If they can overcome the considerable problem of unwanted lag, Ferrari are considering introducing turbocharged engines in their future line up.
Jean-Jacques His, Ferrari’s chief engine developer, said that “turbocharging will come eventually” but lag, the time between pressing the accelerator and the engine power being boosted, will have to be solved. Ferrari have been trying to work with Fiat’s variable valve force induction technology called Multiair on the V8 of the F430, but have so far not succeeded because of the substantial power output and high revs involved.
The Multiair system seems to provide benefits when it comes to torque output, but any delay introduced by adding turbos would simply be unacceptable to Ferrari and its drivers, even if they are a way of keeping to strict emissions criteria. Appearing to favour a similar approach to BMW, Ferrari have been looking at a twin turbo arrangement to try and reduce lag, a way of spreading the boost right across the power band rather than delivering one big lump of power.
The turbocharged approach is part of a range of new technologies being introduced to the Ferrari powertrain to improve efficiency, with direct-injection first appearing on the Ferrari California, dual-clutch transmission used on current V8s and probably moving to V12s, as well as hybrid all-wheel drive.
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