Ferrari is adamant about keeping the V-12 alive for as long as possible. However, that doesn’t mean hybridization is off the table. We already have cars like the LaFerrari and SF90, both of which are hybrids. But while those have a V-12 and a V-8, respectively, what’s coming next might surprise you. we recently got spy shots of the upcoming mid-engine Ferrari. The project is dubbed F-171, and its hybrid powertrain is centered around the brand’s new twin-turbo V-6 unit.

The F171 will debut at the end of 2021 and will be the first Ferrari model powered by the new V-6 hybrid powertrain. The new 3.0-liter V-6 will feature twin-turbochargers stuffed inside the ultra-wide, 120-degree, V-angle. This allows for a lower center of gravity and creates space for bigger turbochargers.

The engine alone develops 440 kilowatts (590 horsepower). However, thanks to an axial-flow electric motor mounted on the transmission the Ferrari will offer a lot more power. That motor alone produces 82 kilowatts (110 horsepower), so we are looking at a combined system output of 522 kilowatts (700 horsepower). Both the V-6 and the electric motor are at the rear axle, but a more powerful dual-motor version is said to be in the works as well.

The 3.0-liter engine is the brand’s first V-6 engine since the Dino ended production in 1974. When it debuts, the F171 will be a direct competitor to the McLaren Artura, which is also powered by a hybrid powertrain, revolving around a twin-turbo V-6. Thanks to a small battery pack, the F171 will be able to drive 24-32 km (15-20 miles) on pure electricity – on par with Artura's 30 km (19 mile) range.

The F171 is a fine balance between performance and weight, Liters explained. The F171 needs to feel like a proper Ferrari, a proper driver’s car.

The new 3.0-liter V-6 will be at the center of Ferrari’s hybrid powertrain. The same drivetrain will be used in the Purrosangue. It is expected to feature two additional electric motors – one for each front wheel – same as the supposed more powerful version of the F171.

Using the new smaller V-6 unit is the next step towards pure electrification, although it’s still some years away. That said, Ferrari aims for 60 percent hybridization by 2022.