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Trademark filing confirms “430 GT California” name for new Ferrari

10/05/2007, 7:49 AM

By Drew Johnson

Ferrari’s often-rumored entry-level “Dino” remains a topic of much debate, but it looks like another car — the F430 GT California — will probably become a reality. The discovery of a new trademark filing confirms a car by that name is in Ferrari’s game plan.

Rumors first broke about the F430 GT California last month, When Italiaspeed reported the car would debut at the Detroit Motor Show in January. The 2+2 coupe-cabriolet is said to have a folding hardtop and the F430’s 4.3L V8 de-tuned to make 450 horsepower.

Price below the current F430, the GT California will help the automaker rival the Aston Martin Vantage, the report claimed.

While it’s impossible to know if the rumors are accurate, a recent trademark filing confirms Ferrari plans a car by this name. Ferrari applied for a U.S. trademark on “Ferrari GT California” back in December of 2006. The application was denied — for unknown reasons — but could be resolved as of now.

No “Dino” connection

One thing’s for sure — this car is not Ferrari’s next-generation “Dino.” Rumors suggest that car — if produced — will emerge as a completely separate model in 2009. The latest reports indicate it will use a 350 horsepower mid-mounted 3.5L V6. Spy photographers snapped photos of a possible Dino mule back in August, but there’s no way of knowing the test car’s true origins.

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09/21, 3:37 PM

posted by:

p3rider08

NO NO NO NO NO… I don’t care if I will never be able to afford a ferrari, the fact their will be a “entry level ferrari” pisses me off. If everyone is driving around in Ferraris’ that takes away from the exclusiveness of it all.

09/21, 3:38 PM

posted by:

jonnycat

That’d be an expensive 350hp car. I could never justify a sub par par Ferrari at double the cost of a Vette

09/21, 3:41 PM

posted by:

Blakkarr

I remember when the Ferrari 350 stickered at “only” $135K. With options, it was around $155K.

The problem is they aren’t attracting much new business with their starting price at around $160K. Ferrari has a great reputation but that doesn’t seem to be enough to draw out the wallets of the new rich.

But I still wonder if Ferrari is going to expand it’s workforce. They still have that aggravating waiting list nearly 2 years long. By the time you get you shiny new super car, the next model just went on sell.

More workers, tall order considering the caliber Ferrari demands, before more models.

09/21, 3:49 PM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

No.
Entry-Level.
Ferarri.
Ever.

09/21, 3:50 PM

posted by:

LP640

it would ruin ferrari’s image if they made an “entry level car” they should just leave things as is and get to work on the enzo’s replacement.
DEATH TO THE DINO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

09/21, 4:02 PM

posted by:

Wickedated

BLAKKARR– “The problem is they aren’t attracting much new business with their starting price at around $160K. They still have that aggravating waiting list nearly 2 years long.”

First, no Ferrari starts at $160k. Here in the US at least, used F430s go for well above $230K. Spiders are stickered at 300ks. The MSRP for those things start at 175K before any options, and trust me, not one is sold at MSRP. Secondly, your statement seems quite contradictory. Ferraris DO have a waiting list of over 2 years, they don’t have any problem attracting new business. All the “new money” buys Ferrari, look at the markets in Russia, China, India, Saudi Arabia. Ferrari is still the number one exotic brand, they have no problem selling or attracting business.

And an “entry level” Ferrari is still well beyond the means of 90% of the world. Don’t believe what’s being said here on LLN. Even if Ferrari releases the Dino, which I hope they do, it’ll be north of 200k, especially with the depreciating dollar and the high premium that will be asked by dealers in response to demand.

09/21, 4:29 PM

posted by:

Blakkarr

Sorry. I know I was low balling pretty bad. Frankly I was of the opinion that Ferrari didn’t sell anything for less than $200K. The 360 Modena was the last Ferrari, I know, stickered for less than $190K. The 430 was a jump of over $40K.

By “new business” I think that I am not entirely wrong. However, outside Europe, Ferrari’s are consistantly outnumbered at the track and their cars frequently are not doing all that well. A less expensive car will attract more new racing teams, or teams looking to change cars to Ferrari, increasing presence, prestige, especially if they win, and Sells. Nothing sells like a winner. Racers buy, and drivers buy because the car wins important races.

Ferrari also faces the prospect of becoming a Publicly traded company. If that happens, Investors are going to demand that Ferrari go for a larger slice of the Super car market pie. A sub $150K car (That’s a bit more than a Porsche Carrera S) will meet that without doing any harm to Ferrari’s name.

