Will Ferrari’s 458 Successor Adopt A Turbo V-6?

By Viknesh Vijayenthiran
1 759 views May 14, 2013

Talk of Ferrari using a turbocharged V-6 dates back all the way to 2008 but even though we’re yet to see the automaker head in that direction, the rumors persist.

The latest comes by way of Piston Heads, which postulates that Ferrari will add a turbocharged V-6 engine to one of its models, most likely the 458 successor, within the next four to five years.

The basis for the argument were comments from Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa, who said half of the automaker’s R&D budget for the next five years would be spent on emissions and efficiency measures.

Then there’s the issue of Formula One adopting turbocharged V-6 engines in 2014. Ferrari has consistently linked its road car program with that of its F1 efforts and this is unlikely to change anytime soon.

Felisa also explained that the trickle-down of F1 technology into road cars traditionally takes four to five years, which is why we’re more likely to see Ferrari introduce a turbocharged V-6 engine in a 458 successor rather than the California successor due out next year.

Ferrari is just about to start production of a turbocharged V-6 engine, which it is building on behalf of Maserati and eventually Alfa Romeo, too. The engine is a twin-turbocharged and direct-injected 3.0-liter V-6 and in its initial application, in the 2014 Maserati Ghibli, will produce up to 404 horsepower and 405 pound-feet.

Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo has mentioned in the past that an engine smaller than a V-8 was possible. He’s also stated that the HY-KERS system debuting in the new LaFerrari will also make its way into other models from the automaker’s lineup, albeit with less potency.