Over the past two years a dedicated team of Shell engineers has worked closely with the Ferrari Gran Turismo (GT) road car department to implement the advanced Direct Fuel Injection (DFI) fuel system into the new Ferrari California.

Over the past two years a dedicated team of Shell engineers has worked closely with the Ferrari Gran Turismo (GT) road car department to implement the advanced Direct Fuel Injection (DFI) fuel system into the new Ferrari California. As the first Ferrari to feature this system, the California is a step toward the future for the luxury car manufacturer, which has pledged to improve fuel efficiency across its range by 2012.

As a long-time Ferrari technical partner, Shell has been involved in the project since its conceptual development in the hallowed halls of Maranello. The support provided by Shell – based at facilities in the UK and Germany – has included expert consultation, fuel mapping information for use in computer modelling (both on the test bench and on the road) as well as the supply of Shell V-Power fuel and Shell Helix Ultra motor oil.

Mike Evans, Shell Fuels Development Project Leader for Ferrari, comments: “A large part of Shell’s involvement in the new Ferrari California has been to support the implementation of the Direct Fuel Injection fuel system. In return, the information we have received from the test benches and computer modelling at Maranello has been captured for use in the continuing development of Shell V-Power fuel for the road.”

Shell began its technical partnership with Enzo Ferrari in the 1930s and in 1947, the first Ferrari drove out of the factory gates in Maranello, Italy, powered by Shell. The relationship has grown to such an extent that Shell now works across all Ferrari departments, from the winning Scuderia Ferrari in Formula One to the two popular Ferrari GT racing series’ to an ongoing involvement in the development of Ferrari’s range of Gran Turismo road cars.

The fuel system currently used in Ferrari’s GT range features port fuel injection technology, where the fuel is pumped into the inlet port before mixing with the incoming air. This then passes the inlet valves and into the engine and combustion chamber. Evans explains: “In contrast, the Direct Fuel Injection fuel system the fuel is sprayed straight into the combustion chamber. Direct injection reduces the number of processes and has the potential to lower fuel consumption and give the driver better control, power and engine responsiveness.”

The development of the Ferrari California over the past two years has also involved collaboration over the use and behaviour of Shell Helix Ultra motor oil inside the engine. The Shell technical partnership with Ferrari allows Shell to use the extreme conditions inside the engine of Ferrari’s GT cars to test its products and, therefore, provide all its customers with technologically advanced products to optimise performance from their engines.

Mark Wakem, Shell Engine Lubricants Development Project Leader for Ferrari, explains, “Shell Helix Ultra oil plays a critical role in the engine. Its job is to lubricate the moving parts to reduce friction and power loss, but also to keep the engine clean by picking up deposits and other contaminants. Continual testing with Ferrari is a very important part of our research and development programme, as it helps us to improve our road products.”

Shell’s deep and wide-ranging technical partnership with Ferrari has mutual benefits for both parties on many levels. Shell V-Power fuel and Shell Helix Ultra motor oil will be used to ‘first fill’ every new Ferrari California, re-affirming Ferrari’s belief that Shell’s products allow its high performance Gran Turismo cars to operate at their optimum level. Ferrari’s approval and endorsement is an important quality target. In return, Shell provides Ferrari with equally important insight into fuel and lubricant development trends so that its cars, which by nature have a longer lifespan than conventional cars, will run at their optimum level on the products of tomorrow.