Ferrari Files Patent for Oval-Piston V12 Featuring Unconventional Shared Connecting Rods | Carscoops

      Pill-shaped pistons could aid in shortening a V12, allowing for a more compact design even with hybrid integration.

      Ferrari has submitted a patent for an engine featuring oval pistons.

      This design reduces the length of the powertrain while maintaining capacity.

      Honda previously made an unsuccessful attempt to use oval pistons in its racing motorcycles.

      If you believed that automakers had ceased exploring innovative combustion concepts as they transitioned to electric vehicles, you would be mistaken. Ferrari has applied for a patent for engines that use pistons shaped like a traditional NASCAR racetrack.

      The patent, revealed by AutoGuide and submitted last fall to the European Patent Office, pertains to engines with "stadium-shaped" pistons. These pistons are not purely oval but resemble rectangles with rounded short sides.

      The pistons are arranged so that the longer side extends from the outer edge of the block to the inner vee, which would aid in minimizing engine length. This is especially beneficial if Ferrari aims to incorporate hybrid power without resulting in an excessively long powertrain. Additionally, this design may offer benefits regarding valve sizes or the number of valves positioned above each piston.

      While Ferrari's patent specifies that the engine would have at least two cylinders, one of the illustrations depicts a V12. The new F80 hypercar left some fans disappointed with its V6 engine (though this aligns with the technology used in the brand's F1 and Le Mans vehicles), suggesting Ferrari might be considering how to equip its successor with a compact hybrid V12.

      Alternatively, the company may be exploring ways to manage the weight of its front-engine V12 models, the 12Cilindri and Purosangue, both of which currently lack hybrid power but will require it in the future.

      Another notable technological innovation in the patent involves the connecting rods. Rather than each piston having a dedicated connecting rod that attaches directly to the crankshaft independently, the rods in this new engine are interconnected. The bearing cap on one rod is formed by the base of the opposite piston’s rod, creating a flexible joint that allows the second rod to pivot as needed to move up and down within the cylinder bore.

      Motorcycle enthusiasts may recognize that Ferrari isn’t the first to reimagine piston design. In the late 1970s, Honda created a V4 engine with genuine oval pistons for its NR500 race bike, aiming to develop a four-stroke engine that could compete with two-strokes.

      In Honda's design, the pistons were arranged with their longer sides parallel to the crankshaft, rather than perpendicular, and each piston was connected by two rods. This configuration was devised to accommodate eight valves per cylinder for improved airflow, but the engines struggled with poor piston ring sealing and ultimately did not meet expectations.

      H/T to AutoGuide