Bedford Driving Lessons

For decades, Ferrari has made its name selling the sort of testosterone-packed cars that get petrolheads hot under the collar. But now the Italian car-maker is ditching its famous red livery – temporarily at least – as it experiments with going green. The company yesterday unveiled the Ferrari 599, a 200mph electric hybrid vehicle that aims to cut pollution and fuel consumption while retaining the brand’s breathtaking acceleration and performance. But it remains to be seen whether the 599′s ability to start silently and run on a zero-emission electric motor will put off car enthusiasts who delight in the explosive roar of an old-style Ferrari firing up. The prototype’s appearance at the opening day of the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland stunned visitors. The hybrid vehicle – which uses the electric motor to back up a more traditional 6.0-litre V12 petrol engine – even sported a bright metallic green paint to reinforce its environmentally friendly credentials. The aim is to have the green technology as an option across Ferrari’s entire range of cars by 2015. More