Europe: Ferrari 420 Dino on the way?!

[nadepalma]

Not exactly GM news, but thought it was worth posting....It appears that PERHAPS Ferrari has been lying to cover up it's intentions to re-enter the 'entry-level' market by offering an 'affordable' Dino. If I were working for Ferrari I would do the same thing; why show your cards, right?

But it looks like they're gonna jump everything up one peg so that the 420 is the entry-level car, the F430 moves up with a V10 and that leaves the V12s for 599GTB Fiorano and the 600 Scaglietti (which is supposed to get a refresh to bring it more in line with the 599GTB). But if it's front-engined then it would fly in the face of tradition that had the Dino come to market as a mid-engined vehicle.

From a strategic perspective, I think that this might be very very plausible. Consider that when Fiat bought Maserati it passed control over to Ferrari who established "Il Gruppo Fearrari-Maserati" and align the two together. The idea was to make Maserati more upscale and almost an entry-level segway into Ferrari. But that has now changed. Maserati moved to Fiat Auto and is now aligned with Alfa Romeo (and arguably Alfa will feed into Maser which will be more upscale -- kind of a flip-flop of the strategy with Ferrari). As such, even though Maserati will still be quasi-exotic (there will be engine development and some other components still shared with Ferrari) Maserati itself is looking to move more down market. As for right now, the rumor is there will be an even cheaper coupe coming and a cheaper sedan moving below the Quattroporte that will share a RWD chasis with the next Alfa 169 (think 5-Series sized vehicle vs. the current Quattroporte's S-Class-esque proportions).

That means that Ferrari has room to grow to pick up the slack from which the Maserati Coupe/Spyder was supposed to feed into the Ferrari brand. While Maserati is semi-respositioned, then Ferrari can go and combat Aston Martin more fully by taking actions like this. But if you look at the price -- it's not gonna be that much "cheaper" than the F430 -- it's just the F430 will move a rung up the ladder with its V10. Thus, Ferrari gets to have a slightly less expensive vehicle to sell to the "masses" to supplement the F430 while retaining a relative price point. So they're "going down market" without "going down market" in a way.

Is this a semi-coup for Ferrari or what?

Anyway, my ramblings aside, the strategy makes sense...but its only interesting -- IF true.

Originally Posted by AutoBlog.com

SOURCE: http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/07/f...dino-revealed/

Ferrari flip-flops: 420 Dino revealed!



Speculation about a so-called "cheap" Ferrari, slotted under the F430, has been circulating for some time and during last week's LA Auto Show, one of the presenters at the Ferrari booth sought to squash those rumblings.

Although he said there isn't going to be a "cheap" Ferrari, AutoExpress has come out with information that confirms that a smaller, less expensive Italian stallion is on its way.

What's being dubbed the 420 Dino will come equipped with a front-mounted, 4.2-liter V8, churning out 480 HP. The body will likely begin as a hardtop, with a targa or cabrio due within the first two years of the Dino's initial launch. However, AutoExpress reports that there's been some infighting between Ferrari and Pininfarina, regarding making the Dino a coupe-cabrio with a folding hardtop option.

Pricing will be set in the £82,000 to £90,000 range and sales are expected to begin in 2010. Ferrari hopes to produce between 3,500 and 5,000 cars annually, with their aim set on would-be buyers of the 911 Turbo and AM V8 Vantage.

MORE HERE

AND

Originally Posted by AutoExpress-UK

SOURCE: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au..._420_dino.html

Auto Express can exclusively reveal Ferrari's reborn Dino



It's the supercar scoop of the year! Auto Express has had exclusive access to insider details and can now reveal all the details of the Italian legend’s most important new model of the decade. Yes, the Dino is back!

These pictures show the new Ferrari 420 Dino, which our sources in Italy have confirmed will go on sale in 2010. Despite being conceived more than two years ago, the whole project only got the green light in September, and is scheduled to be unveiled at a major motor show in 2009.

