| In a sign of just how green-fuels crazed this year's Detroit Auto Show has been,
Ferrari showcases its F430 Spider Biofuel, ready to run on E85.
The flex fuel show car is more of a demonstration than a specific powertrain
direction for the Italian racing icon, which sold just over 6,400 units in 2007.
But the automaker notes that the F430 shows it can develop vehicles that can
perform at the highest, and greenest, levels.
In fact, the engineering team reports the F430 has achieved a 10hp increase at
the same RPM and a 4 percent torque boost.
Ferrari's engineering center in Maranello, Italy altered the vehicle's fuel delivery
system, while engineers made significant modifications to the engine's control
software so the biofuels can be used without any changes to the compression ratio.
Ferrari's biofuel study punctuates the greening trend that is spreading across
professional motorsports. Formula 1's technical regulations require gasoline
with nearly 6 percent biomass-based fuels. In addition, the American Le Mans
Series also announces that it will introduce E85 - the mix of 85 percent ethanol
and 15 percent gasoline - in the 2008 series.
Ferrari also will be supplying V-8 engines to the A1 Grand Prix, which also is
requiring engines to use E10 in 2008.
JANUARY 2008 |
