Ferrari 296 GTB Unleashes 818 HP Through Hybrid V6

June 24, 2021 – Ferrari may now have the perfect answer to the V6 super-hybrid McLaren Artura, and it comes in the form of the new Ferrari 296 GTB. Built with a mid-rear engine V6 coupled with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, this new creation from Maranello puts out a staggering 818 hp. Biased or not, Ferrari says their newest creation defines fun to drive and maximizes usability and driving pleasure.

Ferrari may not have an EV on the market yet, but the 296 GTB definitely shows that the company is willing to step out of its 8 and 12 cylinder comfort zone. The supercar sports the company’s first ever V6 engine in a road car, which alone puts out 653 hp. For comparison, the V6 and electric motor combined in the Artura make 671 hp. That’s not far off for Ferrari’s base number, so once you factor in the electric motor that’s putting out 165 hp, that makes for one fast prancing horse! Attached to the V6 turbo ICE is an 8-speed DCT and E-Diff, while the electric motor is separated from the ICE by a clutch to decouple them in electric-only mode. 

The Ferrari 296 GTB also stands out for its newest features that manage the two engines. Called the eManettino, a power selector in the supercar, it is capable of selecting between 4 different drive modes. eDrive, hybrid, performance, and qualify are the modes to switch between, and are in order of performance. eDrive is strictly for the electric motor, hybrid allows for maximum efficiency between both motors, performance keeps the ICE on at all times for maintaining full power, and qualify is everything tuned to the max. 

Ferrari is set to release the 296 GTB in Q1 of 2022, with a starting price of $321,000. 

Hongqi S9 Debuts As 1,400 HP Hybrid Hypercar

May 04, 2021 – A joint venture between Silk EV of Italy and FAW has come to fruition, with the announcement of the beginning of development of a series of ultra-luxury, high-performance sports vehicles. This new line of full electric and hybrid luxury models falls under the Hongqi ’S’ series, and to prove that they mean business, their first model of the series is an ultra-luxury hypercar, the S9. With Walter de Silva, former Volkswagen design chief, overseeing the design of the S9, it’s bound to not only hit incredible performance numbers, but also express a beautiful, aerodynamic design. 

The Hongqi S9 was debuted at the 2019 Frankfurt international Motor Show as a concept, but soon hit the Auto Shanghai show in 2021 as the real deal. Similar to the concept, the S9 features a V8-based powertrain with a plug-in hybrid motor that combines to make 1,400 hp. Silk-FAW claim that the car will do 0-62 mph at an incredible 1.9 seconds, with a top speed just over 250 mph. As of now, the joint companies have given out too many details about the hypercar, but from pictures alone, the car itself is beautiful, and has all sorts of aerodynamic features, along with unique air-vents for cooling.

If you take a close look at the headlights, you’ll see integrated air ducts. At the rear, you’ll find a louvered rear window, a fairly subtle wing, and a pretty aggressive carbon fiber diffuser. Speaking of carbon fiber, the hypercar is covered in it! 

Hongqi, which means “Red Flag” in English, is already accepting orders for the S9, and production is said to begin soon with deliveries starting as early as 2022. Only 99 S9’s will be built, with an estimated price of $1.45 million, or about $1,035 per one hp! 

Silk and FAW are building the Hongqi S9 to be sold in the global market, so there is a chance North America will be blessed with a few examples!

McLaren Artura Hybrid Supercar Set To Be Revealed February 16

Feb. 2 – McLaren has been spawning more supercars than we can keep up with, recently the Sabre, and now the all-new McLaren Artura. What seems to be a similar looking platform to recently departed models such as the 570S, is actually a brand new design, and powertrain. The McLaren Artura, due for launch on the 16th of February, is being hyped by McLaren as a platform that will follow the footsteps of some of the greatest cars McLaren has ever made, including the Senna, Speedtail and Elva.

The McLaren Artura will make its debut as an all-new high-performance Hybrid Supercar, housing a twin-turbocharged V6 combined with an electric motor. This powertrain is designed to retain all of the performance benefits from McLaren’s larger V8 engine options, but come with the added advantages of improved torque in the lower rev ranges, and an option of running the Artura on only electric. This option, however, will most likely be for city jaunts as it’s not a full electric vehicle, so the battery will most likely be fairly small.

The McLaren Artura is also going to be built around their new carbon fiber chassis, known as the McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA). Because of the batteries for the hybrid system, the carbon fiber chassis is a smart move to offset some of that added weight.

Tune in on February 16th for the official reveal to see just how incredible their new Artura is!

Lamborghini Goes Topless With the Sian Roadster

July 10, 2020 – It’s difficult enough getting your hands on any newly built Hypercar, but Lamborghini is only producing 19 units of their new Sián Roadster. Sorry folks, but unless you have heard otherwise, this 807-hp beast is already sold out.

Housing the most powerful V12 engine Lamborghini has produced to date, there was no doubt that the Sián would be swiped before even being announced to the public. Nonetheless, this powerhouse also incorporates unique hybrid technologies, rocketing the Sián to 60 mph in under 2.8 seconds, with a top speed of 220 mph.

The futuristic design is beyond remarkable. Every inch of this Roadster was designed for superior aerodynamics, and of course, feeding air into the insanely powerful V12 sitting right behind its occupants.

When it comes to the hybrid aspect of the Sián, there is a small 48-volt e-motor that was strategically incorporated into the gearbox, delivering up to 34 extra horsepower, providing immediate response and improved performance.

You may be wondering why Lamborghini decided to make such few units of their new Hypercars, and there is one simple answer to that. 19 units of the Sián Roadster and 63 units of the Coupe combine to form the year 1963, in which Ferruccio Lamborghini founded the company. The entire car is a nod to the history of Lamborghini.

Because the Coupe and Roadster sold out before most of us even heard about them, there isn’t a clear price, but sources say there is a price tag of $3.6 million. You may be able to buy a couple Veyrons for that price, or even a handful of Aventadors, but come on, sitting in the roofless Sián with a screaming V12 pushing over 800 ponies behind you should be worth the price of admission!