Ferrari to debut hybrid

[QuietChaos]

http://blufaction.wordpress.com/2010/02/26/the-world-as-we-know-it/

[frankiman]

[Wolfattak]

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Hybrid may not be such a bad thing. If you don't know electric motors can produce massive amounts of torque and will rev as high as you want. The downside is battery weight. What Porsche has done with their new hybrid is run a generator from a spinning flywheel. Still the same 480hp Porsche flat 6 found in a regular gt3 cup car, assisted by 2 60KW electric motors. The flat6 powers the rear wheels and the electric motors power the front.

[QuietChaos]

The REAL downside is that it`s politically correct. When I drive a sports car, I expect it to be offensive. And impractical.

A sports car`s character should not be compromised by a powertrain designed by a f****** committee.

[Wolfattak]

lemans cars have been experimenting with hybrids for a few years. Not because of political correctness but because of performance gains. It's always been part of racing to push the boundaries of technology to build the best car (except recent f1 with all these stupid restrictions). Just because it's a hybrid doesn't mean it's a prius.

[QuietChaos]

Some things should be left alone. These committees can mess with anything they want, but they should leave sports cars the hell alone. You buy/build a sports car to enjoy it, not to save gas..save that for the economy cars. These hybrid powertrains don't increase performance..all of these manufacturers are just jumping on the hybrid bandwagon to make money.

"Back in my day, sports cars sucked gas, not c**k."

[Wolfattak]

Well imo having an extra 120hp at the tip of your finger when you need it is something I would call a performance gain. The electric motors only run for a few seconds when you want them too. They harness the kinetic energy lost while braking (usually wasted energy) and when you activate the motors (button in cab) The motors only have enough power to last about 6 to 8 seconds until you brake again to recharge. So it doesn't rob any power from the motor, it only adds a small amount of weight, and it's very useful to squeeze by another car on a short straight. Hybrid just means it's a combination of power sources, it doesn't mean it's built for economy. This technology has been used in F1 and lemans for a few years and has proven very effective. All this hybrid crap on the roads today is exactly that, crap, but the hybrids used in racing are very effective and can make all the difference in a race.


Also I want to point out that economy is a majour part of racing (especially endurance racing) You can't win when you're constantly pulling into the pits for fuel. That's why the audi diesels have been winning.

[QuietChaos]

Fair enough. Like you pointed out, the hybrid tech used in road cars is still crap. Some of the performance gains are offset by the increased weight, and these types of cars will end the days of the DIYer and enthusiast. EV's are the worst for this. How do you mod an EV? Upload a V8 soundtrack?
Many current hybrids are a waste of time..essentially standard vehicles with standard engines and a tiny electric motor so they can say it's a hybrid..and then they jack up the price by 20% and people buy them thinking they're making a difference.
I do see KERS being incorporated in road cars..regenerative braking has already been used in at least one or two production cars, and BMW plans on including KERS-style tech in their future road cars. Still can't call a car with regenerative braking a hybrid though.
I'm somewhat okay if the hybrid tech used enhances the performance of the car..but if it compromises the experience of driving the car in any way, it's not worth it. And right now, just about all road cars with hybrid tech take away from the experience.

[Wolfattak]

I agree. Modern road "hybrids" are nothing but a gimmick. OMG you can get a Tahoe, that is stupid enough to begin with, add a **** load of extra weight, give it less power and still only get in the 20s for mpg. Some people say that electric cars are the future but I disagree, Unless someone finds a way to get rid of all that battery(or fuel cell) weight and the half-day recharge time they're poop. The KERS system is great, and I think it exploits the limits of the possibilities of electric power, just an assist and nothing more.

[QuietChaos]

The GM SUV hybrid was the specific car I had in mind when I was typing up that post.
EV's fail for several reasons:

-The half-day recharge time, as you mentioned. Not everyone has the convenience of leaving the car to charge over 12 hours.
-Mediocre range. Drive a few hundred miles and your car dies. Forget ever going on a road trip again. In a conventional ICE car you can fill up every few hundred miles and get going a 5 minutes. You simply cannot do that with an EV.
-Environmental impact. No, your EV does not emit any gases that damage the environment. However, the process used to make the car, and especially the batteries, did damage the environment. Point number 2:



-The people that drive them. I don't want to be a part of this group. Think your average 240/Stang owner is bad? Try a Prius owner. I'll bet that a fair percentage of them are misled and believe that they are genuinely making a difference for driving this car, and will pat themselves on the back for it. A Bono type character comes to mind.

-The EV is the anti-car. I drive my car, my car does not drive me. Driving an average hybrid or any EV is completely different from driving a normal, sporty car. These cars are robotic, soulless.

EV's are good as city cars, nothing more. The range and top end(if you can even call it that...) really limits it to the city. I'd also like to add at this point that I hate cute little city cars.

[Wolfattak]

-The people that drive them. I don't want to be a part of this group. Think your average 240/Stang owner is bad? Try a Prius owner. I'll bet that a fair percentage of them are misled and believe that they are genuinely making a difference for driving this car, and will pat themselves on the back for it. A Bono type character comes to mind.

Hahaha, Reminds me of that episode of South Park when kyle's dad gets a hybrid. Too lazy to find a clip atm.

[QuietChaos]

http://www.watchsouthparkonline.net/season-10/episode-2-smug-alert/

I'm watching it right now, hilarious. If someone ever tried to lecture me about driving a guzzler, I might not be able to stop myself from violently strangling them to death.

I won't get more than a combined 16mpg from my T/A or 20 from my BMW, but I'd rather pay the price than be a prick in a hybrid. Seriously, they call BMW drivers pricks..

[raijin-xiii]

noooooo we have to go back!!

[R33-GTSlove]

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Hybrid may not be such a bad thing. If you don't know electric motors can produce massive amounts of torque and will rev as high as you want. The downside is battery weight. What Porsche has done with their new hybrid is run a generator from a spinning flywheel. Still the same 480hp Porsche flat 6 found in a regular gt3 cup car, assisted by 2 60KW electric motors. The flat6 powers the rear wheels and the electric motors power the front.

i think thats badass!

[QuietChaos]

Quiet, you. Only hybrid bashing is allowed in this thread. Take your open-mindedness elsewhere.




Jokes, jokes.