Ferrari's "new Dino"============

4.2 litre , front mounted 400BHP V8, £85k [$160k], AMV8 direct rival. Rumoured to be codenamed Project California.
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Hmmmmmmmmm.....I LIKE IT !!! Have any more infos ?

 

From Autocar;
"The California is based on conventional steel monocoque chassis, although it uses a transaxle transmission located on the back axle. With the engine mounted well back in the nose, the combination gives a near perfect front/rear weight distribution.
Insiders expect the California to use a modified version of today's 400 BHP 4.2 V8 Maser engine , which would confirm the California's position below the F430 in the Ferrari line up, with it's 490 4.3 V8.

 

a baby 612 looks cool.

 

waw so ittl go into production for sure? i wonder how close those pictures are to the real thing though...

 

Don't you think it looks a little like the Chrysler X-fire at the back!

I'm not totally convinced atm, but I'm sure I'll be won round eventually!

Foxy x

 

Call me the sceptic, but I don't see Ferrari making another car platform as part of their business plan...

 

i don't think they should add another car to the range, especially if its a cheaper and smaller one.
you will probably c more people with them, a bit like Porsche good cars but every tom d*ck and harrys got one, u know what i mean
if u going to spend a lot of money u want to get something that no one has or not many people have.
Aston Martin are falling in the same pit.
i think its just about making money to the car makers.

what u think

 

I bet this is the rumored reworked next generation Maserati Coupe to be the new entry-level Ferrari, down to its engine. The AMV8 looks way better.

 

Vague rumor + photochop = publishable rumor. Investigative reporting for the 21st C.

Anyone else notice that Maserati was "part of" Ferrari for less time than it generally takes to run a new platform through development? Fiat's inability to implement a long term plan makes you wonder if the board is a democracy.

 

Nice looking car IMO and would certainly want to see it in production.

 

Autocar - "styling will NOT be based on the aborted Maser coupe/spyder replacements".

 

Agreed.

But they have passed off Maserati, which was their "low end" brand to scoop up the $80-120k range. This might be a way to get it back, but would probably kill the Maserati Coupe [and it's inspired name] in the process.

I don't believe this though. And as much as I'd like a AMV8 and Elise-fighting Ferrari, I dislike the look of these renders. Too "scrunched." Like those car cartoons.

However, it's rather bland sides and lower age target would be a dream for me and my business: there's plenty of work do be done and I'm sure people would be willing to mod these.

 

Of course they should alter the styling to be more 'Ferrari', but can they claim that the engine/inner parts (read : the car as a whole minus the bodywork) will NOT be based on the aborted Coupe/Spider?

Btw, tonyh, thanks for the news! very interesting indeed!

 

They passed on it because they couldn't make it work (the reasons of which have been covered in many different threads, I still think I should write up that one as an HBS case study).

That price segment of the market is far too competitive for a small manufacturer...

 

Im confused ...


The Maser Spyder is aborted ?

And that Dino would be great but i dont see it happening .Btw , from 3/4 rear its Pure Daytona..

 

. . . and even if Ferrari does add such a car to the stable, 'California' is totally inappropriate. A coupe at the low end of the Ferrari product line would have absolutely nothing in common with its namesake 250 or 365 Californias.

 

"...The California is based on conventional steel monocoque chassis, although it uses a transaxle transmission located on the back axle. With the engine mounted well back in the nose, the combination gives a near perfect front/rear weight distribution..."

After all the trouble Ferrari has gone to introduce new cars with Alu. chassis why would they want to take a step backward with this car? I think not likely, doesn't make sense.

 

Horrible.

Luca, please don't let it happen.

 

To cut costs. The Maser Coupe/Spider was steel, so it makes perfect sense. The car could even be built by Maserati or Maserati would supply the body panels and engine.

And don't get me wrong. I'm against this, but I think it's going to happen sooner or later.

 

Bingo.

 

My letter of intent went in about 2pm this afternoon

 

Nice Find Tony! I look forward to seeing it. Doubt it will be a great as the original one though, I'll still love it.

 

I agree that there are many cars in the mid 100's, but if they can make $100k Maseratis, why can't they make similar $160k Ferraris? Not too sure that this car would do to their unwritten 4000 car annual production rule though. Maybe the Dino name could be ressurrected to avoid this.

Many elite manufacturers have tried to move downmarket and have found it more difficult than they anticipated, IMHO. M-B and Porsche are really the only two I can think of that have really flourished as a result of making cheaper cars.

I have to wonder if Ferrari's selling of Maserati is not an indicator of some really big news concerning Ferrari's ownership in the near future.

 

Perhaps this is the "uncovered" 575 replacement I saw running around last October in Maranello...that car was a V-12 mule under wraps. Ferrari doesn't need another V-8...the trio of variants is plenty.