Entry level Ferrari

I think the Cygnet had a bigger problem in that Aston went entirely TOO far with it down market. Kind of like Ferrari making a Suzuki Swift - it doesnt play to the market that is their strength and went too far out of the comfort zone. There were few, if any, links or commonality between the Cygnet and any other car in their lineup. They made the nose appear Astonesque and may have used the Aston color palette, but thats about it.

Ferrari could pull it off IF they kept it as a sports car and didnt go too far down market. There is little benefit to them at a $50k or even a $100k sports car. Something that sits about $50k below the California is just about right. I figure that sits them in the middle of the 911 price range and that might be a good spot for them.



PDG

 

Good points, also even though there are more Porsches on the road that doesn't stop people from buying all the GTs, 918s, and Rufs that they can; and now we have a Corvette selling for over 100 grand.

 

Due to high demand, Ferrari produced 12,000 308 models over a ten year span. Perhaps half of those 308s still exist (who knows?).

A couple of decades later, Ferrari produced nearly 20,000 360 models in a very short amount of time and most of those 360s are in existence today with an accurate moniker as the highest production number of any Ferrari model in history.

Earlier this year, LdM announced a new direction for Ferrari. Rather than a focus on high production numbers or entry level models, Ferrari decided to introduce new production-limited models more frequently. In fact, another model is due out in a couple of weeks.

So- if Ferrari will maintain this direction, there will be no entry-level Ferrari, but rather a model that costs less than the others (presently the California).

 

I fully agree with you Phill, the Cygnet was a project to reach lower fleet emissions, this is out of question.

Nevertheless, I guess the Cygnet is an acceptable example regarding the question "what if Ferrari came out with an 'Entry Level' model for (let's say) $50K?".

My answer is: Ferrari will fail with a car in the $50K price segment, like Aston Martin, for me this is out of question. In the case of FCA such a wide product range has to be covered as group and not as Ferrari. I see just one producer with the potential for such a wide product range, and this is Mercedes. But even Mercedes is using a top level "brand" with AMG. VAG is covering this wide range with different brands (Audi, Lamborghini, Bugatti), also BMW (with RR on the top level).

 

Define "over produced" please.

LDM's vision was not shared by Fiat. I suspect that once the limited run models in the pipeline are out there will be no more save the ten year hypercars.

 

Good catch- I was able to correct it in time. IMHO, I am using the term, "over-produced" in relation to the other production models. Perhaps I should have said, "...the highest production of a particular model" which is all I meant by it. I wanted to make that distinction aside from the OP's subject, because many still believe the 308 to have been the highest production model, as well as believing almost all of them still exist today.

 

Thanks.

Do we think that its successor the 430 was made in smaller numbers intentionally or was it down to market factors?

In any case the new crew wants to ramp up production. I wonder how the US dealers feel about that. Restricting supply seems to be the lynchpin of their marketing.

 

How do you explain the F12 then? There are no plans to discontinue NA V12's.

Wisdom.

 

You all remember the Maserati TC ?



Yeah. This won't end well.

 

Wasn't the 914 a similar "entry level" plan from the good folks at Stuttgart? The 914 only lasted 6 years, and it WAS called a Porsche, sold through their dealers.

To go one step further, Cadillac had the Cimarron. (Nuff said.)

 

Has there been any successful entry level car from a premium brand? I thought the A classe, A3, and the 2er were selling like hot cakes?

 

So you think that the ever tougher and tougher emission/noise legislation will have no affect on Ferrari's product range?

Eventually the fines for failing to make the average emission limit will one day have an affect!

(And if ever the EU decide to bring in legislation covering an average fuel economy limit for cars sold in EU states then the likes of Ferrari are seriously going to struggle to make money if they don't make major changes!)

There's already talk of Ferrari using V6 and V8 twin turbo's for future models to meet legislation demands, and not just on their "regular" models but also on their hyper-car range.

The hybrid technology found on LaFerrari will one day filter down to the "regular" models to assist in meeting the various legislation, but there will come a time that this alone will not be enough.

Like it or not, the automotive World is changing and even Ferrari will have to move with the times eventually!

 

Ferrari does make many entry level models.... they are called "Used"

 

The less said about the Cadillac Vega the better.

Although sold as a Porsche here in Europe the 914/4 was branded a VW-Porsche in Europe and sold through VW stores.

A better example might be the 924. Originally an Audi design by Porsche who then sold it when Audi decided it didn't fit their mix. Only when Porsche put its own engine in and created the 944 was it considered "worthy" by the true believers.

 

Is a Ferrari used car buyer a potential new car buyer? I don't know. It would be interesting to read market research data on this point.

 

If the dealer insists on it to get a place on the list.

Even if it doesn't include a down market model when Ferrari ups its output it will change the way American dealers at least, do business.
Pass the popcorn.

 

As much as you like to predict doom, I repeat: there are no plans to discontinue the NA V12. The F12 is brilliant.

 

The one factor that gives me hope against down-market models is the fact that other makes exist within the Fiat empire to fill those market segments.

 

But Ferrari won't be part of Fiat.

 

With Sergio Marchione wanting to sell about 30% more Ferraris - that is his strategy, a downmarket model could happen.

It is a thin tightrope. Jaguar went downmarket and sold a rebadged Ford Mondeo. Hurt the brand. I am a Jaguar customer. I did not like what they did.

Jack

 

Something similar to a Lotus7 would make a nice addition, yet not cheapen the breed.

 

Ferrari knows the entry level car is the used Ferrari. It's the 360 at the moment. Before that is was the 308/328, but now that those cars are worth the same or more then a 360, the 360 has become the new 308. And they will keep falling in price. They are not in the basement yet.

Ferrari doesn't need to build an entry level new car. Go buy a used one, and work your way up from there. Once you have one Ferrari, it's so much easier to move on up the market.

 

I'm drooling over a 360 on the market now, so much want as a second fcar. What a wonderful world that this is an entry level Ferrari.

 

Agree. It's a great car, that can be maintained for a reasonable amount of money. But if you choose an F1 equipped car, or a spider, costs can get out of hand in a hurry if your not careful.

The best entry level Ferrari IMHO, is a 360 six speed coupe. Doesn't really get much easier on the wallet for a later model Ferrari then that.