Ferrari 599 Hybrid: Yes, really

Everyone wants to be green these days, even Ferrari. So the company trotted out some less fuel-hungry beasts at Geneva, including this hybrid 599.

The lime green 599 HY-KERS vettura laboratorio (that's experimental vehicle in Italian) was one of two "green" cars that Ferrari had on its display at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. According to the company the HY-KERS builds on the experience gained from the kinetic energy recovery system that it developed for its F1 team.

Up front is the 599 GTB Fiorano's 6-litre V12, while an electric engine has been added to the rear of the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that feeds power to the car's rear wheels. The highlighted grey panels at the bottom of the 599 are its Lithium-ion battery packs.

According to Ferrari, the HY-KERS' electric engine (above) produces over 75kW of power, augmenting the V12's 456kW. At low speeds the electric engine can be the car's sole power source.

Ferrari sought not only to keep the amount of additional weight low, but also distributed that extra mass as close to the ground as possible to aid handling. To that end the Lithium-ion battery packs (the flat silver packs marked "high voltage") are located beneath the car's floorpan, one of a modern car's major structural elements.

The hybrid bits (electric motor, electronics and batteries) add 40kg to the 599's overall weight, pushing it to around 1730kg.

As with other hybrid systems, the 599's battery pack is recharged via regenerative braking when the car is decelerated.

Ferrari has yet to quote performance or fuel economy figures, but does state that the HY-KERS emits 35 per cent less CO2 than the regular 599 GTB Fiorano.