While Ferrari's are known and admired for many things, environmental friendliness is not one of them. That however changed last week, when the Italian car company introduced its first 'green' high-performance vehicle at the prestigious Geneva Car Show.

The first hybrid model will be its signature car, the two-seater, Ferrari 599, which will be fitted with a 100-horsepower electric motor that is backed by a traditional 6-liter V12 engine, manufactured using a new technology dubbed HY-KERS.

Despite having the capability to go up to 200mph and accelerate from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds, (2 seconds faster than the current model), the hybrid model will emit 35% less carbon dioxide. The new 599 is also more fuel efficient, providing 25mpg vs. the current 16mpg. It will also have the capability to harness the energy emitted while braking or slowing down, and using it to re-charge the batteries.

The only drawback to this otherwise amazing car, scheduled to be in showrooms in 2011, is the price, which at over $500,000USD is twice that for the traditional model. Also, thanks to its quiet electric engine, there will be none of the familiar 'roaring' sound, that makes heads turn, whenever one of these cool machines hits the freeway.

Not to be outdone, Porsche also unveiled its hybrid version of the 918 Spyder, which boasts the performance of a super-sports car, but the CO2 emissions of a small compact car. Not only that, it guarantees an acceleration of 62mph in just 32 seconds and a fuel efficiency of an astonishing 78 mpg, thanks to its two electric motors!

sources:dailymail.co.uk, motorauthority.com