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.
Additionally, AutoExpress was able to confirm that this new addition to the Ferrari lineup would allow the F430 to move further upmarket (as if it could), by coming equipped with a new, 5-liter, 550 HP, V10 in 2008, then undergoing a full redesign by 2010.
[Source: AutoExpress]
UPDATE: For the record, we saw this on Winding Road's January issue and when we finally decided to post on it, they're intitial article slipped our mind. The information presented in both the Winding Road article and the AutoExpress piece is, for all intent and purposes, correct. And yes, the pics are photochops.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
dreesemonkey @ Dec 7th 2006 8:17AM
I really like it, has a retro look to it. The shape reminds me of the cayman.
Russ @ Dec 7th 2006 8:22AM
As much as I hate to say it, and hopefully it's just this picture, but:
All I think of is the 1st Gen Tiburon.
Alex @ Dec 7th 2006 8:30AM
So the 'it looks like a ..' game has begun!
My turn: it looks like a Cayman with a touch of the previous generation Eclipse.
KidTurbo @ Dec 7th 2006 8:32AM
As much as I would love to have a cheaper Ferrari that is more accessible, I don't want them to make it. Ferrari is supposed to be that halo company, something people work their lives to get when that mid-life crisis comes around. Seeing them all over the place would ruin the mystique, so please Ferrari thanks but no thanks. And don't you dare make an SUV!!!!
Kevin White @ Dec 7th 2006 8:56AM
Well, at $115,000 or so, it's not like you'll be running into them at every light and parking lot.
Winding Road had this story a week ago but I guess because of the whole "WR Vette" "scandal" they are on ignore.
Saab analyst @ Dec 7th 2006 9:01AM
italiaspeed.com says its 350hp V6 Mid-engined but it could be speculation.
Nellydesign @ Dec 7th 2006 9:04AM
http://faimg1.forum-auto.com/mesimages/99300/1053big.jpg
Silly Photoshoppers:) Well at least the 'chopper has skills... He fooled me for about 5 minutes.
usedcarman @ Dec 7th 2006 9:07AM
Let's hope the guys driving this don't look like the guys driving boxsters now days - I mean it must have its place in the market but a car half the price will drag it off at the lights.
Scott @ Dec 7th 2006 9:24AM
Usedcarman,
That's couple people that drive real sports cars like the Boxster, aren't interested in drag racing whatever you drive at the lights. It isn't 1950 anymore and real performance cars can do more than just go fast in a straight line.
On another note...Great move by Ferrari in greenlighting this car. Opens up the previously unattainable brand to a whole new marketplace.
joearlo @ Dec 7th 2006 9:30AM
Thanks NellyDesign I have been looking for that picture for a minute. Clearly a chop of the Cayman. Ferrari publically stated at the LA Auto Show a "Budget" Ferrari was not planned.
Chalk this one up to notgonnahappen.com
Tim @ Dec 7th 2006 9:34AM
WTF!?!?!
That story and picture is from the cover of the latest Winding Road, by Matt Davis their European Editor. It's even credited as such in AutoExpress. This issue has been available online for nearly a week... yet you guys wait to link to the AutoExpress story???
Sloppy
Um... no @ Dec 7th 2006 9:34AM
Whatever #9 - Boxsters are a joke. Have you ever driven one? I'm not in to straight line fast either, but when you can get schooled from stop light to stop light by a V6 powered minivan...
emor8t @ Dec 7th 2006 9:35AM
I think somebody is pulling another Winding Road.
That is got to be the crappiest looking picture ever.
And the photoshop is basic at best.
rwdmtparkingonly @ Dec 7th 2006 9:45AM
Wow, I put Ferrari crest magnets on the fenders of my MR2 Spyder as a joke sometimes, but now that Ferrari is going down market maybe people will actually believe it.
This seems like a respectable car, so it might make sense if Ferrari was an independent company, but it isn’t. I don’t know why they want to step on the feet of Maserati and upward moving Alfa Romeo (sold and to be sold at the same dealers in the US) with this thing.
You're a tool @ Dec 7th 2006 9:48AM
#12
Interesting point based on actual facts no doubt. Please enlighten us, which minivan is it that will run a sub 5.8 second 0-60 time?
Peter @ Dec 7th 2006 9:49AM
#7,Ferrari denies that car exists and even if it does we're still years away from SOP. What else do you think those are supposed to be other than PS jobs?
GT_Arun @ Dec 7th 2006 10:02AM
#12 good job. #9, I believe the intention of "usedcarmans" post was to liken this Ferrari to what is considered a "poor-man's-porsche". The boxster is an excellent car (which it is so highly revered)... however since it is at the bottom of the Porsche line-up, its seen as the cheap way to the porsche.
As a porschephile, I'd like to say i'm very happy with this car release... because the 997 911 Turbo already RAPES the F430 in performance numbers (my source is the Z06 vs. Turbo vs. F430 C&D comparo). So if this is going to cost the same, that's yet another prancing horse the Turbo can one up at the stoplight, quarter-mile strip, and on the trip to the weekend circuit.
Nellydesign @ Dec 7th 2006 10:22AM
Well what fooled me is the low resolution of the pics. Low res is often used to hide photoshopping atifacts. But closer inspection will still reveal the fuzziness of details inherent to PS jobs. The inclusion of an interior shot was tricky too. I also thought it was weird that the article didn't mention that these were artist's impressions but seemed to be trying to pass them off as photos released by the manufacturer.
The facts that it's a car a long way off and still denied to exist by Ferrari AND it's similarities in proportion to the Cayman made me start rooting through Google Images...
andrew @ Dec 7th 2006 10:36AM
so i'm guessing the information about the f430 is false too? would've been cool to see a v10 in that thing.
MC @ Dec 7th 2006 11:15AM
#12 has apparently never driven a Boxster. I have owned a Boxster and a 996 C4S, and the Boxster was the more enjoyable street car because of its perfect balance, lighter steering, and beautiful sound with the roof down. The 911 is basically too much car for US roads...