Diamond-hard cylinder coatings and hybrid drivetrains: The F1 technology in your SUV

Carmakers have used technology developed for Formula 1 race cars in their production models for decades, with everything from a humble hatchback to a family SUV benefitting from the lessons learned on the track.

Alfa Romeo has learned much from F1, and the Italian company's upcoming new SUV, the Tonale plug-in hybrid (PHEV), has a closed underbody that increases aerodynamic efficiency, reducing drag, increasing downforce and making the car more efficient.

"We used the experience from Formula 1, to go deeper into what we call, the micro-dynamics of the air around and beneath the car," Alfa Romeo engineering chief, Domenico Bagnasco, said.

There are plenty of other vehicle elements developed on the back of F1 know-how. Here are just a few.

Hybrid powertrains

Weight distribution can be affected heavily by the inclusion of an electric battery.

Hybrid technology was first experimented with in 2007 when kinetic energy recovery systems were trialled to harvest energy usually lost during braking. Since then, Formula 1 engineers have forged ahead with the technology and now the massive weight put onto suspension systems is also utilised to give F1 cars a boost.

In 2014, all Formula 1 cars were required to be hybrid-powered, after the rules changed. These days there are two ways of trying to capture some of the huge amounts of energy lost to braking and also the turbocharger: Kinetic Motor Generator Units and Heat Motor Generator Units. These components are starting to slowly make their way onto road cars, not to increase power and sports performance, but to make modern cars more efficient.

Weight distribution can be affected heavily by the inclusion of the electric battery and motor required for a hybrid powertrain. This is another aspect of the new Tonale PHEV that Alfa Romeo has seen as an opportunity to increase the stability of its cars.

"With the two engines, we can have a correct mix of latitudinal dynamics and longitudinal dynamics and with the inclusion of an electric engine, we can optimise this lateral acceleration," Mr Bagnasco said.

Cylinder coatings

Friction-reducing technology involves spraying carbon onto the inside of cylinders.

Top-of-the-line production cars like Ferraris and Lamborghinis make use of this innovative, friction-reducing technology, involving spraying carbon onto the inside of cylinders which then hardens.

This greatly reduces the friction between the cylinders and pistons, as the surface this process creates is something akin to graphite, but as strong as a diamond, achieving a huge reduction in heat and kinetic energy. 

This technology was used in Formula 1 cars and the 2010 Ferrari 458 was one of the first production models to make use of this technology.

Steering wheel buttons

Steering wheel buttons control things like the cruise control and radio.

F1 drivers have been able to push the little red button and boost the power of their engines since the 70s and although the buttons on road cars these days control less exciting things like air-conditioning and the radio, the first steering wheel buttons were on Formula 1 cars.

Formula 1 steering wheels have as many as 25 buttons and switches controlling drag reduction systems and suspension settings, even steering-wheel controlled cruise control was developed from F1 technology.

Paddle shifters

The first Formula 1 car to include paddle shift technology was in 1989.

These shoulder-saving devices are now a regular feature on mid-to-high-end cars, and can be found on sports versions of various models, but also on SUVs and larger vehicles. The first Formula 1 car to include paddle shift technology was in 1989, despite rudimentary versions of the technology having existed since the 1930s.

They use an automatic clutch system and are more similar to a manual than you may think, but the moving parts of gearboxes are notoriously complex and suffice to say, there are a variety of types and denominations for paddle shifters. 

Generally, they all use switches that trigger an actuator or servo, requiring the input of the driver to change between gears.

Double Over-Head Cam (DOHC) Engines

A double camshaft allows valves to be positioned closer to the bottom and top of each cylinder.

This type of engine was invented way back in 1912 for the F1 and features on almost every combustion-engine production car built today. Before this innovation, valves that expel exhaust gases and then create higher pressure within the cylinder head for the air-fuel mixture were positioned very poorly as they had to make way for a single camshaft which controls the timing of the pistons.

A double camshaft allows these valves to be positioned closer to the bottom and top of each cylinder, increasing the amount of exhaust gas sucked out and increasing the amount of air. Some Formula 1 teams are working on electromagnetic and electrohydraulic actuator technology to power the valves.