Heh Guys Just come back from the factory and I have some exciting News!! THE F149 Revised launch is Paris 08. First deliveries last quarter 08 Car is full metal roof convertible, which fully automatically folds into the body (similar to SL65) circa 500BHP Priced sub F430 Looks are similar to F599 but progressive from that model Rear seats similar to SL65 configuration (will do for short journeys or kids) Car to be aimed at a new market to compete in circa SL55 marketplace This car from the images looks great. Dealers have been shown near enough finished models. Great news Mike
Many thanks update - do you think from the images you saw it could be the car in the Mystery Mule thread ? http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=137273987&postcount=1 Question for the mods : where should all the F149 posts & threads go since this car is clearly real and not a 612/599 ?
Thanks for sharing the news. Can't believe that they're making a car with folding hard top though. But convertible sounds interesting.
You absolutely right. Just right after you posted this thread I have called my dealer in Germany and he confirmed to me everything you have posted. So this means that it will be exactly as you said. Here are the facts my dealer told me about "F149": 1) Hard top convertible with ultra light roof construction. My dealer told me that it is possible that it will be panorama retractable roof. 2) Engine will develop a little bit more than 500 HP. 3) Price will be aproximatly the same as for the current F430 Berlinetta. 4) My dealer told me that it will be possible to choose if you want small rear seats or luggage shelf similar to 599 GTB. 5) My dealer has seen first top secret images of this car and confirmed that it looks very well. 6) Launch at Paris, because now Ferrari is finishing the work on hard top retractable roof construction. That is why launch is delayed from Geneva to Paris. 7) My dealer told me as well that Ferrari is focusing now on developing hard top retractable roof constructions for futrure convertibles. I see you quite well informed about F-news, as well as me. Are there any interesting facts you know about 599 Spider? May be you can share with us anything interesting about this car? But in any case thank you very much for sharing your news with us. Best.
Interesting. I'm also surprised Ferrari would do the retractable hardtop, as the mechanisms tend to be heavy and the roof itself imposes many limitations on the design of the car.
Well they wouldn't be too top secret if he DID... I personally think it's a bit of a brand compromise-- just like the rest of 'em.
What I find most interesting about these rumors is that this all sounds eerily similar to what people were saying about the Maserati Spyder replacement a few years ago. Hmmm...we'll have to wait and see.
So true,.....also, with the current conv top on the 360 and 430, the car is very tight, and i would think the hardtop conv would effect weight of the car and the handling with the top up vs top down...but with a super light weight design, who knows???
The car in that pic looks more like a maserati to me. Any other spy pics from the F149? I really can't see this car be priced at the same level of the F430 berlinetta since its a 4 seater,it has over 500 HP,It is lighter (as i have heard),it has a retractble hard top roof,etc. I guess we will have to wait and see.
Some spy pics here claiming to be F149: http://www.motorpasion.com/2007/07/11-fotos-espia-del-ferrari-f149/comments/1/