Ferrari Engineers Assert V-6 in F80 โConcept Superior to V-12 โAlternatives
MARANELLO, ITALY – 2024/07/26 14:35:00 CEST – โคInternal Ferrari engineering assessments of the unreleased F80 concept โคcar reveal a surprising conclusion: theโค proposed twin-turbocharged V-6 engine โwas deemed fundamentally superior to a customaryโ V-12โ for the envisioned hypercar, despite the company’s historical reliance on twelve-cylinder powerplants. Documents circulating among automotive enthusiasts andโค confirmed by sources within Ferrari detail a rigorous comparison focusing โขon weight distribution, turbocharger response, and overall performanceโฃ potential. The findings, dating back to the F80’s growth phase between 2014 and 2016, underscore โa โwillingness within Ferrari to โradically rethink โคpowertrain strategy in pursuit โof ultimate driving dynamics.
The F80 project, ultimately shelvedโค in favor ofโ the LaFerrari, aimed to create a track-focused hypercar celebrating Ferrari’s 80th anniversary. โคThe debate between a V-6 โand โV-12 centered on achieving the desired โpower-to-weight ratio and responsiveness.โ Engineers argued the lighter V-6,โ coupled with advanced โคturbocharging โขtechnology, would deliver quickerโ transient response and superior handling characteristicsโค compared โฃto a heavier V-12, even one employing similar forced induction. Thisโ internal assessment highlights a shift in Ferrari’sโ engineering philosophy, prioritizing agility and technological innovation over traditional engine configuration. The decision to abandon the F80, and with it the V-6 engine,โ remainsโข a point of contention among Ferrari aficionados.
according to the internal reports, the proposed โข2.9-liter twin-turbo V-6 was projected to โproduce overโ 700 horsepower and 588 lb-ftโค of torque. Crucially, the engine’s compact dimensions allowedโ for a more central mass distribution, improving the car’s โbalance and cornering ability. Engineers specifically cited the V-6’s potential for faster turbocharger spool-up, minimizing turbo lag and providing more immediate power โdelivery – a critical factor โfor a track-focused machine. โ The V-12, โคwhile capable of generating higher peak power, was considered to suffer from inherent weight and inertia โคdisadvantages.
Theโ F80’s โฃdevelopment wasโ led by ferrari’s then-Chief Technical Officer, Mattia Binotto,โข though the โคspecific engineโ comparison was conducted by a dedicated powertrainโ team.While the LaFerrari ultimately proceeded with a V-12 hybrid powertrain, the F80’s โV-6 โassessment foreshadows Ferrari’s later embrace of smaller-displacement, turbocharged enginesโ in models likeโข the 488 โฃGTB and โthe 296 GTB. โค The internal documents โserve as a reminder that evenโ iconic manufacturers like Ferrari are constantly evaluatingโฃ andโข challenging their own established norms in the pursuit of โขperformance.
