AUTONEWS

Ferrari files patent for new V12 engine with oval pistons - Technology already used by Honda

Ferrari has just filed a patent for a new V12 engine. So far, nothing new — it's clear that the future of supercars will mainly involve combustion engines.

The big news is that this new Ferrari V12 engine has oval pistons. Why oval and not round? Because they allow the total length of the engine to be significantly reduced, while maintaining the original displacement and stroke of an equivalent engine with round pistons.

A brilliant idea whose execution — in the increasingly distant 80s… — almost drove Honda engineers crazy. Before we continue talking about Ferrari, shall we take a trip down memory lane? I know so… In the 80s Honda also developed an engine with oval pistons. The aim was to develop a four-stroke engine so advanced that it would be capable of sending directly into retirement the two-stroke engines that competed in the premier class (500cc) of the Motorcycle World Championship — today known as MotoGP.

Thus was born the Honda NR500, known as “Never Ready” due to its initial technical difficulties. Despite the innovative concept with oval pistons and eight valves per cylinder, the bike faced reliability and performance problems that prevented it from being competitive against two-stroke bikes that mixed oil with gasoline.

Thus a racing motorcycle died, but the technology did not go to waste. From the remains of the racing NR was born one of the most beautiful and advanced production motorcycles of all time: the Honda NR750(image below).

How beautiful was — and still is — the Honda NR750? Suffice it to say that he was the inspiring muse of Massimo Tamburini (1943-2014) for the emblematic Ducati 916. The designer who was responsible for such emblematic models as the aforementioned Ducati 916 or the MV Agusta F4.

Oval pistons take a new approach Meanwhile, more than 40 years have passed — some say there are still Honda engineers in therapy today, with the same therapist as the engineers at Toyota, Subaru and Mazda, who are also very stubborn. But Ferrari isn't exactly following the same path.

While Honda's oval engine was essentially a V8 simplified into a V4, with two connecting rods per piston and cylinder heads with eight valves per cylinder, Ferrari's patented solution differs substantially. The pistons are an elongated oval, pill-like shape, positioned at 90 degrees to Honda's approach.

How does Ferrari's new solution work?...In a conventional V12 engine, the opposed cylinders share a crankshaft journal, but the connecting rods are slightly misaligned, resulting in an increase in the overall length of the engine block. In the new configuration patented by Ferrari, the pistons on the left bank are connected directly to the connecting rods on the right side.

In this way, opposing cylinders are perfectly aligned with each other in top view, eliminating the extra millimeters that usually increase the overall length of the engine.

This new arrangement allows Ferrari to reduce the spacing between the cylinders without sacrificing overall displacement, resulting in a more compact engine.

Furthermore, a weight reduction is expected in the rotating masses (internal moving assembly), due to the use of fewer components and smaller dimensions, enabling higher rotation speeds. A crucial factor in increasing our smile… sorry, performance in high-performance engines.

But there are even more advantages... By shortening the length of the V12 engine, Ferrari could reduce the overall dimensions of its vehicles or create additional space for hybrid components such as electric motors between the block and the transmission. As for us, the right amount of electrification in a supercar.

Another advantage is the possibility of using larger or more numerous intake and exhaust valves, significantly improving the engine's volumetric efficiency. However, the patent does not detail the upper part of the engine (head). We are the ones who are losing our minds with speculation… It is not clear whether Ferrari actually intends to produce this engine or whether the patent serves, above all, to protect its technology against rival brands. The truth is that, faced with increasingly demanding emissions standards, manufacturers like Ferrari cannot sleep if they want to keep their iconic V12 engines in operation.

If Ferrari goes ahead with this engine — we hope so — we will be looking at one of the biggest technical revolutions in V12 engines from the Maranello brand.

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