Overclocker

AutoWeek | Published 11/21/06, 8:47 am et

With spy photos, sometimes it’s what you don’t see that’s important. Take this facelift for the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, for instance. On the market since 2004, the updated car will likely adopt the more aggressive look from the 599 GTB Fiorano, with bigger air intakes as seen here.

But a far more important change is indicated by the presence of complex equipment rigged on the front wheels. Our spies tell us the test gear indicates Ferrari is preparing an all-new, optional all-wheel-drive system dubbed “Insertable 4x4” for the facelifted Scaglietti. The equipment measures the degree of front wheelslip to properly calibrate the computer system controlling how much power is being transferred from rear to front.

Ferrari says the system, based on a traditional rear-drive layout that adds an “insertable” transmission to connect the second pair of wheels, will work for both mid-engine and front-engine cars. Rather than functioning as a full-time all-wheel drive system (à la Lamborghini), Insertable 4x4 works more like traction control, with the all-wheel drive operating only when the rear wheels lose traction, and only if the driver turns on awd.

So far, there’s no official word from Ferrari on when the facelifted Scaglietti will arrive, or whether this system will make production.

Source: http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...4/TOC01ARCHIVE

Richie

Kind of like the synchro systems you can get on certain VW's.

GFerg

This is interesting. I dont think Ferrari ever had an AWD option before on any of its cars. Makes a nice competitor to Lambo and quite possibly Bentley.

UberNoob

heck this would even be a big blow to Porsche and their Turbo 4