LaFerrari unveiled in Geneva

Ferrari unveiled the LaFerrari supercar at the Geneva motor show on Tuesday. The 963-hp hybrid is the fastest, most powerful and most expensive Ferrari model to date. It succeeds the Enzo. The car's name, which means The Ferrari in Italian, was chosen to underline its uniqueness in the brand's history. LaFerrari is Ferrari's first gasoline-electric hybrid model. It is powered by the HY-KERS system, which consists of a 6.3-liter V12 normally aspirated engine that delivers 800 hp, coupled with a 163-hp electric motor, giving the car a combined power output of 963 hp. Ferrari will build 499 units of LaFerrari, 100 more than the Enzo, to meet growing demand for the brand in Asia, particularly China. During an event last month in Turin, Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said the new Ferrari model is already sold out. Ferrari said LaFerrari will accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in less than 3 seconds and from 0 to 124 mph in less than 7 seconds.

OneShift Editorial Team

06 Mar 2013

Ferrari said the LaFerrari has a lap time of less than 1 minute, 20 seconds on the company's test track in Fiorano, near its Maranello headquarters in Italy. The time is 5 seconds faster than the Enzo and 3 seconds quicker than the F12 Berlinetta. Before the arrival of the LaFerrari, the 740-hp F12 Berlinetta was Ferrari's most powerful and fastest model ever

Ferrari said the LaFerrari gets 16.6 mpg, compared with 15.9 mpg for the F12 and 13.8 mpg for the Lamborghini Aventador.

Ferrari said the high torque levels available at low rpm from the electric motor allowed engineers to optimize the internal combustion engine's performance at higher revs. The LaFerrari redline is at 9,250 rpm. Total torque generated by the engine and the electric motor is in excess of 900Nm, compared with 690Nm for the F12 Berlinetta.

The HY-KERS hybrid system has two electric motors developed with supplier Magneti Marelli, one powering the wheels and the second the ancillary systems.

The battery pack weighs 59Kg and is attached to the floor of the carbon fiber chassis and consists of battery cells that are assembled in the Scuderia Ferrari department, where the KERS system is built for the F138 Formula One racecar.

The batteries are charged in two ways: during braking and every time the V12 produces more torque than required, such as in cornering.

The LaFerrari was designed by the Ferrari design team led by Flavio Manzoni. Almost all Ferrari production cars since 1951 have been designed in cooperation with Pininfarina.

Check out LaFerrari's official launch video below.

Source: Autoweek

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