All 499 examples of the brand’s $1.34 million hybrid supercar, the LaFerrari, sold out before it was even unveiled. So pleased with the results, Ferrari plans to continue down the high-performance hybrid path, as it wants to attract eco-friendly millionaires and billionaires to the brand.
The LaFerrari, powered by a V-12 and two electric motors, produces more horsepower than any other Ferrari to-date but with 40 percent of the fuel consumption.
“I want to have different Ferraris for different Ferraristi,” said Ferrari Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo in a Bloomberg Television interview. “We have a lot of parallel activities that can increase revenues without being obliged to produce more cars.”
Although the Italian automaker sees hybrids commanding a strong role in its high-performance future, it doesn’t see all-electric cars coming into play. “I don’t believe in the electric cars, but I strongly believe in hybrids,” Montezemolo added. So if you were hoping for a Tesla v. Ferrari EV showdown sometime in the future, you’re out of luck.
While Tesla might be going it alone in the performance EV world, IHS Automotive estimates that by 2016 high-end hybrid car sales will increase nearly tenfold from the 5,938 sold last year to a whopping 56,364. So it would seem Ferrari isn’t alone in its hybridized profit scheme.
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