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Ferrari and the Greener Future



Details have started to emerge regarding Ferrari's new eco-friendly concept vehicle, the FXX Mille Chile. Ferrari, like other high performance vehicle manufacturers, realize that it needs to develop and introduce new technologies in order to keep selling its high-performance brand of vehicles. Ferrari has been working on many of these technologies and is showing them off on its latest concept. It's important to note that this is merely a paper and wood concept and is not slated for production. It also does not appear to have anything to do with the Millechili concept from 2005.

New technologies introduced to the public on the Millechili concept include active aerodynamics, a new type of hybrid drivetrain, adjustable steering wheel and pedal placement and high-tech (and high-cost) carbon fiber construction. Also seeing daylight are low rolling resistance tires and ceramic composite brakes. Many of these technologies have been done before, but not with quite the same intent as what Ferrari is doing.

With active aerodynamics, vehicle manufacturers have been able to add or reduce downforce as required. The Bugatti Veyron is a good example of this. But, Ferrari is changing things up a bit by reducing the size of its ceramic composite brakes and using underbody modifications to lower the speed of the car. Also, the hybrid system is different than what we are used to. Instead of being able to power the vehicle, the electric motor only seems to activate while the vehicle is being shifted. This means that an almost seamless stream of torque is routed to the wheels, even when the clutch is disengaging the engine from the transmission. Speaking of that transmission, it appears to retain the F1 style paddle shifting, but the hybrid system makes shifting faster than ever.

[Source: AutoBlog]
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