The End of Ferrari as We've Known It

Good comment. This ideas holds true to many things these days.

This whole "rebranding" and "diluting" the Ferrari name is a tragedy. (According to Ferrari enthusiasts). Many recent models have taken such a price hit because of the increasing supply. Soon, the Ferrari icon itself will take a hit as well.

Unfortunately, the Bottom $ Line is what matters most.

 

Looks like the eco-nazis had a hand in this too. Isn't the next "super" Ferrari supposed to be a V-8 as well?

 

While we're on this point? Am I going to have to give up the 6-speed one day? I heard Ferrari might be going all paddles one day....

 

Thought it was going to be a V10.

 

Would love to see Napolis in charge of the Ferrari road car division.

 

It is similar to the "transfiguration" of Porsche.

When I was a teenager in the early '80s a Porsche was seen as a quircky high performance European sportscar for someone with very discerning and particular tastes...a true connoisseur. The driver was clearly successful, but much more than that...an enthusiast. Now when I see a 911, the driver may be a connoisseur, but is just as likely to be a "suburbanite" on the way to the tennis club after having lunch with the "gals." The driver now is often talking on the phone, and very often the 911 has a tiptronic automatic. Porsche has become a "brand" that represnets a certain status in society, and almost nothing more than that. Disgusting. They seem to know this, and keep trying to capture back the true believers with cars like the RS, GT2, GT3, etc. But it really is difficult to do when you make far more routine 911s, Cayennes, and there is a Panamera along the way (which if nice enough I may buy, who knows.).

I no longer "drool" over Porsches as a result. Since I foolishly got rid of my 993 the marque holds little interest for an autophile that treasures passion in cars. Maserati had that with GranSport...but I fear is now being "branded" into being the "luxury" cruising arm of the FIAT Italian car conglomerate. Maseratis should be glamorous and easy to cruise around in....the sportscar in the corporate family will be Ferrari........until.......they decide to use Ferrari to pull away clients form the Bentley GT, Aston Martin DB9, MB SL-AMG.

I hope Ferrari doesn't one day become known as a suburbanite's status symbol dream......

 

I think Maserati is doing a good job at keeping stylish, and iconic.

Yes, their cars may be a bit on the conservative side, but they still a few stunning curves which capture the trident beautifully.

 

man i wish they would call this a dino.

 

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=197720

Apparently not according to Car and Driver

 

Just time to start something new. Look at what has happened to Jaguar the XK120 used to be a cheap racing car for the road. The XKE was one of the best looking cars of the 60's then came the XJS and the whole thing has been a mess for 30+ years. Companies are on the rise or on the decline. Maybe we someone will make stylish cars that go fast and are fun to drive. Ferrari has changed and some one can fill the companies niche that it had in the 50's and 60's. There is still a market I think.

 

+1 . Nothing on that car appeals to me. Nothing.

 

And how is Ferrari different? Just because people aren't as likely to drive them every day and everywhere doesn't mean jack. If Ferraris cost the same as Porsches you could bet people would use them for the same purposes.

 

"Since when does Ferrari make front engined V8s?" Simple answer Fiat...Fiat does own Ferrari........car companies are becoming so intertwined these days its hard to find something that is truly a sports car company...

 

...going to say that ferrari was going back to when they were an Icon, a quirky "little" company that cared about more than the money-grab-at-any-cost. I still miss Ferrari..........ferrari, not so much. Way to go, Luca.

 

Back in the day, did Ferrari even make V8s? Who's complaining about that now?

 

Anyone who loses passion for Ferrari - or any other marque - because of increasing production numbers, never had any passion for that marque in the first place. Exclusivity does not a sports car make. There are a trillion Porsche Boxsters out there - that doesn't make them any less fun; and the people who actually own 250 GT Lussos and the like are not at all worried about the effect the California will have.

I'm not particularly excited about the look of the California - but just like the 599, I'll reserve judgment until I see it in person. But even if I end up not liking it, that won't change how I feel about the rest of the cars, or the company, or cars to come. Perhaps Ferrari finally sees the brilliance in Porsche's decision to litter the world with Cayennes. Millions of those have enabled Porsche to keep the lights on while simultaneously putting out sick road beasts like the CGT, GT3, RS, etc. You may laugh at the guy driving down the road in a Boxster. But the guy in the RS is thanking him under his breath; because it's the entry level cars and run of the mills SUVs that have kept Porsche alive.

This might be Ferrari's angle. Stamp out cookie cutter convertibles for the Rodeo Drive Bluetooth ear piece-wearing triple mocha grande no-fat latte-drinking tennis racket-swinging butt nuts who wear cars as jewelry, and use the money from those suckers to continue financing programs like the FXX, and continue building roadworthy rock stars like the Enzo, 599 and 430 Scuderia. If FIAT decides to release the Kubang and replace the Trident with a prancing horse, then so be it; Ferrari SUVs won't change my opinion of the company or the real cars they've already made or will continue to make. This isn't the end of Ferrari by any means; no, this is just the beginning.

 

Unfortunately in this "globalist" world exclusivity is becoming a thing of the past and exists only as an illusion. If it doesn't work for you buy a classic and not necessarily an F-car

 

Front engine, but rear transbox -- twin clutch 7 speed, according to reports.

Front engine, rear box isn't a bad config. It doesn't rotate like a center mill, but still has good weight distro.

Sounds like the Scag's little brother.

 

I think the end of the Ferrari reputation started with the 550... and 360.... they are not pretty cars, they are really big, and bland. sorry to hurt feelings, but there is the truth. I guess you cant just make beautiful cars anymore for the few... you have to keep selling as many as you can. I think Ferrari the brand has been way over exposed, and to me the company has moved so far away from its true purpose its not even the same company. To me the last great car they made was the 355... the rest have just been bland ...

 

bold....

 

That is an excellent point. Doing this may allow Ferrari to separate the superficial type you described and reserve the real sports cars for the more enthusiastic crowd; meaning the cars might become more hard-core and focused.


Due to the lack of a car like the California, Ferrari had to make its entry level V8 usable for the enthusiast and for the poseur. Now Ferrari can separate the two. Ferrari already admitted to going green in the future by using light-weight.

 

Don't desecrate the Dino name! If they had put that engine in the rear of a 2,000 pound car and had Napolis work with PininFarina they could have called it a Dino. There is no art or passion in the new car. Only the bean counters and their minions involved. Sad!

 

Can you please post the displacement and horsepower figures of the corvette motor and the ferrari v8? I don't think they are "similarly sized" at all. Isn't it something like 7 litres to 4.6 litres?

Fiat has owned Ferrari for nearly 40 years, so I don't quite understand why you think recent changes at Ferrari are because Fiat is the owner. Besides, Ferrari is its own division, separate from Fiat cars.

Sure, V8s, V6s, I think even a few inline motors. Some of their biggest championships were won with V6 motors, for example. I've never quite understood the idea that "true" Ferraris only have V-12s.

 

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