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Ferrari is considering using turbocharging in future engines, but it needs to improve the forced induction technology before it will make its cars available with the set-up.

Ferrari engine developer Jean-Jacques His said the biggest problem the firm faced was lag.

“Turbocharging will come eventually, but we need to solve the issue of turbo lag,” he told Autocar.

He went on to explain that a delay of any sort before the power arrived was unacceptable for a Ferrari engine. ...Read the full article

I would've thought that rather than lag being the issue, the problem would be the other characteristics of most turbocharged engines, where the top end of the rev range is dulled. Ironically, despite the limitations, it was lag and a huge dollop of dynamic power that used to make turbos interesting. The important thing is that Ferrari integrate forced induction into an engine that is still exciting at the top end.

 theres no other way, turbo-lag has to be tackled head on, BMW tried for many years to stay away from turbocharging, looks like they going that route for their next gen M-Sport engines for the M3 & M5.

but i understand their concern turbocharging engines that rev easily to 9000rpm. Its going to be a technological challenge.

Porsche seem not to mind having a little lag on the 911 Turbo.

if people can live with a little bit of lag on the Nissan GT-R , then i dont see what Ferrari are afraid of

Ironic that everyone who has had the luck to drive one refers to the F40 as the best Ferrari ever.....

It's not really news is it? Turbocharging seems to be the way to go, its the emissions regulations that have pushed things that way. All Ferrari need to do is adopt the Multi-Air technology that FIAT group are intoroducing on the Alfa Mito and Punto etc I've read that it can be used on V8s. Smaller capacity (2.5 litre?) turbocharged V6 or V8s would not be a disaster, would they? If they built a turbo 2.4 V8 they could say it was based on the F1 engine ;-)

Richard H:

All Ferrari need to do is adopt the Multi-Air technology

It seems you didn't read the article... they couldn't make it work on high revs.

I don't fancy the multiair, it can only operate the intake valves, and I think there might be some reliability issues.

Who needs high revs? Multi-air maybe doesn't work at high revs now, but you can bet something similar will be developed that can. Lower revs means that the footballers and lottery winners make less noise, which is a good thing

 Wouldn't they be better off twin charging, with a little super charger at low revs and mahoosive turbo taking over that was big enough to cope with high revs?

I know where Ferrari are coming from as I am one of those naysayers who also doesn't like turbo engines in any form.

I have yet to drive a turbo that has a decent throttle response, they are all dead and lack any real energy until they have spooled up.  It's like having another level of insulation between the driver and the driving experience.

Yes, I understand people getting a kick out of cars like the F40 and the older big bang delivery turbo engines, they were exciting if not bloody awkward to drive quick round a circuit (they always seem to kick at exactly the wrong point!), but they lack finesse.

If Ferrari want to engineer around all of this before they release a turbo engine, then I say good on them!

Richard H:

Who needs high revs?

The high power output needs high revs. And footballers, etc. are the customers who pay big money to make noise.

Multiair is a bulky technology and much less effective than forced induction, like VW's TSi. That 1,4 unit is lag free and totally linear. I think its main advantage is the lower cost, so I don't think it will make its way into more expensive cars.

 We will be glad to have known these magnificent NA engines in our life.

This is the begining of the end...

 

Robbijay:

 Wouldn't they be better off twin charging, with a little super charger at low revs and mahoosive turbo taking over that was big enough to cope with high revs?

 

+1. Lancia were already using this idea in their Group B Delta S4 back in 1985 to reduce lag.

Seems a bit strange that some 24 years later, turbo lag should still be an issue really.

I suspect someone will develop a system where KERS energy will provide the initial power that will blend seamlessly with the turbo power when it cuts in.