BEIJING MOTOR SHOW: Ferrari HY-KERS Concept

Alongside the new F12berlinetta that was unveiled at the Geneva motor show in March, the Italian company used the 2012 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition to throw the wraps off its much-discussed and long-anticipated hybrid, the HY-KERS.

Ferrari says the HY-KERS is now out of the experimental phase and will move into the development phase in "the coming months".

With claimed reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of 40 per cent accompanied by an electrically-driven performance boost, the 599 GTB Fiorano based Ferrari hybrid uses what the company describes as a "mid-rear engine layout".

The new powertrain layout is combination of exotic and mundane ingredients: a V12 powerpant, an electric motor, a lithium-ion battery pack and a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

Ferrari claims the combination increases power while reducing consumption and emissions while coming close to the declared target of making one extra kilowatt for every extra kg of extra weight brought about by hybrid technology.

The hybrid's electric motor "delivers power using one of the gearbox's two clutches and is mated to one of the two main shafts" and uses regenerative braking to charge the batteries. A second electric motor located at the front of the petrol engine powers auxiliary systems such as steering, brake servo and air-conditioning.

Other than saying the hybrid will benefit from Ferrari's F1 knowhow, no performance or economy/emissions claims have yet been made, other than the 40 per cent expected gains in economy and CO2 emissions.

The hybrid Ferrari concept comes at a time when China occupies second spot worldwide as the company's most important market.

Last year, the company sold 500 cars in mainland China, 75 per cent better than the year before and well above the average market growth of 65 per cent. Ferrari currently has 15 dealerships in China, with a total of 20 expected to be established before the end of this year.

Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa also drew attention to the permanent exhibition dedicated to Ferrari at Shanghai's World Expo Park in the Italia Center in May.

"There we'll present a special series of our 458 Italia model with a special livery, sporting the "longma", the characteristic Chinese symbol, the legendary dragon-horse, the perfect symbol of Chinese culture and Ferrari," he said.

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