09/21, 4:29 PM

posted by:

affliction

heh “entry-level” but it ain’t an entry-level price…trust me, if you can easily afford a dino, you could probably buy the f430

09/21, 5:03 PM

posted by:

GL1

Even for that money I’d MUCH rather have a new ZR-1 vette than the entry level pasta car… It would be MUCH MUCH faster and a LOT less expensive than 140,000.

09/21, 5:07 PM

posted by:

jamaicandude

Did you guys look at the projected price? That’s still over a hundred grand! Entry level or not, the price tag still says Ferrari to me. And an entry level Ferrari will sill be so much better than a lot of other marques top tier efforts.

09/21, 5:15 PM

posted by:

CTS DRIVER

GL1,although i agree lets not get this started into a flaming war please.

09/21, 6:05 PM

posted by:

Piablo

As Blakkar pointed out, there’s a waiting list. Entry level and waiting list do not belong together. Part of Ferrari’s attraction is that waiting list. Their cars are the only things in the world that someone with more money than they’ll ever need can’t simply go out and buy and take home that day. $180K, maybe. $140K, never. And I doubt they will ever use the “Dino” name anyway. Not only does it have significant family meaning, but it also represents “entry level”. They’ll stay away from that description as long as they remain the pinnacle of exclusivity.

09/21, 7:35 PM

posted by:

sik59rt

i guess Ferrari’s CEO was wrong when he emphatically stated no Dino…i mean what does he know right?

09/21, 7:36 PM

posted by:

sik59rt

and its funny in paragraph 3 they say they pretty much dont know what they are talking about

09/21, 8:37 PM

posted by:

hecti036

If you guys click on the spy shots link in this article and look at one of the pictures of the back of that 599, you will see that where the diffuser is, there is actually what looks like 2 turbo inter coolers, or one intercooler and one raidiator(or oil cooler) this is no upgrede to the 599, this is a new car, maybe a rear engine 599 who knows
????

09/21, 8:43 PM

posted by:

hecti036

Check this sight out

http://www.blingblog.info/2006/12/11/ferrari-420-dino/

just found it

09/21, 8:50 PM

posted by:

hecti036

09/21, 10:42 PM

posted by:

nowei

I don’t think the majority of the people here grasp the concept of “entry level.” Ferrari already has an entry level car, it’s called the F430. It’s the cheapest model they sell, and therefore the entry level. Pick any brand of anything you want, and as long as they make a variety of the same type of thing, they have an entry level version of it. In cars, the entry level Chevrolet is an Aveo, the entry level Infiniti is a G35, and the entry level Maybach is a 57. Making an entry level model, or even making a new entry level model that allows a brand into a new and possibly larger market, doesn’t automatically mean, “it’s a cheap piece of junk that everyone and his dog will have.”

09/22, 12:16 AM

posted by:

sik59rt

its funny those two links above show two completely different “Dinos”…and that first link looks like a horrible hack photoshop job

09/22, 3:35 AM

posted by:

GBilbo070

A hard top convertable ferrari? That just ruins the whole sporty, focused and lightweight image. Rag top please.

09/22, 7:39 AM

posted by:

Htay5500

isn’t a maserati coupe enough?

09/22, 7:57 AM

posted by:

BLISS

THEY SHOULD GIVE IT A PUSH START

09/22, 9:58 AM

posted by:

Veda

“but definitive evidence has yet to be discovered and Ferrari officials adamantly deny that a Dino is in the works.”

Case closed

09/22, 10:15 AM

posted by:

sik59rt

wow i think ive been saying that for months now.

09/22, 5:57 PM

posted by:

AutoForums.com

I hope they make the Dino…from what I’ve seen it’s going to be gorgeous!

http://www.Ferrari-Talk.com

09/22, 9:58 PM

posted by:

Madcapp

I don’t get it. When they said entry level, I was expecting $25,000 so it could compete with the Fiero and MR-2.

09/22, 10:47 PM

posted by:

Renton

I remember when Ferrari 308s were just a little bit more expensive than a 911. It was not an exclusive club to own one either.

It was even simpler back in the ’60s.

Now some of you “experts” talk about “NO ENTRY LEVEL FERRARI EVER!” WTF?????

Whatever they decide to do it will still be a Ferrari.

(Even though it will probably be sold as a Maserati most likely. It will still be designed , made by, and part sourced by Ferrari anyway. who cares?)

09/23, 2:07 AM

posted by:

Got Handling?

The hard top in the blingblog link is gorgeous. Echoes of the 250’s. As sik59rt points out, it does look like photoshoppery, but we can hope.

