Ferrari Hybrid HY-KERS 599No, Ferrari are not just painting their cars green in a bid to tap into a presumably growing market of sports car enthusiasts with a conscience. They seem serious about producing a fuel electric hybrid performance car. Marketing genius or missing the point? Or perhaps future European vehicle emission legislation is providing the nudge...

The experimental ('vettura laboratorio') Ferrari HY-KERS 599 debuted at the Geneva Motor Show last week and the electric motor adds to the performance by boosting the output by 100bhp. Handling is apparently also improved as the positioning and weight of the motor reduces the centre of gravity.

The hybrid is based on the 599 GTB Fiorano, with the electric motor assisting the 6.0-litre V12 petrol engine providing instantaneous torque. Goodness knows what the 0-100 km/h figures will clock in at.

Lithium ion batteries will be used for energy storage and the HY-KERS features a dual-clutch transmission, the first time a gearbox like this has been applied to a V12-engined car.

Ferrari's manufacturing facility in Maranello has also been given an eco-makeover with a photovoltaic solar power fitted in Jan 2009 which reduced the factory's power requirements by over 210 000 kWh annually. They were also the first sports car manufacturer to implement a trigeneration plant (production of power, heat and cooling) and have managed to reduce their CO2 emissions by 15 per cent. The manufacturing facility is now completely self-reliant for their energy needs.

[eurotuner]