Ferrari 599 Hybrid To Land At Geneva Motor Show

FERRARI CHAIRMAN Luca di Montezemolo has confirmed today that the Italian supercarmaker will reveal a 599-based hybrid (of a sort) at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

The news follows a patent application that leaked to the press last May, and comments in June from CEO Amedeo Felisa that a hybrid model would debut at a future motor show.

While specific technical details are thin on the ground, previous reports have suggested the 599 will retain its V12 powerplant, adding a version of the KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) setup originally developed for F1.

While not a hybrid in the 'traditional' sense, the combination will reportedly result in a 30 percent improvement to fuel economy. In its standard spec, the 599 uses around 17.0 litres per 100 kilometres.

Last year's leaked patent application suggests Ferrari is also dabbling with an all-wheel-drive system that uses electric motors to power the front wheels, while a conventional petrol engine powers the rears.