I thought our readers might be particularly interested in the February issue of Forza, (#83) which will be on the newsstands next week. You might want to check out our article entitled “Red Goes Green” which explains how the latest (and ever changing) F1 KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) technology might be adapted to a new hybrid or “Ibrido” Ferrari. (Ibrido is Itlalian for Hybrid). The aricle is written by the Editor of VeloceToday, (with help from many others). We are all eager to see it in print.
In this short article, we‘ll give you some background to how the story was developed and the use of some really amazing computer generated images.
Minasian and Keller's skill with the CAD and reflections can be seen here. Our original name for the car was "510 Ibrido" which indicated the car would be introduced in five years with a V10 engine. It may now be less that that!
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CAD Designed
Although my Ferrari Hybrid project began almost three years ago, it was stillborn until I found freelance designer Raffi Minasian’s website, Raffim.com.
It was full of interesting automotive designs and I was confident I had found someone who could help me get the Ferrari hybrid idea off the ground.
When I asked Raffi if he would be interested in sketching a hybrid Ferrari, he was immediately taken with the idea. I was hoping for a few sketches: a side view, ¾ view, perhaps even a chassis layout.
Our first configuration made use of Toyota's hybrid technology and the sketch was then put in as a CAD.
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What I
expected was the kind of drawing you might see as part of the early stages
of a design development at a custom coach builder’s studio. Some pen
and ink, maybe some color splashed about, nothing too detailed or serious. What we got was nothing of the sort.
Using the latest CAD software and a “proprietary workflow“, Raffi, working closely with design partner and digital surfacing expert, Christopher Keller, created astoundingly beautiful photorealistic art. The team put together a total package: a coupe, a barchetta, and a volumetric ghost chassis, all set against a background out of Romeo and Juliet. It was fantastic and amazed everyone involved with the hybrid project. The Ibrido was coming to life in no uncertain terms.
With modern CAD programs, the ability to detail is astounding. It can go as far as one desires.
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While reviewing a detail wheel shot, complete with brake calipers, brake discs, and lug nuts, I facetiously told Minasian he forgot the Ferrari script. “Sure, we could put
Ferrari on the calipers and a valve stem on each wheel, and the tire tread could be
physically accurate, however, at some point we have to stop or the
project would keep going and going.”
Reflections in the lines are visibile in this side view.
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Another apparent miracle was the reflections in the car’s
surface.
“Reflections and highlights are what make car designs work.
To master these reflections, is to control them with grace and fluidity
said Minasian.
KERS and Hybrids
While Raffi and Christopher were churning away at the CAD designs, the world of hybrids was changing constantly. By the time we had figured out how the latest hybrid technology worked, it was almost obsolete, or at least no longer leading edge. After all, the still-current Prius is almost ten years old. But the technology incorporated into the newer rear- drive Lexus seemed to be the way to go for our Ferrari Ibrido and by last April we had our Green Ferrari almost ready for the road.
Then came the great KERS debate, prompted by the new, very vaguely written 2008 Formula 1 regulations, which, for the first time, allowed an alternative power source in a device to be incorporated into the drive train. It was called KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System). No one, it seemed, knew much about this, but in June, Ferrari announced that they may build a road car which would incorporate KERS technology. In other words, Ferrari was going hybrid.
We stopped the press and went back to the drawing board. We threw out all the old ideas and went forward where no sane man ought to be. And although Raffi‘s beautiful design still held, underneath some truly amazing things had taken effect. We can’t tell you about it here, but we can tell you that if you haven’t subscribed to Forza, you should, and in the meantime you can find the February issue (#83) of Forza at almost all Barnes and Noble and Border’s bookstores. Or click here Forza magazine.
