It is only a patent, but Ferrari has either lost the plot or is onto something with an upside-down hydrogen inline-six motor that could be a step in the right direction to save the beloved internal combustion engine. Here is what we can decipher from the patent so far.
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Automakers occasionally patent singular, far-reaching technologies to safeguard concepts. However, outlining an unconventional vehicle system with multiple unique characteristics is highly unusual and may warrant some raised eyebrows. Ferrari’s latest endeavour titled “CAR PROVIDED WITH A HYDROGEN-POWERED INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE” is a document detailing one of several various unconventional systems for a potential future sports car. All these patents are currently applications in both the EU and US, with a single credited inventor, Fabrizio Favaretto. Favaretto, with 24 years of experience at Ferrari, currently holds the position of “Vehicle and Powertrain Architectures Innovation Manager.”
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The patents depict a hybrid sports car featuring a rear-mounted engine and a front-mounted electric motor. While the specifics of the electric traction system at the front axle are not extensively detailed, the centrepiece remains the rear-mounted engine and transaxle. In the primary embodiment, the combustion engine is an upside-down hydrogen inline-six. Not the first time used, this configuration, reminiscent of some World War II fighter aircraft, allows for a higher placement of the transaxle, enabling the installation of a more aggressive diffuser at the rear. Interestingly enough for those that may believe an inline-six Ferrari is sacrilege, this isn’t the Italian automaker’s first foray into inline-six motors considering experimentation in the mid-1950s had the Prancing Horse create three for racing use based on the Lampredi V12. A 3.0-litre, 3,7-litre and a massive 4,4-litre with a bore and stroke of 102 mm x 90 mm were the results in the 306 S, 376 S and 735 LM respectively. This is further reinforced by comments by Favaretto who states “With the basic [physics] of hydrogen you must forget everything you know about how to design a car. Talk is cheap.”
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Unlike the naturally aspirated versions in the past, Favaretto’s patent looks at featuring forced induction for the engine. These methods include coaxially-mounted centrifugal compressors driven by an electric motor, an MGU-H type system utilizing an exhaust gas turbine for energy recovery, and even direct mechanical superchargers driven by the dual-clutch transmission’s shaft. Despite the unconventional design, the patent addresses concerns about serviceability, ensuring ease of access to vital components such as oil and coolant pumps.
Thus, Ferrari’s envisioned system is an amalgamation of supercharged, upside-down hydrogen inline-six, all-wheel-drive, hybrid sports car and while this all seems too good to be true, Ferrari’s advanced manufacturing capabilities and talented engineers could potentially bring this concept to fruition. It is promising that high-end automakers are experimenting and investing in keeping ICE alive.
