The
wraps are finally off the LaFerrari, the name that has
been given to the Prancing Horse’s new limited-series
special, of which just 499 will be built; the
Enzo-successor made its world debut today at the Geneva
International Motor Show.
“We chose to call this model LaFerrari,” declared
Ferrari’s President, Luca di Montezemolo, “because it is
the maximum expression of what defines our company –
excellence. Excellence in terms of technological
innovation, performance, visionary styling and the sheer
thrill of driving. Aimed at our collectors, this is a
truly extraordinary car which encompasses advanced
solutions that, in the future, will find their way onto
the rest of the range, and it represents the benchmark
for the entire automotive industry. LaFerrari is the
finest expression of our company’s unique, unparalleled
engineering and design know-how, including that acquired
in Formula 1.”
For Ferrari the development of a limited-series special
like the LaFerrari represents an opportunity to
experiment with all the technological solutions that
will later filter down onto the production cars. Of
particular significance in this context is the
introduction of the hybrid system which, making full use
of the Scuderia Ferrari’s F1 KERS know-how, has resulted
in a solution that exalts Ferrari’s fundamental values –
performance and driving thrills. The hybrid technology
used, known as HY-KERS, represents the perfect
combination of maximum performance and lower emissions.
LaFerrari in fact emits just 330 g/km of CO2 but without
resorting to electric-only drive which would not fit the
mission of this model. The HY-KERS system is, however,
designed so that in future applications a car can be
driven using exclusively electric power for a few
kilometres and, during development testing, a
full-electric version of LaFerrari achieved just 220
g/km of C02 emissions on the combined cycle.
The LaFerrari is equipped with dynamic controls that are
integrated for the first time ever on a Ferrari road car
with active aerodynamics and the HY-KERS system. Thanks
to Ferrari’s proprietary logic which govern all the
systems, the car can achieve absolute levels of
performance, aerodynamic efficiency and handling without
any form of compromise in any area. A very advanced and
uncompromising approach was also taken with the interior
design which features an HMI inspired by F1 single-seaters.
Architecture
The LaFerrari’s architecture posed the first challenge
for the Prancing Horse team at the planning stage of the
design. The aim was to achieve ideal weight distribution
(59% at the rear) and a compact wheelbase despite the
extra bulk of the hybrid system. The result is that all
of the masses are situated between the car’s two axles
and as close as possible to the floor to lower its
centre of gravity (by 35 millimetres) and thereby
guarantee dynamic handling and compact dimensions.
The layout of the cabin made a significant contribution
in this regard. The seat is fixed and tailored to the
driver while both the pedal box and steering wheel are
adjustable. The driving position is similar to that of a
single-seater and was designed after consultation with
the Scuderia Ferrari drivers, Fernando Alonso and Felipe
Massa, who played an active role throughout the entire
development process.
The LaFerrari’s chassis features no less than four
different types of carbon-fibre, all hand-laminated and
autoclave-cured in the racing department using the same
design and production methods as the Formula 1 car. This
helped optimise the design: various functions were
integrated (e.g. seats and battery compartment) into the
chassis to improve torsional rigidity (+27%) and beam
stiffness (+22%) whilst cutting weight.
Powertrain
The LaFerrari is the first car in Ferrari history to be
powered by the HY-KERS system. The ICE represents the
pinnacle of engine development and research, with a 6262
cc V12 that punches out 800 CV and revs to a maximum of
9,250 rpm, a record for an engine of this displacement.
It also features a very high 13.5:1 compression ratio
and a high specific output equal to 128 CV per litre.
The engine is coupled with a 120 Kw (163 CV) electric
motor, giving it a combined power output of 963 CV.
The high torque levels available at low revs from the
electric motor allowed the engineers to optimise the
internal combustion engine’s performance at higher revs,
thus providing a constant supply of exceptional power
throughout the rev range. Total torque generated is in
excess of 900 Nm. The hybrid system is composed of two
electric motors developed in collaboration with Magneti
Marelli – one powering the driven wheels and the second
the ancillaries – and a battery pack attached to the
floor of the chassis consisting of cells that are
assembled in the Scuderia Ferrari department where the
KERS for the F138 is also made. The Scuderia’s expertise
allowed considerable savings in weight and size of the
individual components and the batteries weigh just 60 kg
while providing the highest energy density possible for
this kind of application.
The batteries are charged in different ways: under
braking (even hard braking with the ABS active) and
every time the V12 produces more torque than required,
such as in cornering. In the latter instance, rather
than the being sent to the wheels, the excess torque is
converted to energy and stored in the batteries.
The electric motor is coupled with the F1 dual-clutch
gearbox to the benefit of optimal weight distribution,
but also to boosting energy efficiency as torque is
instantly available to the wheels and, vice versa, from
the wheels to the electric motor in recharging.