09/23, 1:34 PM

posted by:

gilby7

$182,000 (dollars) for an “entry level” car, whew. I agree that Ferrari has to maintain their exclusivity; they are several notches above almost any other car company with their performance, mystique, and exclusivity. You typically don’t use a Ferrari for a daily driver. Porsche has a HUGE seller in it’s SUV – Cayenne which scores of folks thought would kill the brand and now it’s coming out with a 4-door sedan (who knows what to call cars these days when “coupes” have 4 doors). BMW’s new 1-series was said by many to be the bitter end of any remaining BMW exclusivity. Ferrari is proposing a car that will still sell at around $200,000 so that’s still a pretty exclusive price point. The Ferrari owner’s club won’t grow that by that many new members because of a $200,000 car. If the car was $100,000 or less, that’d be a different story.

09/24, 7:37 AM

posted by:

Rotman

@Blakkarr, posted on September21 at 4:29 pm

Ferrari is owned by Fiat SpA in Torino.

09/24, 9:56 AM

posted by:

autonut

The problem for Ferrari is that based on CNBC report you cant buy one today. You can order one with 1 year delivery date, but because of the glut of billionaires all their capacity is filled a year in advance. Ditto Lambo. The only pricey toys are available from Porsche. My guess it that “entry” level will be outsourced to meet the demand of really important customers (Russian tycoons and Arab sheiks), while creating somewhat Scion division with an entry car. The characteristics are less important then the marque at this point.

10/05, 8:20 AM

posted by:

Piablo

This is pretty annoying…..

10/05, 8:21 AM

posted by:

Kaizen

These rumors are probably true. Ferarri is worried about the LF-A. Based on what Lexus China announced, it should retail in the US for $130,000 and will probably be the highest profiting vehicle Lexus makes. Also, theres other vehicles from different manufacturers like Porsche and Audi that are ready to compete as well. So Ferrari sees an opportunity.

10/05, 10:08 AM

posted by:

Piablo

Kaizen – Would you rather have a Lexus LF-A or a 911 Turbo? I think Lexus will have a tough time convincing others of the same question. There are many vehicles at the $130+/- price point and I’m not sure Ferrari will alter it’s product lineup because one more vehicle popped up. If anything, they will raise their prices to keep their market above the growing $100k market.

10/05, 10:11 AM

posted by:

sik59rt

god, how much longer can they run this story into the ground? must be a slow news day again. and Ferrari is not worried about a $130k car. the LFA is not meant to compete with the likes of a Ferrari or a Gallardo.

10/05, 11:24 AM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

Bad idea.

“Let those who want the “LF-A” have it.

Ferrari should only be concerned about Bugatti, Lambo, and (if they’re still around) Cizeta

10/05, 11:33 AM

posted by:

CTS DRIVER

i never knew ferarri was concerned about astin as a competitor.

10/05, 11:59 AM

posted by:

Kaizen

If you think Ferrari is not concerned with Lexus as a future competitor, that would be the same short-sightedness the domestics had when they wrote off Honda and Toyota in the 70s.

And to sik59rt and jackjimturkey, a probably very reliable 2 door sportscar with 500+ hp and RWD for $130K? If Ferrari shouldn’t be concerned with it, what SHOULD they be concerned with?

And to Piablo, I’d take the LF-A. That’s even based on simple idea that it’s different and probably will perform just as well or better. There are some many Porsches that ALL look the same. So the $60K Boxster looks like a 911 Turbo. No thanks.

10/05, 12:15 PM

posted by:

Piablo

To your point then I suppose Ferrari should worry about GM too. Maybe they should be worried about Ford coming out with another GT. Mercedes Benz has 1 car, the SLR, that is in Ferrari’s range, and that is it. Aston Martin has 1 car, that is it. With all due respect, I don’t think you understand what makes Ferrari successful.

10/05, 12:51 PM

posted by:

sik59rt

Kaizen…500hp doesnt mean that much when you are comparing the coach work on a Ferrari to a Toyota. Granted the new LFA is beautiful, but its no Ferrari. the Italian manufacturer has a long history of making some of the most beautiful cars in the world.
if you think 500 means it should be in the Ferrari class, then what about the new Viper or the Z06? hell the Viper has 600hp for less than $130k. Should the Scuderia be worried about that one too?

10/05, 2:41 PM

posted by:

maximus

Why not just market a replica of the carefully restored 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California used in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off?

10/05, 3:18 PM

posted by:

rompn4x

I helped restore 2 Dinos, and they are ehhh okay I guess. Kinda cool looking but they both wernt fast

10/05, 4:43 PM

posted by:

LP640

this so called “entry level” Ferrari will no doubt be very expensive like the pointless AMV8 Vantage

 
 
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