Ferrari's long-rumored gas-electric supercar could break cover as early as spring.

Italy's Quattroroute magazine says Maranello is building a hybrid based on the 599 GTB Fiorano (shown above) using a variation of the kinetic energy recovery system in its Formula 1 cars. The concept car could appear at the Geneva auto show in March.

Quattroroute says the system uses a V12 engine up front with an electric motor at the rear transaxle and a lithium-ion battery. In addition to an added boost in power, the system provides the car with a start-stop function and regenerative braking. It reportedly delivers a 35 percent improvement in fuel economy.

We've long known Ferrari is up to something. Britain's Autocar reported last month that Ferrari has a hybrid drivetrain slated for the successor to the 612 Scaglietti and we'll see it in 2014. But Autocar says the system uses an electric motor inboard of the front wheels to improve handling, not fuel economy. The idea is having electric motors up front will improve acceleration and handling because the torque delivered to the wheels can be “carefully controlled.”

Whatever the case, it appears a gas-electric from Maranello is just over the horizon.

Photo: Ferrari

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