Ferrari boss says hybrid V6 beats a V12 for performance

The man behind the Ferrari F80 said that the new hybrid V6 is better than the V12 it replaced.

Faster, more powerful, and of course more efficient – the V6 beats the V12 in every measurable aspect.

This is obviously true, but we should probably also add some context.

Because even though that’s the case for some supercars, the market is also giving us a different version of this story.

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The new V6 is indeed ‘superior’ to the V12, and customers are evidently okay with that

Ferrari recently livestreamed a panel discussion about the development of the Ferrari F80.

At some point, roughly 10 minutes after the start of the panel, F80’s project manager Matteo Turconi said that the turbocharged hybrid V6 that the Italian automaker used for the F80 is ‘without a doubt superior to a V12’.

He’s obviously not wrong.

The F80 replaced the LaFerrari, which was indeed powered by a V12, and it’s faster to 62mph, has a higher top speed, and is quicker around the Fiorano test track.

And customers aren’t complaining.

The F80, limited to 799 units, was sold out before it was even announced.

This is true for Ferrari, but potentially not true for everyone

When it comes to cars, there are always two sides to the same coin.

Because people buy cars for objective reasons – fuel economy, performance, and so on – but also for subjective reasons.

Objectively, any modern engine is better than the engine it replaces.

Subjectively, some people just prefer other things.

RAM, for example, had to learn that the hard way after removing the V8 option for the 1500 truck.

The V6 it used was indeed better, but people just didn’t want it.

And so they had to bring back the V8.

Dodge is having a similar problem with the Charger Daytona.

It’s faster and more efficient than the old Challenger or Charger – the Charger Daytona acts a replacement for both – but muscle car fans are having a hard time accepting the idea of an electric muscle car.

And that’s the reason why Dodge is considering bringing back internal combustion after discontinuing the range-topping Scat Pack model.