Ultra-Efficient Ferrari California To Debut At Paris: Report

Ferrari will reportedly reveal a more efficient version of its California convertible at this month's Paris Auto Show, previewing its plans for tackling Europe's tough Euro V emissions laws.

According to reports out of Italy this week, Ferrari has developed a more efficient and 'environmentally-minded' version of the California's 4.3 litre V8 engine.

While Ferrari has experimented with and confirmed plans for hybrid systems in the future, the tweaked California is expected to instead feature an automatic start-stop system and KERS-like brake-energy regeneration technology.

Improvements to the engine itself are expected to include internal revisions for reduced friction, an updated direct-injection system and cylinder deactivation - a first for Ferrari.

Future emissions-driven projects at Ferrari are expected to include V6 and hybrid powertrains.

Speaking with British paper Autocar earlier this year, Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo said that while the supercarmaker's focus must continue to be on performance and pleasure, a return to six-cylinder engines is a possibility.

When asked if Ferrari's push for powertrains more in-line with Europe's tightening emissions laws would mean adopting a V6 engine, di Montezemolo replied, "An engine smaller than a V8? Why not?"