Production of the LaFerrari hybrid supercar may be in full swing, but that hasn’t stopped one automotive design graduate from doing what car designers love to do: predict the future.
Italian Adriano Raeli’s prophetic efforts focus on the next Ferrari flagship, which is surely among the hardest of subjects. Dubbed ‘F80’, the vivid concept combines radical aerodynamics with a downsized (at least by Ferrari standards) gasoline-electric powertrain.
“The F80 Concept aims to bring the most authentic F1 experience and performance to the road without compromising the brand’s class and elegance of form. The vehicle is designed with Formula 1 architecture in mind with a blend of Ferrari’s Le Mans heritage,” says Raeli, who recently completed the esteemed Transportation Design course at Art Center College.
Endurance racing may have inspired the project, but the F80’s technical specifications paint a picture of a machine surpassing even Porsche’s 917/30 Can-Am in terms of intimidation.
Gone is the LaFerrari’s naturally aspirated V12 engine, replaced by a hybridized twin-turbo V8. Ferrari is reportedly considering such an engine for the 458 Italia replacement, although it’s unlikely that the real thing will match the hypothetical 900 hp at just 1,600 rpm that Raeli’s car boasts.
Similar to the LaFerrari and the company’s current Formula 1 competitor, the F80 would make use of a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) capable of supplementing engine power by a massive 300 hp. The sprint to 60 mph is dispatched in a nominal 2.2 seconds, largely due to the car’s modest 800 kg kerbweight.
Top is speed is 310 mph, owing to the F80’s complex aerodynamic properties. That kind of speed may seem outrageous now, but with this car set 15 years into the future (Ferrari’s next hypercar is tentatively penciled-in for 2025) and Bugatti’s next-generation Veyron touted to hit 280 mphbefore then, anything is possible.
“Aerodynamics play an important role as the overall frontal area is decreased by the air channels that have been carved between the main body and the wheel arches. F1 A-arm suspension configuration is clearly visible through these openings. Other details such as the centralized exhaust are meant to decrease drag,” says Raeli.
In a nod to Volkswagen’s pioneering XL1 plug-in hybrid, the F80 also features staggered seats to keep the passenger cell as narrow as possible, while the overall design is inspired by the Boeing NGAD concept Fighter Jet.
source: http://ecomento.com/2014/08/26/radical-laferrari-successor-envisaged-with-hybrid-v8/
by Richard Lane
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