Ferrari to Focus on Aluminum, Not Carbon Fiber Says CEO
This past weekend, Ferrari introduced its newest F12 Berlinetta model to the American public out at Pebble Beach. It’s currently the Italian automaker’s most powerful road car yet, boasting 731-hp and 509 lb-ft of torque from its 6.3-liter V12 engine.
Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa took the opportunity to speak about the automaker’s future as well, focusing on the fact that Ferrari has no intentions of switching to carbon fiber anytime soon. While other exotic automakers are starting to use plenty of carbon fiber on their products – such as Lamborghini and McLaren – Ferrari believes it’s still too early to incorporate the material extensively in its products.
According to Felisa, carbon fiber technology won’t be where the automaker needs it to be until 2020. He believes that the current resins used are just too heavy and lack the mechanical characteristics that Ferrari desires on its vehicles. The F12 Berlinetta utilizes 12 different forms of aluminum in its chassis and body in order to achieve a lighter and stiffer body than the 599.
Also holding Ferrari back is production time that carbon fiber takes, with the Prancing Horse producing cars in significantly higher volume than many of its key competitors.
GALLERY: Ferrari F12
[Source: LA Times]
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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