Isn't Maserati kind of supposed to be the cheaper "ferrari" in the Fiat line up? I guess if they keep it as a seperate brand like the original Dino it would be ok, but I don't think they'd do that. I think it'll devalue the brand too much. I'm not a current ferrari owner but I'd rather an F-car be financially unobtainable for me than have it become like the overly common 911.
FIAT took Maserati back from Ferrari. Ferrari will be floated at some point, so it'll be largely independent, so it needs to build a model line to stand on its own. i predict it'll be six cylinders (people are doing some AMAZING stuff with six cylinders these days!) but it better be priced to compete with the 911. doody.
Why not just expand production of the 430 model if they are so concern about profits? Ferrari should create a seperate line, in my view. This could be a big win for the other brands.
exactly right! Does Ferrari really have to follow Porsche, Aston, and Lamborghini's lead now unlike they've ever done in the past 55 years? The day Ferrari exists primarily to build road cars is the day the F1 team should stop racing.
$200k? The base price on the 430 that I have on order is $165k, I was told. Not cheap but definitely not $200k.
So I guess all of us poor sap's have to suffer with owning a 308 GT4??? Remember, if it wasn't for the GT4 and it's V-8, you wouldn't have your 355!
remember-- its a 355, not a dino. The dino is special as the only V6 Ferrari. What would you think if they built a V10 or V8 TR? If they are going to mine their heritage, they should stay true to it........
I for one can't wait for the new Dino! About a year ago, Ferrari held a survey asking which car F-Car owner's considered to be the most beautiful Ferrari. The 246 Dino won. Surprise. That little "Almost a Ferrari" has proven itself to be quite the superstar among all of the elite 12 cylinder traditionals. Also, I'm always amazed by the incredibly pretentious behavior exhibited by so many people on this site! You should buy a Ferrari based on the merits of what it is...an amazing technological achievement (in the car world, anyway) and a thing of beauty. I've enjoyed my Ferrari, and would want one if I was the only person on the planet, or if every other person on the street had one! A Ferrari is wonderful by itself, and does not need our collective fears about continued exclusivity to maintain its greatness!
I agree with you. If Ferrari produces a Dino it should have six cylinders. I am glad the article mentioned a mid-engine layout. With the way Formula One is going Bernie may tell the teams to use a V6 in the future(I am joking of course but anything is possible with that guy). I hope the new Dino incorporates some of the original Dino's look. However, I don't want the car to look too similar to the past Dino. That isn't fair to those who have an original Dino. Also if the car is priced at 100,000 Euros it will be considerably more in the States. So I doubt you will see a Dino at every corner. It will still be exclusive and who knows, it may be one of the most rewarding Ferrari's to drive since it will most likely have a six speed manual and maybe not have stability and/or traction control. With Maserati looking to produce less expensive cars and sell more vehicles I see them setting up seperate dealerships (possibly with Alfa Romeo in the future). Most Ferrari dealerships aren't set up to service a lot of cars. If Maserati produces a new lower priced coupe/spyder and an SUV(which is very possible) the current dealers won't be able to service all of them. So if Ferrari dealers can't take on the additional cars they will probably have to sell their Maserati franchise. Ferrari should reward those same dealers who spent a fortune setting up the Maserati dealerships with a lower priced car to sell. The Dino would be the perfect car for that. I don't care if it is a Ferrari Dino or is a sepearate brand called "Dino". We all know that Ferrari will be engineering it so that is all I am concerned about.
I had a 246, and I've promised my son, (he's five now) that he will get a 246 when he graduates college. Planning a full restoration on a late model 246 when I find one. Nothing sounds like that 6....nothing...
i have a dino and would love to have a modern dino, especially at the price point mentioned. i do not think it would hurt ferrari sales (in fact, it would help) or image. if a modern dino was created that looked like the old dino 246, i would buy one and drive it everyday. my wife drive a maserati qp everyday. it has been VERY reliable and trouble free. a new dino, if the same was true, would help ferrari streghthen its market postion without losing its current clientale, not only in the us, but worldwide. think about the number of countries that have taxes and restrictions on certain types of cars base don price, horsepower, and engine size. the dino could open many more markets to ferrari.
But that's exactly what they did with the original and those are now one of the most coveted models. Will depend on whether the car is really original (and gorgeous) like the original or is just a cynical marketing ploy (like some other recent releases)
So that's where they got the new F430 front air ducts. I don't own a ferrari but I thing a new "Dino" V6 that was a bit slower than the F430 and a little more "raw" (no F1 Gearbox etc.) would do well for sales and image. At $130k, they're not going to be a whole lot of them and plus they can limit the # of them made to help they're exclusivity. A Targa, light, High reving V6, with a more sporty side would be good fun little car.
I'd argue that the 246 succeeded despite that poor branding decision (sorry, Marketing guy speaking here...) The Dino GT4 was not as widely loved, and ultimately Ferrari had to lose the Dino brand and stick prancing horses on it to resuscitate sales until they could launch the Mondial. You're right, if the new 'Dino' is really original and gorgeous they won't be able to keep up with demand.
I'll bet right now if the car comes to pass and is priced at say 125K, they will sell all they can make and they will be wait listed just whether 6 cyl or 8. A small 2200 lb, all aluminum with 300HP model would probably make me a buyer (along with my soon to arrive 430). Dave
If its all true i wonder how lamborghini plans on answering the challenge?. Im sure that this will be as fast as the C6 vette, Dodge Viper or the Porsche 911. Overall i can't wait to see this "affordable" Ferrari.
To many people the current line of mid-engine v8s are Dinos. V6/V8 whatever, that they are not front engined V12s is what makes them Dinos. Anyway, for this to happen, there will be no v6. Developing a whole new motor from the ground up would mean too high of an MSRP -or- high production volume, neither being a good option. The only way to have a reasonably priced (around $125k) new model with Ferrari-like production figures would be to use the abandoned Maserati chassis and variant of an existing motor, the 360 powerplant comes to mind.
The linked article at the very beginning of this thread stated a possibility of powerplant, or chassis, or both, sharing with lesser brands in the Fiat empire (namely Alfa).
I'd be into a small midengined V6. It would be nice to have an Italian size Ferrari once again, something we haven't seen since what, the 355? I'm sure others disagree, but IMO things have gotten a bit too American-esque in the Fcar lineup, the 8 cylinder models in particular. If I wanted a Corvette, well, I'd go buy a Corvette...
Did you know that they did make 4 cylinder Testa Rossas back in the '50s (and 12 cylinder versions too) ? And the 308 GT4 was badged as a Dino when it came out. Also, back in the turbo days of Formula 1, Ferrari used 6 cylinder engines and the F1 cars didn't have a Dino badge on them.