Offsetting a 1kg Weight Increase with a 1ps Power Boost

LaFerrari, Ferrari's first special limited-production road model for VIP customers in approximately 10 years, was unveiled at this year's Geneva Motor Show in March.Geneva ShowWorld Premiere

In April, it was also presented at the Shanghai Motor Show 2013, held in China, a market where Ferrari's presence is growing year by year.Auto ShanghaiAnd in late May, a Japan Premiere event was held in Tokyo.Japan Premiere EventThe production of LaFerrari is announced at 499 units, but according to Ferrari, all units had customers assigned by the time of the Geneva Show. This is similar to the situation with previous special models.

At the Geneva Motor Show, we had the opportunity for a brief interview with Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa. Mr. Felisa, who has a career as an engineer, having led the engineering team for V12 models, was naturally in a position to directly oversee the LaFerrari development project.





──Two years after the hybrid test car was first unveiled, LaFerrari has finally been born.

"At the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, we unveiled the hybrid test car based on the V12 two-seater 599GTB Fiorano, the "Vettura Laboratorio HY-KERS". The days leading up to the birth of LaFerrari were truly challenging for us.

Produce One Less Than the Number Required

──What was the most difficult aspect for the engineering team during the development of LaFerrari?

"The LaFerrari engineering team faced various challenges in how to optimally position heavy components between the wheelbases. For example, the lithium-ion battery cells manufactured by Scuderia Ferrari, the Ferrari F1 team, weigh a total of about 60kg, and they are designed to be stored in a dedicated box-shaped space located in the rear of the carbon monocoque floor.

While HY-KERS is a very simple hybrid system, it offers significant advantages in terms of both weight and size. Including thermal management for the batteries, the LaFerrari engineering team did a truly remarkable job.





──Will Ferrari's hybrid model lineup expand further?

"I cannot comment at this stage on whether Ferrari has plans to introduce hybrid models with similar or even more advanced technological solutions to the market in the future. It was only possible to attempt such innovative techniques precisely because LaFerrari is a limited-edition model. To adopt these for regular production models, we believe further step-by-step consideration is necessary.

However, if you ask whether Ferrari is planning for EVs beyond hybrids, the answer is definitively 'no.' Whether it's a V12 or a V8, I don't believe customers would respond positively to a Ferrari without the captivating sound of its engine."