Taking the latter part of its name from Enzo Ferrari’s son, our contacts are confident that the eventual title will be ‘420 Dino’, with the number referring to the V8 engine’s size.

Back in Italy, one fierce debate is still raging between Ferrari, Pininfarina – the car’s designer – and Ferrari’s owner, Fiat. While all indicators still lean toward the Dino being a coupé-cabriolet with a folding hard-top, some bosses would prefer to launch the entry-level model as a berlinetta hard-top GTB first, followed soon after by a targa GTS.

This would follow the trend set by the 246 Dino GT and GTS from 1968 and 1971, and the 308 GTB and GTS from 1975 and 1977.

Whatever is chosen, annual Dino production is figured to be anywhere between 3,500 and 5,000 cars, and Ferrari has actively sought partners to help lower and spread out the massive manufacturing costs. One company involved is aluminium specialist Alcoa, who will be making the spaceframe chassis in a new facility in Modena, Italy. The outer shell will be constructed from carbon fibre.

The new Dino started life as a Maserati in 2004. However, Ferrari’s then sister firm changed its plans, deciding to develop a luxurious Quattroporte-based coupé to rival the Mer****cedes CL instead. So Ferrari adopted the chassis and technology for the Dino.

Unlike the classic original, the newcomer will get a front-mounted V8. The unit is expected to be an all-aluminum 90-degree 4.2-litre unit with around 480bhp.

MORE HERE

[boblutzfan]

Interesting news. I love all things Ferrari and would buy one in a heart beat if I had the cash. This would be great news for the brand. Although I'm sure entry level means it will still be more expensive than the latest $140K Porsche 911 Turbo. Ferrari won't sell a car cheaper than the 911 Turbo.

[camaro_freak]

so is this a chop or real photos from Ferrari?

EDIT
nevermind.. they have lots of pictures!!!!

[Nightshark]

Looks sweet. Follows along the styling lines of the Lotus Elise/Exige.

I was always fond of the Dino styling. Nice to see they stayed with the smaller curvy and attractive body shape.

[mbukukanyau]

Porsche Cayman, is what comes to mind

[Slack]

Wasn't the Dino a 6 cylinder car? Anyway, looks nice, if a little overdone.

[69Firebird400]

Very curvaceous body. I really like the look. I've not been a huge fan of Ferrari styling for the past few years, but this is a really attractive car. Plus, it's the "entry level" model.

Although, I must say, the greenhouse unfortunately reminds me a bit of a Hyundai Tiburon, with a little bit of the Porsche Cayman's rump thrown in for good measure.

[Brglotus]

I think it's a good looking car but not from Ferrari. I think it looks like a bigger Lotus and should be priced around $80,000 to $90,000. I would much rather have a AM for the price they are asking. I know it won't sell for that much because of the Horse on the side of it.

[paul8488]

Finally, a Ferrari for the rest of us...

[stevecmh]

wow that looks awesome.. i really hope they make it.. i know its not the real care but it looks damn good. it ill be interesting to see if they make it

[b4z]

is this a hoax?

looks exactly like a photoshopped CAYMAN.

[cfch3399]

Hey, those wheels look like they came from the Grand Prix GT.

[69Firebird400]

It sure seems real - if you actually go to the websites linked, they have five different pictures of the car, which seems to be pretty much for a photoshopper to do.

Originally Posted by cfch3399

Hey, those wheels look like they came from the Grand Prix GT.

Actually they remind me a lot of Z06 wheels. But they still don't look identical.

[LAChevy24]

Originally Posted by b4z

is this a hoax?

looks exactly like a photoshopped CAYMAN.

i think that is what it is. but its not the first time i have seen something like this. i remember in Road and Track, it showed a picture of a future audi, and it was photoshopped saturn sky

[GM_Guy81]

It looks like an inflated photochopped Cayman with a ferrari grille...