Apparently the LaFerrari will not be the last hybrid from Maranello. Ferrari chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo is on record as saying that, while he doesn't see a future for pure electric cars, he strongly believes in hybrids.
Ferrari first showed the €1 million (R13.8 million) LaFerrari, which combines a petrol V12 with two electric motors to produce a total of 710kW - making it the most powerful street-legal Ferrari yet - at the Geneva motor show in March but, even before the covers came off, the planned production run of just 499 examples (200 in 2013 and the rest next year) was completely sold out.
In July Montezemolo told Bloomberg's Sarah Eisen he was planning to boost Ferrari's earnings still further (in a classic case of the tail wagging the dog, it is already the most profitable unit in the entire Fiat empire) by offering an even wider range of customising options, while actually producing fewer cars, to enhance their exclusivity.
"I want to have different Ferraris for different Ferraristi."
According to Eisen, Montezemolo plans to equal Ferrari's record €350 million (R4.8 billion) 2012 profit this year, while cutting deliveries from 7300 cars to about 6900.
How? By increasing the profit margin on each car with expensive add-ons such as cashmere seats (no Cyril, he's not kidding) and carbon-fibre boot liners. And yes, by creating more hybrid models - but always in smaller numbers than he has customers for.