Ferrari has filed a patent for a bold new engine design featuring oval—or, more accurately, pill-shaped—pistons instead of the traditional circular variety used in internal combustion engines. According to Ferrari’s engineers, this unconventional design makes the engine more compact longitudinally, which is handy for unlocking new possibilities for performance and packaging of V12 engines. Whether this is revolutionary or just another engineering curiosity remains to be seen.
Ferrari’s Radical Oval Pistons: Game-Changer Or Gimmick?
The patent application, first spotted by AutoGuide in the European Patent Office’s database, argues that conventional cylindrical pistons come with inherent design limitations that Ferrari hopes to overcome. Essentially, Ferrari has taken the traditional engine and compressed it lengthwise—think crushed beer can—resulting in taller, skinnier pistons. While Ferrari’s version refines the shape with a proper radius instead of a strict oval, the core concept remains the same.
Of course, engineering an oval-piston engine isn’t as simple as stretching an image in PhotoShop. The biggest advantage of this design is its ability to shrink the overall length of the engine block. For Ferrari, that’s a big deal. A more compact V12 engine fits better in the tight confines of mid-engine super cars and allows engineers to position the mass closer to the car’s center of rotation, improving handling. It also creates extra space for integrating hybrid components between the engine and transmission—a key factor as Ferrari leans further into electrification.
Honda Did Something Similar With Oval Pistons In The 1970s
While this idea might sound groundbreaking, it’s not without precedent. Honda experimented with oval pistons in the late 1970s, particularly in its two-stroke motorcycles. However, Ferrari’s take is distinctly different. Honda’s version used dual connecting rods in a bid to optimize high-rev performance, whereas Ferrari’s patent shows linked, articulating rods that could potentially maintain the delicate balance of a V12 engine. That said, V12s are already known for their smooth operation—but are they balanced enough to handle this radical redesign? That remains an open question Ferrari is eager to learn more about.
Will Ferrari Make Oval Pistons?
Another major question is whether this concept will ever leave the patent office. Automotive history is littered with innovative ideas that never made it to production. The complexities of manufacturing oval pistons, maintaining durability, and ensuring efficiency gains outweigh the engineering headaches are all hurdles Ferrari will need to clear.
For now, the idea remains theoretical. But if Ferrari manages to turn this into a reality, it could represent a fascinating evolution of internal combustion technology—one that could redefine what’s possible for performance engines in the electrified era. However, that seems fairly unlikely.
Source: Ferrari, European Patent Office
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