In this week's round-up of automotive gossip, we hear why Ferrari won't be releasing a hybrid Roma (at least not for now), why BMW 's 6 Series GT has a mixed appeal and more.
No Roma hybrid for Ferrari
Ferrari's busy current product development phase, which is set to result in 15 all-new or replacement models over the next five years, won’t include hybrid versions of either the Roma or the related Ferrari Portofino convertible. At the recent press launch of the Roma, company sources confi rmed that hybrid power was never intended for the V8 coupé. Ferrari is expected to hybridise the replacement for the F8 Tributo supercar.
The mixed appeal of BMW 's 6 Series GT
The 6 Series Gran Turismo, which was recently dropped from BMW’s UK line-up, compares with the 5 Series Touring in that it “appeals strongly in certain regions but doesn’t appeal at all in others”, brand design boss Adrian van Hooydonk has claimed. The liftback is big in China, while the estate is bought mainly in the UK, Germany and Italy.
Porsche's natural engine stance
Porsche is “very motivated” to keep its normally aspirated engines alive and would consider hybridising them to do so, according to its head of sports cars, Frank-Steffen Walliser. “Low-rev electric motor torque and a high-rev normally aspirated engine would fit perfectly together,” he said. “It could help a normally aspirated engine to survive.”
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