I noticed that all F167 (Roma-) test mules have a completely taped rear window. Are they testing a rear view camera (like on the 812 Competizione)? According to day355 the F167 will have a glass rear window (#2227)… A contradiction? Not if they would take a roof construction like in the picture below (split rear window)...
Interesting theory but since the mule is just that a mule based on a Roma and no Ferrari has ever (to my humble knowledge) has had a split window (it’s more a Corvette design trait) I don’t think that is the interesting design of the roof. I was actually thinking about this and I wondered if the roof line would be akin to the 250 GTO Series II with a flat horizontal rear window and will also match the 296 models. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
You are exactly correct. If Ferrari announced the 812 replacement was going to be a 650 hp NA V12, designed to pay homage to the 250 SWB, no GPF, with all beautiful analogue gauges and option for 6 speed gated manual they could charge $800K and the allocation waiting list would extend from Maranello to LA.
This is why you have the Icona Series. I expect them to produce the 6 (or is it 5, I can't remember) and then give it a break of 3 years and rinse repeat.
Let's agree to disagree. I tend to daily my F cars. First question bystanders always ask is "how much HP!?". No one has every asked about brakes, ride quality, downforce, balance, stability, etc, etc. When I look at the average F buyer at my dealership, I would say that 75% are not true car enthousiasts. Meaning they buy the car for the badge and thus bragging rights. HP numbers are a big, BIG factor with the general public and thus directely tied with bragging rights and thus status and thus the reason why a lot of buyers opt for a Ferrari in the first place. Again, we are not the majority buyers. We are the vocal minority. I would love a lightweight non-hybrid F car, as would most that post here. Ales, we're not the majority. Same applies for the continueing cries for a manual car. A simple glanze at how many manuals Ferrari sold should shut up that discussion..... but one can always dream!
Certainly not from Maranello, since it wouldn't be sold in the EU if it didn't have a PPF. At any rate, Ferrari doesn't live in the past. Even the Iconas are modern in terms of performance and technology.
I think they are trapped in a horsepower and technology battle with other manufacturers. It made sense since their inception up until about 10 years ago to do so. Throughout that era it was better to increase reliable horsepower with better suspensions, etc. But like so many things in life there is an asymptote, a law of diminishing returns, and we are near the top of that curve now. Now it is about increasing tech for the sake of tech, self-driving cars, different interior mood lighting, GPS functionality, Apple car play, emissions, electric power options, and absolutely unusable power increases for bragging rights on ever more congested roadways. The storied marque of Ferrari, IMHO, should not be chasing those goals even though it was appropriate before. They should now be chasing the most emotional driving experience available; the car for the uber successful person who wants that emotion. Leave the internet boy racing to other lesser brands. I know for an absolute certainty that for me if they continue on this trajectory they will never ever build a better car than the Speciale. I know that is only my opinion, and I fully accept that they don’t give a rat’s ass about my opinion either. I also don’t have to give them any more of my money.
We completely agree ! The main problem is that there is no one left at Ferrari with a brand culture, knowledge and understanding of sports motoring. For the vast majority, you will ask them to manufacture and sell computers, it would be the same thing, it just changes the product. They don't care about respecting genetics, the most important thing is RACE's DNA...
Honestly, I don't think they even asked themselves the question ! Everything is sold very expensive, no need to seek to obtain the fruits of a reflection, the badge is enough !
That's totally unfair. Objectively speaking, current Ferraris are the best in history. What everyone likes subjectively, differs. The problem is with some customers demanding Carplay and silly things like that, but performance wise they are at a top level.
Agreed. What's intriguing is that Aston Martin does all the things we dream of: continuations of DB5/6 cars (albeit for $Xmm), 800hp+ manual V12 like Victor, Valhalla and Valkyries, Zagato customs, Q modifications, manual Vantages (well, until last year) etc. and yet they cannot get ahead financially. Victor is one of the best looking cars ever IMO: Image Unavailable, Please Login
Maybe more than just an interesting theory... Had the same thought some time ago, but that would be a more conservative, well-known roof solution. I think the Centro Stile will come with a more provocative roof solution.
+1 on the Victor, and the Vulcan too (and the One 77 now that I think about it, and the Vanquish… man AM has some really beautiful cars)
True, but then "Ferrari" just means "blacksmith" ... so then what are we really left with when we try associate words with connotations? Better to just treat these car names as simply fictional words that just sound cool. So much easier on the brain.
I think we kinda are agreeing! Those 75% would still buy the car because it’s a Ferrari and a Lamborghini isn’t. And I love Lambos by the way … but I would gladly pay more for the prancing horse, because I care about other things than horsepower. It’s not like Ferrari is phoning it in and producing lame cars. My point is that we’ve reached the point where a bit more HP isn’t as compelling as it once was, and I honestly don’t think Ferrari needs to keep playing the one-upmanship game with HP. They likely will, but … just make a pretty car that performs well and I doubt many owners would turn their head in shame when they see a Lambo or Mac with more HP. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Heck, there are corvettes that have had more hp than Ferraris. Top HP is not why I like them, but as mentioned earlier, perhaps we are no longer the typical buyer? Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
What's even more sad is when I first saw an F12 at my dealer I said lets pop that hood and the salesman said no one asks to see the engine.
If Ferrari kept doing that for a few years, they would end up being Aston Martin, or even worse... Lotus. By the way, "pretty"? That sounds "hairsressery".
Some comments here remind me of the following: You think back to the relationship with your first girlfriend and the wonderful time you had with her in the 80s (= first Ferrari). Today you are still together, she is not unattractive but has become bigger and comfortable. You have also children of the smartphone generation (= connectivity, Apple CarPlay) which should enrich your life, but you get doubts about it... You have more money than ever before (= more HP), but you can't do anything with it, because you have a lot of responsibility (= traffic problems). And now you want to go back to the beginning, when life has been so easy, but you can not find the reset button in the confusing menu...
Yes, we do indeed. I, and I think the vast majority here would agree, would love for Ferrari to continue on the trajectory they are currently on…. Which the slight exception that they increase the Icona range, don’t make them so limited and build those light manual shifted cars we all crave! And give the tech kids what they, supposedly, want with their self driving computers!
2009 ZR1 - 638 Hp, 604 lb ft torque 2009 599 - 612 Hp, 488 lb ft torque The point being that HP is not necessarily the selling point. Dodge Demon for instance. Reminds me of a joke/story where a guy in a souped up muscle car says to gentleman Ferrari driver, “my car can out run yours.” The other driver says, “want to trade?” Muscle car guy says “sure!!” To which our gentleman replied “Exactly”. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
