A new patent application from Ferrari has emerged, suggesting the automaker is considering superchargers for future cars.
With the exception of a few early racing cars, Ferrari generally preferred turbocharging as a forced induction method. But a patent application published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on February 29 (and originally filed on August 24, 2023) specifically addresses supercharging.
Ferrari Supercharger patent image
According to the order, Ferrari’s main interest in supercharging appears to be packaging. The automaker currently uses turbocharged engines in their road cars, but in the application it notes that turbos require placing intake and exhaust ducts side by side, which can require plumbing with less than ideal airflow. It is also possible to spin a turbo with an electric motor, but this adds weight, notes Ferrari.
A supercharger does not have these disadvantages, according to Ferrari. In the application, the automaker discusses a way to give engineers even greater flexibility. Instead of driving the supercharger via a belt and pulley attached to the engine, as in most current applications, Ferrari proposes driving it with a set of planetary gears attached to the drive shaft.
Ferrari Supercharger patent image
An engine with this supercharging method could be part of a hybrid powertrain, Ferrari suggests. In the app, it discusses an all-wheel-drive setup with an electric motor driving the front wheels and the supercharged engine driving the rear wheels.
Ferrari is updating its lineup, although it’s unclear whether any of the updated models will feature supercharged engines. A successor to the Ferrari SF90 plug-in hybrid was detected in tests, and is expected to keep its powertrain electrified. A prototype of the 812 Superfast replacement was also spied on the roadalthough it’s unclear whether this model will add some form of electrification.