses a 6.26-liter, non-turbo, V-12 gas engine rated at 800 hp coupled with a 163 hp. electric motor for a combined rating of 963 hp. A second, separate electric motor drives the power accessories."

Re:Can't wait.

[__aaltlg1547]

Can't wait until I pull onto a freeway with one of these, driven by an idiot, suddenly is spotted in my rear view mirror fish-tailing and spinning towards me as the driver attempts to slow down and miss me. It'll be the experience of a lifetime. Of course I may not see this for the rest of my life.

If you do see it, it's likely to be for the rest of your life.

Re:Can't wait.

[0111 1110]

Can't wait until I pull onto a freeway with one of these, driven by an idiot

So you claim to be an idiot then?

Re:Not a gas-hybrid

[Anonymous Coward]

We should also make clear that this is an automobile. The term "car" is ambiguous and may give rise to the misconception that this vehicle must be pushed or pulled, perhaps in series, by a locomotive.

Additionally, the term "hp" as used in the story refers to "horsepower", not "hit points". This is not to imply that 1000hp means that the automobile will be pushed or pulled by one thousand actual horses; merely that the power is roughly comparable.

If you can imagine the resources necessary to stable and feed one thousand horses, this is an incredible engineering feat indeed! Not to suggest that engineering alone was responsible for the construction of this automobile -- indeed, one can imagine mathematics, robotics, welding, and any number of other disciplines were involved in harmony. But likely not music theory, regardless of the ambiguous term "harmony" I employed mere seconds ago.

Gas mileage

[DaveAtFraud]

Odd that neither linked story tells us what kind of gas mileage to expect. I'd hate to buy one of these and then find out I can't afford to drive it.

Cheers,
Dave

Re:"Aimed at our collectors.."

[guacamole]

I am sure we'll see a few pictures of these crashed by spoiled sons of Russian oligarchs and Saudi princes.

That whooshing sound...

[WallaceAndGromit]

...was not a hybrid Ferrari going past.