Back in 2013, Ferrari shocked the world by introducing the gas-electric LaFerrari. And the Italian automotive producer is currently preparing to introduce its second hybrid model.
Earlier this year, a test mule based on a 488 was spotted performing silent electric driving on Ferrari’s Fiorano test track. Well, we are now back on the topic, as another test car was spotted. As you’ll be able to notice in the piece of footage at the bottom of the page, this tester was spotted in traffic, with the vehicle standing out from a distance (more on this below).
This time around, we’re talking about a contraption based on the 458 and yet this is of lesser importance. Instead, we’ll focus on the details of the vehicle.
For instance, the orange wiring visible at the back of the car talks about the hybrid nature of the car. Then there’s the massive air intake sitting atop of the engine compartment.
The late Sergio Marchionne, who passed away earlier this year following complication from surgery, had delivered multiple details on the future hybrid supercar.
For one thing, the former Ferrari CEO mentioned that the vehicle would have an all-electric mode. As hypercar aficionados among you know, things were more complicated with the LaFerrari, as this packs an EV mode that isn’t easy to access.
Maranello is set to release the new hybrid next year, with this expected to use a V12 motor. In fact, partial electrification is the Italians’ way of avoiding turbocharging their V12 motors in the quest to keep up with the ever-increasing eco pressure.
Ferrari is also expected to use the hybrid powertrain for its upcoming SUV. Codenamed FUV (Ferrari Utility Vehicle), the high-riding model has already been confirmed by the automotive producer and yet the details regarding this polarising model are uber-scarce at the moment.
