Italian automakers can be a bit crazy and eccentric from time to time. Lamborghini made a Hummer-style SUV, Fiat sold an Abarth model that had a trunk that was welded open, and Ferrari made an AWD sports car with two transmissions. Basically, they think of really strange things, and then they create them.
In that vein of thinking, it appears that Ferrari has just filed a patent application for a V-Twin engine. You know, a two-cylinder V, like in a motorcycle. So the question is what does this mean. The prevailing thought is that the Ferrari brand may be used to field a competitor to Ducati. Sergio Marchione says he wants to compete better with the Volkswagen Group, and Ducati just so happens to be owned by Audi, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen group.
As wild and amazing as a Ferrari sports bike would be, I wonder if it isn’t the start of something completely different. Volkswagen just unveiled a faster version of its XL1 hybrid dubbed the XL Sport, and it comes powered by a Ducati V-twin. VW claims this machine will hit 168 mph; yeah, it’s quick.
Now imagine if Ferrari was working on a hybrid system that used the same type of engine. If a two-cylinder Ferrari sounds like sacrilege, it is, but what about a 10-cylinder Ferrari? Ferrari blew the world away with the unique dual-transmission setup it used to put AWD in the FF. Now imagine if Ferrari wanted to make a 458 Hybrid, but it did so by using a V-twin in the nose as a generator motor. The V-twin is strong enough that it could turn a large generator to make lots of power, and a set of electric motors in the front wheels could add all-wheel drive.
This setup would also allow the V-8 to shut off for low speed city driving, dramatically improving fuel economy. Then when you stand on the pedal, the V-8 bursts to life and you rocket toward the horizon.
Now in the actual filing there is a drawing of a motorbike for the engine, and a motorcycle is the most obvious choice, but imagine how awesome a dual-engine, AWD Ferrari 458 could be.
Yeah, I know, my mind thinks of the most amazing things. You are welcome.
Click past the jump to read more about Ferrari’s new V-Twin Engine Design.
Is Ferrari Making a Ducati Fighter or a New Hybrid? originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 2 October 2014 19:00 EST.
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