The return of the Dino?

In today's world of 500 + HP "super" cars, a light weight fun "italian" car harkening back to maybe the 246 or arguably the 3x8 series would be a fun little car. Sure, no 430, but a "new" 246 or 308 would be kinda fun!

I'm for it! Lets see the pictures. I'm hoping for the lines of the 246 with a modern reliable drive train..... no belt changes!

James in Denver

 

to be honest, so few people know what a "dino" is, i doubt it will hurt the old ferrari/fiat models.

saying that, i really don't like the idea of the dino name being reinvented for a "cheap" car.

i think the elise has revitalised the lotus name. to simply slap the dino name on an elise chassis doesn't make sense. however, the elise designer is a dino owner.

what will unfold? who knows......

 

Could be good but I sort of wish they would use some other name. How about x1/9.

 

It's a great platform, hard to beat. If they just stick a nice V-6 in the back of it and let PF do something great, yes!

 

They say the new Dino will be based on the NEXT Lotus Elise platform.
Then we still don't know if the engine will be in the front or in the back... Lotus has developed a modular platform which is suitable for front engine configuration as well as mid engine.

The Dino-like car designed by Ernesto in the Dino-design-thread is also based on the Elise.
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=136884724&postcount=1363

 

What's the use giving a Fiat the Dino name when there's no Dino engine?

 

I'm sure the marketeers made up a solution.

 

Thats weaksauce!

people complain about ferrari's being based fieros and yet Fiat goes and rips a page from the kitcar world!? WTF?

I might as well just go build a kitcar these days than go build a so called "Real Supercar" if they are going to be based on other vehicles.

 

I don't see anything about what's been posted that would indicate this is a "kit car." A Lotus chassis is among the best-handling platforms ever made and would ensure a nice, lightweight Dino.

The 246 was never a super car either. It was a reasonably priced sports car at the time (relative to the 365s of the era) with a priority placed upon driving dynamics than pure grunt. The V6 only made around 170 bhp and was shared with a number of different brands.

So what is so wrong with a similar, albeit more modern concept that could be priced against Porsche's 911 Carrera?

 

Well, the Dino is an engine. It doesn't matter if it's front or mid-engined. And Ferrari is a company started on the premise of an engine "with a car around it." This is Enzo's philosophy and modus operandi.

The Dino engine platform was used all the way up to the F360. By strict technical definition, the F360 is a Dino. There was even a time during production that both the Fiat Dino and Ferrari Dino were assembled at Ferrari. One was front engined, the other mid-engined.

In other words, the Fiat Dino is the closest thing to being a Ferrari without actually being a Ferrari. To base a new Dino on a Lotus, whose engine shares nothing in common with the Ferrari/Dino-platform/blueprint, by strict definition, isn't a Dino.

In my opinion, Fiat would have to revive the Dino engine, build it according to Ferrari's original design concept, and then place it into the Lotus-based chassis for it to even begin to qualify as a Dino revival. The entire novelty factor about the Dino is that the engine is by Ferrari design. The heart and soul of Ferrari is in the Dino, quite literally. This applies absolutely to the Fiat Dino version. If you own one, you own a piece of Ferrari's soul.

Therefore, if Fiat brought back the F360 engine and placed it into a Lotus chassis, badged it as a Fiat, that would truly be a Dino (even though that would still be somewhat of a stretch). It would be modern iteration of a Fiat Dino.

If they announce the engine is by Ferrari, that would be a hot ticket.

 

Hypothetically speaking, what about a "Ferrari-tuned" V6, or even (blasphemy!) an I4? I think given the economic times and ecological concerns of late, a Dino of less than pure Ferrari origins is simply more realistic. Keeping it Fiat-engineered and Dino-branded would make it cost-effective yet wouldn't risk diluting the Ferrari brand.

The Tifosi might disagree but I'd bet the marketplace would reward Fiat with such an entry handsomely.

 

The story goes that Maserati got mad at Ferrari for keeping their newest design (that went on to become Ferrari's new California) when Fiat split Maserati from Ferrari

Now Fiat take the Dino?

Sounds like everyone is taking everyone else ideas Platform sharing or tit-for-tat Italian politics?

 

The article states is a continuation of the Fiat Dino (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_Dino).. not the 246.

I think the name is a reasonable thing for Fiat to do.

 

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/204171/ferrari_420_dino.html

was it suppose to be the California or the 599?

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This is probably a clue : "the newcomer will get a front-mounted V8"

 

That rendering of a Dino looks too much like a Porsche on Ferrari steroids!

 

I was going to say, "Oh LOOK!!!!! An Audi TT!!"

 

It was only an Internet rumor. Luca has said bringing back Dino will never happen. I can see why as it will cause confusion and the marketing and investment costs will be high.

 

What they thought was going to be the new Dino ended up being the California. I think Ferrari would do well if they introduced a true Dino successor that was <$150k, <2500 lbs, and a turbo V6.

 

That would be a cool car if they could get all the safety equipment required and hold it under 2500lbs

I like the Cayman looking Dino pictured above.

 

I agree. and I don't think it will be a huge marketing issue if it's branded the Ferrari Dino. only the hardcore enthusiast market knows/understands the "almost a Ferrari" stuff.

 

Why is it that Lotus can do this (easily; in fact, 500 pounds less than this) and Ferrari cannot??

 

Probably due to comparatively low HP.

 

Fiat already has Maserati and Alfa Romeo. This could be a push to add in a Dino. Danager of becoming a gussied up Alfa at some point. Or an Italian GM, too many lines robbing from each other. Maserati and Ferrari are already crossed enough with the Cali.