When it comes to the Ferrari 599, Jacksonville Ferrari says the numbers do more than speak for themselves. They scream performance. With 12 cylinders, 612 hp, 448 lb-ft of torque, 0-60 in 3.4 seconds, and a top speed of 205+ mph. There’s just one minor problem(two if you can’t afford the car’s $302,000 price tag). Ferrari’s amazing grand tourer achieves EPA ratings of 11/15/12 in terms of city/highway/combined mileage.
Now, I’m thinking it won’t get in the way of most Ferrari drivers. But, it still might seem a bit excessive, given the industry is supposed to focus on increasing fuel efficiency. The Ferrari 599 hybrid is scheduled to debut at the Geneva Auto Show in March. The first Ferrari hybrid will keep its big V12 engine, but add a mild hybrid system. This piece borrows cutting-edge “kinetic energy recovery system” technology from the company’s Formula 1 program. This will provide automatic stop/start functionality when the engine is idling and regenerative braking. Remember this is a Ferrari, an electric motor for an additional power boost, under certain conditions. With a 30 percent increase in fuel efficiency that may bring the 599′s combined EPA rating all the way up to nearly 14 mpg.
For those who want to get a bit more serious about saving gas, while tearing up the asphalt, BMW has officially announced the BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics concept. This car wowed crowds at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. It is expected to go into production. Although, I hope it gets a different name. The BMW concept featured a much more integrated package than the Ferrari. Packing two electric motors and a 1.3-liter three-cylinder engine are two additional features to the Ferrari. Working together, the result is 356 hp, 590 lb-ft of torque, a top speed of 155 mph, and a 0-60 time of under 4.8 seconds. If an electric-only driving range of 31 miles and fuel economy of 63 mpg is added to the BMW, it will not only save on fuel costs, but might make other drivers go green—with envy.
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Keep up with more Ferrari and BMW Vision Efficient Dynamic Concepts here soon.
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