The V6 engine experiences new days of splendor at the dawn of electrification. Several sports cars host and will host it, in particular linked to three important brands for the sector: Ferrari, McLaren and Maserati. Their 3-liter twin-turbo V6s are engaged in very interesting projects: Ferrari with the 296 GTB, McLaren with the Artura, Maserati with the new MC20.
Maserati has built a long relationship with the V6s, launching its first example in 1971 and then using the Biturbo V6 to power much of its 1980s range. For its new MC20 supercar, Maserati has created an engine called Neptune, a 90-degree V-unit that produces 621 hp. The Neptune has some points in common with the Alfa Romeo V6, itself derived from the Ferrari V8, but it also brings to the fore a fascinating technology, in particular a passive prechamber ignition system. It is a small separate combustion chamber (with its own spark plug) above the main one: it increases the combustion rate by 30%.
Instead Ferrari and McLaren opted for a 120-degree V6 configuration. Until now, Ferrari had been the only carmaker to use a 120-degree V6, with its 156 F1 title winner in 1961. “We did some studies to understand what would have been best, not only for the engine but for the whole car, in terms of center of gravity: so we chose this architectureFerrari CTO Michael Leiters said according to Road & Track magazine. To counteract the weight gain of the hybrid system, Ferrari shortened the car’s wheelbase compared to the V8 models, requiring an overall shorter engine. The result is a 654 horsepower unit.
Like Ferrari, Mclaren also wanted a car with a shorter wheelbase and enough space to install an electric motor in front of the gearbox. A low center of gravity and simple turbocharger hydraulics were also important requirements, so McLaren came up with the same unusual layout. With 193 horsepower per liter, Mclaren’s V6 does not have the grit of the other cars mentioned here, but it has a higher specific power than the Bugatti Chiron’s W-16 and the V8s previously used by the brand. The power is 671 horsepower.
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