The innovative Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano-based hybrid prototype which offers increased efficiencies has broken cover in the halls of the Swiss Palexpo as it is being prepared for its public debut at next week's 80th Geneva Motor Show. The two leaked images show the special 599 GTB Fiorano dressed in a typical 'environmental' themed metallic green colour scheme with a black roof and a quick look at the unit integrated into the mechanicals of the V12-engined sports car.

Little is known about the project, in fact its existence was only confirmed by Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo during last month's launch of the new Formula 1 F10 single-seater. However Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa added more detail during a visit to Sydney for the opening ceremony of a new Ferrari-Maserati dealership in the Australian city at the beginning of the month. The test mule has been running for a year now, he told Australian reporters, and the testing has produced a reduction in fuel consumption and exhaust emissions by up to 25 percent. “We will present the new concept of the hybrid at Geneva. It will be based on the 599, but that doesn’t mean it will debut on that model,” he said, ruling out any imminent production plans. “We have a plan to introduce on our cars new technology that will reduce consumption and emissions," added Felisa. "The next step is to apply the technology on Ferrari cars without changing the characteristics they are famous for.”

Felisa revealed that the 599 hybrid will carry a 80 kg weight penalty due to the incorporation of the new "green" technology but that any production application is at least five years away. “The technology is not ready," he said. "The suppliers are not ready. Everything is underdeveloped. There is a lot of work to so. It is not for tomorrow. “We haven’t decided when [it will be introduced]. It will be around that period [2015], but not before five years.”

Felisa said that the new hybrid technology can be applied to all Maranello's sports cars, including those that are front- or mid-engined or fitted with V8- or V12-engines. “If we move on the hybrid I think the technology is applicable on all our models,” he said, adding that the engineering team that developed the KERS [Kinetic energy Recovery System] package used on the Scuderia's F60 single-seater in grand prix racing last year, would now be entrusted with developing the new technologies that aim to save fuel and reduce emissions.

Rather, the first production fuel-saving technology will debut on the California in 2011. “If you couple direct-injection with other technology [a fuel consumption and emissions reduction of] up to 15 per cent is possible. “Then there is cylinder deactivation, stop-start, electric motors for certain functions, we will launch the first of these on the California next year.” Parent company Fiat Group has already introduced the fuel-saving stop-start technology across models in the Fiat Automobiles range, including the 500 and Punto Evo.