In June 2009, Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa reiterated Ferrari's direction in powertrain development, hinting more strongly than ever that a hybrid concept is in the works (according to Car and Driver magazine). The Ferrari Hybrid, the company loosely confirms, is slotted to debut from the exotic car company by a target date of 2015. The company representative also hinted that the debut of the new hybrid machine may not be in Europe (as is often customary), instead hinting that the car will make is world premier on U.S. soil, quite possibly in the progressively green friendly yet still smog ridden and transportation jammed state of California as early as in the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. That leads us to question the manufacturers intentions: why there? why now? why tell us this week? Taking a quick look around any news column and you'll know: Ferrari corporation is making their announcement hot on the heels of a press release by new competitor Tesla Motors, who plans to open global dealerships before the end of Summer 2009. Whatever their motives, however, we're proud of them for making the auto technology leap and for thinking about how to make speeding and environmentally friendly sound like a green light proposal for the 21st century.
WHY IS FERRARI PLANNING TO DEBUT A HYBRID CONCEPT CAR IN 2009 WITH PRODUCTION SLATED FOR 2015?
Ferrari does not have to produce a hybrid machine, that's for sure. It's buyers seldom ask about gas mileage, as they are usually in an income bracket that does not worry about how many pennies it takes to fill a gas tank for everyday commuting. However, that does not mean that it is not a good idea for them to get with the global conscious program and start thinking about going green, despite the fact that they are and forever will be likely to remain an exotic car company.
Is it pipe-dreaming speculation or simple logic that suggests Ferrari is going to bring out a hybrid finally because Formula One is mandating regenerative braking be added to F1 cars starting in 2010 (going from memory on the year here)? In the world of green super trends the reason does not seem to matter as much as actually having the product testing done on the track first, followed by applying the new technology to street legal machines by Ferrari's target production year 2015.
Combining a global upper class desire for both speed and environmental responsibility, Felisa's comments may be here at a time that, quite frankly, seems both calculated as a gaming offense and staged as geo-political marketing defense simultaneously.
The announcement from the Fiat Group controlled Ferrari comes hot on the heels of pioneering American car company Tesla Motors making its announcement of it's intention to open international dealerships. Marketing their Roadster as a green exotic car to a growing celebrity and socialite market in the United States is a strategy that is apparently working, as the company has been making headline news in the media and delivered it's 500th roadster model recently.
As green cars become the fashion trend of all the celebrities, new car models based on hybrid and electric power are sure to make history.
Click HERE to read more about the Green Exotic Car market
Ferrari in fast driving race with Tesla Motors to win first place in Green Exotic Car buyers market
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