Is Ferrari developing a forced-induction four-cylinder engine? That seems to be the case after a patent application to the European Patent Office (EPO) surfaced, revealing what looks to be a forced-induction four-banger with an electronically operated turbocharger. Ferrari’s plans for this engine remains unclear, but it could end up being used by Alfa Romeo, Maserati, and maybe even the long-rumored revival of the Dino nameplate. Only time will tell, but the fact that Maranello seems to have taken an interest in a four-cylinder engine suggests that it has plans to do something with it.

The patent filing shows us something we never thought we’d see in our lifetime: a four-cylinder Ferrari engine. But the automaker, like everybody else, is adjusting to environmental-focused shifts in the industry.

There are a lot of moving parts in the patent, but the gist of it is tied to Ferrari’s plan to develop a method to control an electrically operated turbocharger in a supercharged forced-induction engine. According to the patent application, the turbocharger has a turbine that’s inserted into the exhaust duct and a compressor that’s inserted in an intake duct. The turbine is driven by exhaust gases while the compressor, which is mechanically independent of the turbine, is inserted in an intake duct to help improve air pressure.

The energy the turbine creates is stored in an electric generator, and that energy is transferred to power an electric drive motor that drives the wheels and the electrically assisted compressor that pumps more air into the engine.

The patent also shows the Ferrari’s turbo system can be attached to a four-cylinder engine. It’s still unclear what the overall purpose is, but it’s possible that Ferrari does have plans to roll out an electric turbo, four-cylinder engine. The elimination of turbo lag is one of the most important benefits of the new powertrain, but it’s also not the only one. According to Ferrari, inserting the turbine wheel into the exhaust duct will result in dramatic improvements to the sound of the engine. The speed of the turbine can also be adjusted in such a way that owners can specifically tune the exhaust sound at any given engine speed. It’s largely similar to an exhaust valve, but it offers more variety in tone compared to the latter.

There are huge implications to this patent filing, not the least of which are the possible applications on future Ferrari models, as well as other automakers that source their engines from Maranello.

Is it possible, then, that Alfa Romeo and Maserati are in line to source this engine from Ferrari? If Ferrari ends up using the powertrain itself, what model is it going to use it on? The intriguing answer would be the revival of the Dino nameplate. That rumor has persisted for more than a decade, and don’t expect those whispers to subside anytime soon. Ferrari has admitted that it’s thought about bringing it back, so there’s clear interest within Maranello in reviving a model that, incidentally, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Further reading

Read our full speculative review on the next generation Ferrari Dino.

Read more Ferrari news.