Ferrari’s starting model uses a V6-electric plug-in hybrid, but the company is clear that not all its cars will downsize. They want to keep the V12 engine running as long as possible, even as they prepare to release their first electric supercar.
“We will keep making V12 engines without turbochargers until the law says we can’t anymore,” said Emanuele Carando, Ferrari’s global marketing director, in an interview with the Australian website CarExpert. He also mentioned that synthetic fuels might help keep the 12-cylinder engine around longer.
Rival Lamborghini is also sticking with the naturally-aspirated V12, but it’s uncertain how long they can continue without facing tougher regulations. In the European Union, they plan to stop selling new gasoline cars by 2035, with a small exception for some synthetic fuels. The United Kingdom has similar rules set for 2035. While our rules aren’t that strict yet, tougher emissions laws are on the way.
Interestingly, Ferrari thought about giving their new V12-powered GT, the 12Cilindri, a hybrid boost. But in the end, they introduced it without electric power. “We wanted to stay true to our roots,” Carando explained. “A naturally-aspirated engine with electric parts, in our opinion, would add weight without much real improvement in performance.”
That doesn’t mean Ferrari thinks electric motors are only good for windows and wipers. They’re developing their first mass-produced electric car, expected around late 2025. Executives promise it’ll be a “genuine Ferrari,” which isn’t surprising — can you imagine them saying it’d be a fake Ferrari?
Carando told the Australian website Drive that Ferrari isn’t obsessed with making the fastest EV. “Speed isn’t our main goal for selling cars,” he said. “We want a fast, agile, and enjoyable driving experience.”
While some brands use electric motors’ silence as a big selling point, Ferrari wants their EVs to make noise. It won’t be a fake sound mimicking a V12 or V8, though. It’ll be “real,” Carando assured, likely tailored to how electric motors sound. Maybe the motor’s whine? Other details, like where the EV will fit in their lineup, are still undecided.
Ferrari isn’t going fully electric. They predict that by 2030, EVs will make up about 40% of their sales. Plug-in hybrids will also be 40%, and the rest, 20%, will be traditional gasoline cars. What comes next depends on rules and what customers want.
“In the end, it’ll be up to customers to choose between a traditional gasoline engine, a plug-in hybrid, or an EV.”
