FERRARI has gone public with plans to introduce an electrified model to the prancing horse range, with a V8-electric hybrid to join the ranks as early as next year.

British car website Autoexpress scooped the news from Ferrari chief executive Sergio Marchionne, who said: “A Ferrari V8 hybrid is coming for 2019. The test mules are around now.” However, he stopped short of confirming what vehicle would pioneer the powertrain.

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The timing suggests Ferrari’s first SUV (or ‘FUV’ – Ferrari Utility Vehicle – as coined by the company) will be the most obvious candidate to roll under V8/electric mumbo, with the GTC4Lusso-based high-rider arriving about the middle of the year.

It won’t be the first electrified Fez; the LaFerrari took that credit in 2013 with an electric motor bolted to its V12. However, Marchionne said the new V8 combination “needs to become more of a traditional hybrid to fulfil a different role”.

It is also likely the combustion element of the unit will be closely related to the relatively recent turbo eight-cylinder engine powering the California T, GTC4Lusso and 488 in various states of tune.

Rivals from the low-emissions camp include the recently revealed Bentley Bentayga PHEV and fully electric Tesla Model X, but on performance and luxury stakes alone, Ferrari will also fight the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Aston Martin’s DBX-based contribution when it is revealed.