Automotive Design


4 Automotive manufacturers are adopting numerous technologies to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions, but most of this effort is concentrated on mass-produced cars. However, as Paul Stevens reports, manufacturers of supercars are now investigating hybrid and other ‘green’ technologies.


4 Les constructeurs automobiles adoptent de nombreuses technologies pour réduire la consommation de carburant et les émissions, mais ces efforts concernent principalement la production de masse. Pourtant, comme l’explique Paul Stevens, les constructeurs de supercars intègrent les solutions hybrides et autres technologies vertes à leur développement.


4 Autohersteller nutzen zahlreiche Technologien zur Senkung des


Kraftstoffverbrauchs und der Emissionen, aber die meisten dieser Anstrengungen konzentrieren sich auf in Serie hergestellte Autos. Hersteller von Supercars untersuchen jetzt jedoch die Verwendung von Hybridverfahren und anderen „grünen“ Technologien. Paul Stevens berichtet.of supercars are now investigating hybrid and other ‘green’ technologies.


Manufacturers of supercars adopt hybrid technologies


P


reviously within the Automotive Design section of European Design Engineer we have covered various technologies that are contributing - or have the potential to contribute


- to cars that are more environmentally-friendly. Generally these technologies are to be found in small ‘city cars’ or family cars, which, to be honest, are not always very exciting. When it comes to supercars, however,


manufacturers have remained focused primarily on performance and handling, with lightweight materials such as carbon-fibre composites, titanium and magnesium being used with a view to reducing weight and increasing performance, rather than for cutting greenhouse gas emissions (though this and improved fuel economy are, nevertheless, welcome benefits). Visitors to this year’s Geneva Motor Show might, therefore, have been surprised to see two concept supercars with distinctly ‘green’ credentials. Both Ferrari and Porsche displayed hybrid vehicles and made statements about the use of environmentally-friendly technologies in the future. After the success of the Ferrari 458 Italia,


which is said to have class-leading carbon dioxide emissions 307g/km and a specific power output 127HP/litre, Ferrari had two ‘green’ exhibits. The


first of these was a Stop & Start system installed in the Ferrari California, and the second was the Hy-Kers vettura laboratorio (experimental vehicle). Introduced on the Ferrari California from


March 2010, the Stop & Start system cuts fuel consumption and CO2


emissions by 6 per cent to


280g/km in the ECE + EUDC combined cycle. The system operates in just 230milliseconds, so fast that the driver barely notices the engine restarting. More striking, however, was the green-painted


Hy-Kers vettura laboratorio that aims to reduce CO2


emissions by 35 per cent on the combined


cycle (ECE + EUDC). This car is based on the 599 GTB Fiorano but, importantly, the company says that the technology may one day be fitted to all future 8- and 12-cylinder Ferraris. Thanks to ongoing research combined with experience gained in Formula 1, Ferrari believes that the technology enhances the cars’ sporty character and driver involvement (Fig. 1). One of the objectives is ensuring that Ferrari


will be in a position to comply with future CO2 emissions standards, particularly in terms of the


urban cycle. City driving is traditionally where sports cars perform badly in terms of emissions, as their engines are designed for maximum efficiency and performance at high speeds.


the cars’ sporty character and driver involvement.


Fig. 1. Ferrari’s Hy-Kers vettura laboratorio, which is based on the 599 GTB Fiorano, reduces CO2


emissions while enhancing


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