488 GTO ?

I was trying to stay away from commenting but hopefully as a way to end the Dino discussion......We can talk about the non Dino all we like, or even the non 488 Estate Car, but Ferrari are not going there. Certainly for now, so it just becomes another waste of time speculating like most of this thread recently has. Every time I see a new post I am hoping it's going to be with some relevant facts, a sneaked photo, a video showing the car moving with no sound or whatever. So far, no luck.

A few reasons for no Dino:
The most highly competitive segment already dominated by brilliant products from McLaren, Porsche, Audi etc
Opportunity to damage the brand by going down market into the mass production segment
No production capacity within existing infrastructure
Wafer thin profit margins where you cannot charge $3,000 for a carbon cup holder which is the Ferrari model
SUV/FUV fits far better into their business model at the right price point than wasting R&D time on a Dino

It may well come one day, but not for now.

 

can you imagine when this thread starts getting details on the 488 GTO........won't even recognize the thread.

 

THE reason they will = Stock price

They have no choice.

Bring on the Dino and Dino SUV...oh and GTO so to stay on thread topic.

 

We can but dream and possibly in ten days or so we will get some actual thin FACTS to hypothesise over.

 

We can never say never like any other version you care to dream up, but it is not happening in the immediate future for all the reasons I listed, most particularly, where would it be built? One day, anything is possible but just not now.

 

Your 'reasons' are just opinion -- nothing more. But you are entitled to those.

Answers:

The most highly competitive segment already dominated by brilliant products from McLaren, Porsche, Audi etc - EXACTLY WHY THEY HAVE TO
Opportunity to damage the brand by going down market into the mass production segment - THATS ALREADY BEEN DONE BY GOING TURBO--WE ARE BEYOND THAT
No production capacity within existing infrastructure - MOVE THINGS AROUND
Wafer thin profit margins where you cannot charge $3,000 for a carbon cup holder which is the Ferrari model - SO THEY CHARGE $300, THEY WILL MAKE $
SUV/FUV fits far better into their business model at the right price point than wasting R&D time on a Dino - THAT'S COMING DON'T WORRY

 

No, not just an opinion, an opinion founded on facts and logic. Let's pick this up twelve months down the road and see where we are. BTW, I love your explanation for where they would build it-that should do it.

 

None of us have insider Ferrari knowledge...so all they can be are opinions. Even the people at Ferrari don't seem to have much of a clue sometimes. I still laugh when I look back to the Autocar interview with Enrico Galliera (Sweater's right hand man) said no SUV one day, and later in the week Marchionne left the door wide open on some investor call.

Marchionne's Ferrari is all about turning 10bn+ of brand value into hard cash for the shareholders. That isn't going to happen without some dilution of brand value. He would do anything if it achieves that goal.

 

Tend to agree.

They could drop an SUV onto the Lusso underpinnings for very little R&D and charge similar money. I am sure Ferrari will watch Lambo Urus sales and take up very carefully and make a call once real numbers surface. They could even come up with another name i.e. not SUV so as to "justify" the no SUV statements.

 

It can draw from Alfa Stelvio Quad. If you think Marchionne is not going to poach/parts bin from other brands you are dreaming. Hell he already did on Quad--it can go back the other way just as easily.

 

Another thing to keep a close eye out for (which also may very well be revealed in Geneva) is the often referenced "five year road map" that Marchionne has promised to lay out early this year.

 

Chairman Mao used to unveil 5 year plans, and that didn't do much for his country. Let's Ferrari's great leap forward doesn't end up there. Only thing I want to see in the plan is Marchionne's retirement date.

 

Can't wait to hear his final answer on this Dino/Ferrarina topic, so we can't put an end to all those fruitless discussions.

On topic: curious to know if the GTO will feature a little spoiler on the back, similar to the one seen on the J50.

 

Ferrari has historically revealed similar plans and they have been rather committed to them. Marchionne is far from perfect but I certainly can't see why so many enthusiasts can't stand the man. He's actually running an impressive operation. The company is financially as strong as ever, the product line is superb and dominating the competition (with only an exciting pipeline to come), the growth potential both in near and far terms seems incredibly promising, and they have made a strong commitment to the vintage and older car segment through global events and Classiche. As for the SUV, while I would prefer they don't go down that road, I'm keeping an open mind and I'll be the first to be impressed if deservedly so.

 

That would be interesting. I would prefer an active aero spoiler (similar to the LaFerrari) rather than an affixed wing.

 

I'd be more impressed with him if he had a greater sense of history and more importantly Ferrari history. If he had such sense he would not contemplate a SUV, there are other ways of increasing Ferrari production without following the heard. If he has any such sense this 488 VS will not get to market bearing the name GTO (hope I am right about this). The fact he is now competing against himself by bringing Alfa Romeo into F1 makes little sense to me. At least he seems to leave the guys at Chrysler alone and allows monsters like the Dodge Daemon to exist, perhaps he isn't half had.

What will interest me is to see where the 488 VS fits in relative to the 812. At present we have roughly 100 bhp between the two, lets say 488 VS goes to 750 (my guess based on the war of numbers between Ferrari and McLaren, a war which I think is senseless), that's going to create a car faster than the 812, which is fine but then I think the VS should be completely pared down, no stereo, nothing in way of luxury, perhaps aka 360 CS to completely differentiate itself from the 488 and the 812.

 

I did hear a few months ago that apparently the 488 VS would be more of a mini LF, so taking that literally would suggest active rear aero as you suggest. Also without resorting to this device, I am not sure how they would make a quantum downforce leap.

 

You and I do agree on the name "GTO". As much as I love my 488 GTB, I'm not pretending it has the bloodline of previous cars bearing the name "GTO". That moniker should remain in the supercar class.

 

I think it's brilliant. F1 is just a marketing tool for which AR is a great choice. Are you really worried about Sauber beating the mother team? I'm not and if they did great.

Alfa is killing it right now in the award department for Giulia and F1 will help extend brand awareness and conversation. I don't think a 488 buyer is cross shopping a Giulia--BUT I bet they might be looking for a daily to have with it. Rather them buy a Alfa than a MB.

 

Totally agree. And I wonder who is responsible for the resurrection of the Alfa brand?

 

"There are times when you're given the opportunity to give life to something which is so beautiful and unique, so just and equitable, that you pay a lot less attention to the numbers, to the financial reality that surrounds it and so, I leave you with this.." - That's what Marchionne said when the last Viper, a striking american icon, a project he greenlit, was born. So no, he doesn't seem that bad to me neither

That would be nice as well and, hopefully, they'll keep staying far away from Performante/RS-style wings in the future (speaking of road cars, of course).

 

They should focus on weight for the VS. For those who wheel out excuses about safety regs as to why road car weight can't be reduced much, McLaren is showing the way with 790hp and 1200kg. That might be a touch extreme in a everyday road car, but while he HP war goes on without attention to weight, you end up with oversized, overpowered monsters like the tdf. Less weight, and you could have a nice 360CS like you say, but for 2018, and still have the performance figures.

 

https://www.motorhive.co.uk/488-versione-speciale-gto/

 

Thank you !

 

Absolutely love the reworking of the front.