http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/Ferrari-Dino/231653/#
They need to get their info straight. If this is true the car won't sell. "The car is set to go on sale for similar money to the F430 Scuderia and will give the brand a direct rival to the Aston Martin DB9."
My guess is that Ferrari might just bump the price up for the F430 replacement to make this new model seem more affordable. Think about it!
I think that we could safely assume that the price would be closer to the current 430 than the Scuderia. These early reports have never been that accurate. Some Fchatters on this board appeared to have more details. It also seems to me that the real competitor is the MB SL65, another hardtop convertible, which is somewhat more durable than the ragtops such as the DB9 convertible.
Probably not, however, I suspect that Ferrari believes that they're leaving money on the table if they didn't. sting
A potential output of 10k units per year (vs the actual 6k) is hardly comparable to Porsche's 100k+ (and rising)... Ferrari doesn't, and won't make an SUVs, sedans and whatnot unlike Porsche. ...and at the F430's price level it will be hard to call the 'f149' a 'poor man's Ferrari'. Given the size of the growing market for exotics in the world, I find Ferrari's decision to step-up production more than understandable...and at 4k a year I doubt you'll see F149s round the corner all the time. I'm sure that Ferrari gives great importance to the mythical aura that its cars possess and I honestly doubt that it would do anything to kill the myth it has created. On the other hand, Porsche just wants to make profit...even if it meant selling twin-turbo shopping trolleys. So, IMVHO, saying that Ferrari is in the process of turning into another Porsche for an increase in production and a fourth model is exaggerating a bit. Carlo
Actually it was the profile and the hard top convertible that reminded me of the SLK visually. At the price and production levels mentioned it will, by no means, be a mass market item. Given the new facilities at Ferrari I can't see them outsourceing production to Pininfarina. In my opinion that would really devalue the marque.
Saw this one coming. But it isn't as bad as the Segway, Laptop, Binocuars, 15 different 'limited' editions of the 612, denouncing after market exhausts and the theme park. Maybe it's just me but those things I mentioned seem a bit above and beyond in the greed department. I don't exactly understand it I guess. Don't get me wrong I am as big a Ferrari fan as anyone. It's just become over the top.
I see this car as more of a Mondial replacement. Mondials never reached the sales numbers they expected. 456's and 612's aren't hot sellers either. I'm struggling to see where the market for this car would be at prices approaching 200K but, for now, I'll concede the jury is out and I'm sure Ferrari studied the potential market for this car before moving ahead. Dave
Damn! Ferrari was the last holdout of the major premium brands that didn't sell a car unworthy of the marque or at least lowered it's status. This car changes that IMO. By not making a lesser car like all the other major premium brands (aston martin,bently, Lambo, Porsche etc.) Ferrari's status actualy rose a bit. Now their playing the same game of dilute the brand image for a few bucks. Just my thoughts
Heading down hill................What a shame. I remember walking into my local Porsche dealer back in the day and there they were a handful of 993 and thats it, now its like a Toyota dealership and seems to me like Ferrari may be going down that path (future post might read like this : Rumor of Ferrari SAV and following with a Challenge Edition)...just my two cents.
Didn't Lamoborghini just do the same thing with the Audi R8 ? GOT TO SELL MORE CARS Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Back in the day when Porsche dealers only had a few 993's laying around? That's maybe because there wasn't much coming out of the factory due to P almost going bankrupt (the US arm at the very least). In any case, how does anyone judge a $200,000 car to be a 'lesser' vehicle or dilute the brand? Wait times for new vehicles from Ferrari are already up to 3 + years, and (most) everyone here thinks that after next year they'll be as common as a Toyota?? Seems to me that the factory is just filling out a profitable niche in which they see room for a new F car - I hardly doubt they're going to deliver anything but a dynamically superb sports car, especially with the rumoured 500 bhp. I for one am both happy and excited, just another new trinket to spice up the wishlist. The End. Ps - I do agree about the Segway, Themepark, laptop and 15 versions of the 612, not even 'your' worst case scenario Porsche has a themepark. And guys are complaining about a new DINO!!! sheesh Okay, I'm actually done now. The End Part Deux.
Its still a business and at the end of the day they still have to earn the benjamins! I would rather see Ferrari build cars such as the new Dino rather than suffer an unthinkable fate. Not that they're in any financial troubles (that I know about) but it seems that serving another type of market (the SLK/Z4/boxster types) would generate more income for the brand. Its a lot like when sushi wasn't mainstream (yet), people shunned the idea of eating raw fish! Now everyone and they're mother is into it.