"The Champ is Here!" This is What a Ferrari "Vroom" Translates To. But Competition?

Tifosi,

Its no secret that Ferrari hold a firm grip on the minds of anybody seeking a $300,000 super-exotic, but how is the market looking when it comes to competition? Where is the Frazier to our Ali? When the Enzo is replaced by a heat-seaking missel with four wheels; (The experts agree the Enzo succesor will still be terrestrial enough to bear the traditional four tires) - the rest of the industry will also be unveiling their own hypercar. How does the competiton look for the not-so-distant future? Lets see... ...




Let's start in Italy... I can see Lambo taking us for a ride with a new Gallardo 'GT' or '7.9' or hell, maybe a 72'3' to stick it to Mclaren. Who knows, but I think it fare to say we can expect a full-on 'Tuner Edition.' A really fast tweaked version with nothing to do with anything, but flash. Note: keeping regular doors (how does that fit?). I am certain that as time rolls around for an Enzo replacement to be rolling out, Lambo will have a VERY upgraded and updated Murciélago model. This one will be something. No, I mean it will really BE something. Audi & VW are through fooling around; we've seen that in recent years. And, with as much 'non hype' as Lamborghini themselves placed on the Murci-Roadster, compared to as much as it got; the next one will resound far beyond a Nardo bowl.
Mercedes have announced they will take on the Gull-Wing idea for 09’ or so, which has long since been in the back of everyone's mind; as with the arriving fashion of retro-isms in auto design; e.q. the Americans. For the same reasons, Ferrari have been rumored to be looking into a Dino edition to their roster of fascinating autos, though I digress. A new McMerc? Perhaps, but as the media have described, Mercedes and Mclaren have not been the pen pals they were in the Murray era. Needless to say, our ears will be open.
Porsche, though no serious competition as of now, worry me. The next supercar of theirs may cause some fuss. (Remember the Enzo, SLR, GT cover shoot on almost every magazine in late 03' - early 04’?) This one will be something to look for. Ferrari are going to have a game at playing this one off... I’m thinking it will be called - "599 GTC Handling." But who am I…
Lotus have this new Esprit thing going, but I only see it heading as far as 911 territory. Who else is on the chart... ... ... Oh... ... ... Horatio. Let’s skip this one. With their new involvement in F1, the Dutch may have a bigger budget, greater world wide influence on the marketplace, and a better engine supplier (if not themselves) to contend with. Yes, I’m talking about Spyker. I personally believe that aside from a threatening, fierce, Italian, has and will remain unnamed supercar manufacturer; Spyker, has they most amazing interior design of any automobile... Deep breath... Spyker pose no threat to us, but I can see Ferdinand looking back at his new Panamera, and worrying about what the Dutch are doing as Stuttgart are trying to fit 4 comfortably into a 'Porsh.' They have the ability to catch up.
An Aston Martin Vanquish redux is due. No doubt. And I’m willing to be it to be a very avant-garde design. With Callum polishing re-badged Fords, were most likely to see Marek Reichmann (Rapide Designer) grab his pen by the As-ton and draw it up instead. I’m looking forward to this one.
As for the Bavarians, Id wonder what is up their sleeves. BMW has reveled its very interesting design philosophy, and its leader is called Bangle. Chris Bangle will undoubtedly take the slide ruler, and bend it to uncannily curvaceous, 'flame-surfaced' angles as seen in M6, M5 etc etc. Though I'd not imagine Bimmer to be a thorn in our side, I would certainly ask myself if a new M1 is in the ‘werks.’ And if so - it may hurt. You would be seeing a V10 and an M division doing what they were created to do. Literally. This would most surely be based on a Gallardo platform, and hold an envious pwr/weight ratio. But, a speed ltd. 4wd? And I wonder what iDrive at 200 mph is like; I can’t even handle it at a stop light... All of their 'supercar-shtum' may mean a scopious beginning to a hyper car shake up. Time will tell.
Lexus has our minds entirely OFF of their LF-A. With media saying its going to take the 911 and maybe upper Astons, ( http://news.caradisiac.com/IMG/jpg/Toyota_Lexus_LFA_4.jpg ) all I have to say is, "look at the bumper sticker." Is that a diffuser or does it say "BMW MINI Parking?" Who knows.
The Americans are coming! Or are they? Saleen introduced a Twin Turbo version of their S7 a while ago with numbers calling out the Veyron, and are talking about a replacement. Steve Saleen, being the genius he is, has a bearing on the automotive pulse that cuts circulation. He knows what going on, and has the funds to make a dig at what we call fast and expensive. But the way I see it, those two things are not what makes a supercar great. Let’s see where he goes with this.
TVR? Now that’s something new to think about. Nikolai Smolenski bought 100% of the company some time ago, and has "...big plans" or to be honest, "...большие планы." A newer Speed6 (AJP-6)? That won't happen. A hyper-car rendition of their Sagaris? нет. But... Seeing a new Speed12? A raucous, rolling rendition of rancor? This could happen. In theory anyway, and it would hurt Italian domination. As far as inside sources claim, TVR are targeting a 911 GT3 to F430 market with an 08' too-do on their past Speed12. Прохладные бобы.

To be honest, the (Hyper-Car Manufacture Name Deleted) C9 will be one of the few true threats to Ferrari in the coming years; with Lamborghini's range-topping Murciélago replacement. Porsche will be something to raise an eyebrow at as well. A wonderful thing in our amazing company, and something fantastically to our credit, is the fact we have much of the super-car market under hand. From F430 (brilliant exotic), Scaglietti (luxury - zoom), 599 (GT for the ages), and Enzo/FXX (the hyper-car's hyper car). These represent the 'quintessentially' the upper echelon of the luxury-exotic market. Many companies try and take it one way, and one way only. Ferrari's model diversity means that we remain stable. With the coming storm from Europe and over seas, the Prancing Horse remains ever poised behind the starting gates. The passion can not be challenged.

…For those who want only a 'big-block' to do 250+, I believe Enzo said it best...

"The client is not always right." … but ours are.






FORZA FERRARI
-Jon

 

Hmm... Very nice response to a hard look at a few of the coming years and what Ferrari may be up against. Yeah, im not on the total F60 and CCX Bandwagon. Im thinking a little outside of the box. Sue me.