575 Replacement

Luca liksa da 12-cylindro engeen en da front. Datsa way itsa gonna be.

 

the rumors thus far have been that the Maranello replacement is going to share some "stuff" from the 612. so it can't/won't be a radical departure like moving the engine amidships.

damn shame too, if you ask me since (a) they'd do better in that chunk of their market if they did a mid-engine car and (b) my Maranello would end up being worth more over time

we might all be pleasantly surprised, but i wouldn't involve myself in any breath-holding. it's wildly unlikely to not be front-engined.

doody.

 

Based on the 612 and the comments that the 575-replacement would leverage the 612, and given the market demand, here's my guess:

They are going to use the same powerful engine.
They are going to use the same mid-engine design... a front mid-engine.

But instead of a 2+2 that's actually comfortable for 4 adults, and the resultant size and weight... they will use the aluminum technology from both 360 and 612 to make a very light, nimble 2-seater package for that engine... which should result in a 3.x 0-60, and other similarly impressive times.

The big question mark is the look. With a front mid-engine, you necessarily have a long front end. The best-looking long-front-engine Ferrari was the 250GTO, IMO. So, I am hoping they borrow its lines heavily... but I would expect those lines blended with the 575M and 612 styling to produce something that is altogether new, but reminiscent of past designs.

 

I agree about the 250GTO.

What would REALLY set the auto world on it's ear is if they pulled a Ford GT-style resurrection and made a '600 GTO' with a body almost identical to the '63, with the 575/612 drivetrain.

They'd sell the entire 5-year run in one month. For tifosi, it would be dubbed The (first) Second Coming!

 

I was at Ferrari of Dallas yesterday and spoke with the owner about this subject. He shared with me that the 575 replacement will be about 1.1/2 to 2 years away and will be a front/mid engine design.

 

wouldn't that just be the bees knees? yowza yowza.

so that'd suggest they'dd probably bow it late summer or early winter 2005 for deliveries starting with the 2007 MY in early to mid 2006. makes sense.

i'm very concerned that the replacement will be too sedate. i love the Maranello, but it lacks some of the panache (love it or hate it) of the Testarossa line. maybe they felt their customer base was "growing up" or something, but i think they'd be best-served by more envelope-pushing.

doody.

 

To judge from the past, it seems clear what they will do. Use the Enzo engine, tuned down slightly. Use the 612 platform, front-mid and aluminum, tuned up more than slightly. Styling is the big question, of course. Will it be more sports and less GT? I would say yes. They can achieve both ends because of the front-mid engine and the aluminum spaceframe. It should become the true flagship of the line-up, not the softer but faster but less fun to drive older brother of the eight cylinder. Performance could easily match the SLR, Carrera GT and Murci, with the style and refinement of a Ferrari GT. A spyder would send everyone back to the drawing board.

 

If it is to be as ugly as the 612, hopefully it burned in the factory fire ...

Pete

 

Not agree, man. Car design is nowadays like film making: there are not good ideas so they just do "remakes" of the classic ones.

 

I'm hearing 2007 as the earliest.

 

I once heard that the Ferrari/Maserati strategy is to introduce a new (either brand new model or an update of an existing one) model each year. My guess is as follows:

2005 - Update of the Modena, engine plus body design.
2006 - Brand new v12 replacement of the Maranello.
2007 - Maserati update?
2008 - Brand new replacement of the Modena.

 

I agree there... having a good-looking spider is far more important than having the most horsepower.

On the retro, I agree that doing so is a cop-out... and I would be very surprised if Ferrari ever did that. However, they typically borrow a lot of lines from past cars... and I am hoping they borrow the 250GTO lines heavily.

 

Well, Matrix had a few new ideas, but Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions didn´t add anything new. And Jurassic Park had great FX but it was a rather conventional film.

But we are not here to discuss about films. I would like to see a 575 Spider too. They should call it 575 Spyder California or something like that.

 

I second that! Have a Spider version, like the Pininfarina Rosso concept car, and a coupe. That'd be a good rebound from the 612.
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