Aerodynamics
Active aerodynamics play an essential role, as they
allow a complete adjustability of the car’s
configuration to attain LaFerrari’s exceptional
performance.
The engineers’ aim was to deliver the highest degree of
aerodynamic efficiency ever achieved with any road car,
with a coefficient of nearly 3, thanks to technical
solutions honed with CFD analysis and fine-tuned in the
F1 Wind Tunnel.
To boost efficiency, the LaFerrari sports active
aerodynamic devices front (diffusers and guide vane on
the underbody) and rear (diffusers and rear spoiler)
which generate downforce when needed without
compromising the car’s overall drag coefficient. These
devices deploy automatically on the basis of a number of
different performance parameters which are monitored in
real time by the car’s dynamic vehicle controls, thus
guaranteeing the ideal configuration on the basis of the
driving conditions.
Control systems
One further innovative aspect of the LaFerrari is the
integration of its active aerodynamics and hybrid system
with the other dynamic control systems aboard. This
means the car responds intelligently to driver inputs,
making for a seamless blend of unprecedented performance
and unparalleled driving emotions.
Proprietary Ferrari algorithms deliver optimal
integration of the electric motor and V12 for
instantaneous response. In cornering, for instance, the
HY-KERS keeps the V12’s revs high to guarantee better
acceleration on exit.
The LaFerrari’s Brembo braking system is also integrated
with the hybrid system, and incorporates several new
features, including new lightweight callipers designed
to guarantee correct cooling and carbon-ceramic material
(CCM) discs featuring a new composition.
The car’s extreme performance potential called for a
different tyre set-up, with 265/30 R 19 Pirelli P-Zeros
on the front and 345/30 R 20s on the rear.
All in all the car guarantees maximum driving thrills in
every situation and performance levels are top level:
0-100 km/h in less than 3 seconds and 0-200 km/h in
under 7 seconds, a lap time at Fiorano of under 1’20” –
5 seconds faster than the Enzo and over 3 seconds faster
than the F12berlinetta. LaFerrari is thus the fastest
road car in Maranello’s long history.
Styling
The Ferrari design team led by Flavio Manzoni
developed the LaFerrari’s styling working in close
synergy with the engineers to emphasise the exacting
link between form and function. The result is an
extreme, innovative design which retains close links to
the marque’s tradition. This is most evident in its side
profile: the car has a sharp, downward-sloping nose and
a very low bonnet which emphasises its muscular
wheelarches, a clear nod to the gloriously exuberant
forms of late-1960s Ferrari sports prototypes.
The LaFerrari’s body has been given a sculptural
treatment heavily influenced by its clearly F1-inspired
aerodynamics and a tail section that exudes
uncompromising sportiness.
Inside there’s a newly-designed steering wheel sporting
all the major commands, and the gear-shift paddles are
now longer and more ergonomic. The signature bridge on
which the F1 gearbox functions are clustered has taken
on a sleek, suspended wing-like shape. The whole
interior, in fact, has a fiercely track-inspired,
pared-back allure.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
|
HY-KERS system |
| Total maximum
power |
963 CV |
| Total maximum
torque |
>900 Nm |
| V12 maximum
power |
800 CV @9000
rpm |
| Maximum revs |
9250 rpm |
| V12 maximum
torque |
700 Nm @6750
rpm |
| Electric
motor output |
120 Kw (163
CV) |
| CO2 emissions |
330 g/km |
Performance |
| Maximum speed |
over 350 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h |
<3 sec |
| 0-200 km/h |
<7 sec |
| 0 - 300 km/h |
15 sec |
ICE |
| Type |
65-deg. V12 |
| Bore and
stroke |
94 x 752 mm |
| Total
displacement |
6262 cc |
| Compression
ratio |
13.5:1 |
| Specific
power |
128 CV/l |
Dimensions |
| Length |
4702 mm |
| Width |
1992 mm |
| Height |
1116 mm |
| Wheelbase |
2650 mm |
| Weight
distribution |
41% fr, 59% r |
Gearbox |
| 7-speed DCT |
Suspensions |
| Front |
double
wishbones |
| Rear |
multi-link |
Tyres(Pirelli P-Zero) |
| Front |
265/30 - 19 |
| Rear |
345/30 - 20 |
Carbon ceramic brakes (Brembo) |
| Front |
398 x 223 x
36 mm |
| Rear |
380 x 253 x
34 mm |
Electronic controls |
| ESC |
stability
control |
| High
performance ABS/EBD |
Sistema
frenata anti bloccaggio prestazionale
/electronic brake balance |
| EF1-Trac |
F1 electronic
traction control integrated with the hybrid
system |
| E-Diff 3 |
third
generation electronic differential |
| SCM-E Frs |
magnetorheological damping with twin solenoids
(Al-Ni tube) |
Aerodynamics |
active |
|
|
|
