Is it just me…or is Ferrari’s so called dino a bad idea. If they start making cheaper models, them alot more people would be able to afford them…taking away the exclusivity and prestige of owning a ferrari..good example..look at what happened to Mercedes Benz. I think its a bad idea.

i maintain that it is a good idea so long as it is priced over 100k

Mate its still gonna be worth quite a bit. maybe less than a standard f430 but not much less.

Well, go ahead then, Ferrari…But make it pretty!

Okay, so I am prepared to eat crow. But I still maintain that in the long run, it’s a bad idea. I can garantee this “Dino” will never make the Concours D’elegance, that’s for sure. Mark this day, could be known as the day Ferrari “jumped the shark” so to speak. This will be the first of many low budget, high volume Ferraris… Ten years from now, you’ll see me at a dive bar, unshaven and decrepid, wallowing in my warm double scotch, barking about the days Ferrari ’stood for sumthin’…

I will say this. That first photo, the photoshopped pic of a supposed Dino, looks good. Somewhat looks like a Crossfire, but I still like it. Fine, maybe I’ll save up a few shillings and pick one up myself and make this a self fulfilling prophecy.

as long as this car is priced higher then the other cars in its class then it will be fine. they need to put it on the performance level of a Caymen S (~$60,000)+$100,000 . if this car is known as a “bargain” it will fail. Ferrari is soooooo over priced, just like every other designer item out there. Ferrari could build a 30mpg 200hp 4dr GTI fighter, if they sold it for 45k it would be a hit. Ferrari owners buy Ferraris because they are the most expensive cars in the category (its all status symbol) not because they are the best performance/dollar. if that was true they would be driving around in a C6 Z06 Corvette.

edit: they need to put it on the performance level of a Caymen S (~$60,000) but price it at +$100,000 .

the only ferrari id ever buy is the F430 or a successor anyway. The 612 is too refined, overpriced, and bulky. Rather would have a Continental GT. and with a dino again id prefer an R8, Z06, or even an RS4. Theres nothing else like an F430, thats why it stands out. Just listen to the engine alone and youll get shivers. and the gallardo is in a completely different realm, although it is still a competitor.

But if u read the article…there targets are the M6 and the V8 vantage…and Ferrari is at the top of the sports car game…if anything…it should be BMW, Aston,and Porsche..the ones trying to catch ferrari..not the other way around. Why should they lower there standars and history..because of them. A mass produced ferrari is a bad idea..and bad for the ferrari name brand….something Enzo Ferrari didnt want himself…can u imagen wat a ferrari would be today…if 40 yrs ago he would have sold the company to ford when they were interested. When I see a ferrari on the street I want to be amazed…not go..ohh there another one of those dino’s.

I disagree with everybody…I do think that Ferrari shoulod go downmarket but not after the mid-high end boulevard cruiser badge-junkie crowd; instead I think they should aim for the Elise’s haradcore enthusiast/trackday market and build something superlight, superradical and superminimal.

I’m thinking of something more along the lines of the Lotus 340R as opposed to the Elise itself though, something of similar weight (if not lighter) but with, say 280-300hp on tap, perhaps from a 6 cylinder version of the F430’s V8 (the original Dino was also a 6).

They could build (and sell) as many of these things as they want to without damaging their brand image; even if they build 50,000 of them each one would serve as a rolling advertisement for Ferarri’s performance pedigree and focus on performance and engineering, plus seeing Ferraris on tracks everywhere wouldn’t hurt either. And enthusiasts and the motoring media would continually drool over the thing for years, meaning more endless free PR.

An extra benefit would be that it’s not a very crowded segment so the car wouldn’t constantly be threatened by obsolescense.

Alternatively, if they build a fast boulevard cruiser they’re going after a market that is already pretty saturated with lesser brands (Porsche, Aston Martin, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Cadillac, Lexus etc.) and controlled by a fickle, decadent target audience that will only become less impressed each and every time they see a Dino on the streets. Plus the Nissan GTR, Lexus LF-A, Corvette et. all could very possibly kill this car in terms or performance and handling for less or similar money, which won’t make Ferarri look very attractive either. Think mortal as opposed to divine.

Would the Dino sell? Probably, at least at first. But in the long run it would likely be seen as an also-ran from the get-go, since it would likely not be allowed to compete with the F430 in terms of performance in a market where some competitors already come close. A nice car for sure but one which will ultimately end up killing off some of that classic “otherworldly” Ferrari mystique simply by not being very ’special’ apart from the badge itself.

f430 is so sexy!!!

I agree with YourNameHere.

Ever since these rumours started I’ve been saying Ferrari should build a hot hatch.

I also happen to like the idea of them building an Elise competitor. In fact, they could build an Elise-esque machine and move it “upmarket.” Obviously it couldn’t really be more luxurious, but it could be “better.” Somehow, I dunno… it’d be a Ferrari, which would be more expensive than the Lotus and that would be what’s important. The only problem I can really see with this is I don’t know if it could be a real volume car, which is what I think they’re looking for. Because I’m not sure that a real large market for this kind of car (and for the kind of money Ferrari would be looking to get for a car like this) actually exists.

A hot hatch, on the other hand, I think has a huge market, even at over 100k. There are already Audis, BMWs, and even VWs in the segment commanding half of that. I think the Ferrari badge alone is worth the other half.

/no

What does it matter how “exclusive” a car is as long as its good? I mean I can understand wanting to keep have a car that not many people have but Ferrari is a niche company. It’s about making money and good cars.

What does it matter how “exclusive” a car is as long as its good? I mean I can understand wanting to keep have a car that not many people have but Ferrari is a niche company. It’s about making money and good cars.

TheShadow – I don’t admit this much, but your point is the most sound out all arguments made throughout the past 3 or 4 of these Dino articles. I could see Ferrari developing a superlight racer for the track and not drink myself to death. I am extremely curious to see what they could do with a 4 cylinder or maybe a 6, could be interesting. A light track racer would be very fitting to it’s image, in sticking with racing. I wouldn’t even call it down market as much as diving into a new market. There are plenty of weekend racers that would shell out $80k for one of these: a mid engine, rear drive, carbon fiber, Exige beating demon, void of navigation, leather and electronic weight gaining gadgets. Nice idea.

a ferrari elise figher would be a good idea. ferrari could buy lotus and put there badge on the current elise and ask for 75,000 and ppl will pay for it. maybe something around the size of the current miata or solstice, carbon fiber everywhere, 300hp, rwd, less then 2200lbs and a 6spd (NO F1 trans) they could ask 70,000 for it and they wouldnt even have to put AC or a radio in it.

The Ferrari track idea isnt a bad idea. As long as they keep true to the ferrari racing heritage…and keep it raw and simple.

there hasnt been a “raw and simple” ferrari in a loooooooooong time.

I also agree with TheShadow’s idea, Piablo’s right, that is probably the most sound argument thus far.

hp44, I thought of Ferrari as the one who used space age technologies to make their cars feel like nothing else you could buy. I always thought of Porsche (track versions) and Lotus as the raw and simple performance types. Didn’t Ferrari say that even the clumsiest driver could go around the Ferrari test track just a second or so slower than the Ferrari test drivers in the F430?

theshadow– I agree thats the best idea yet. It would be an interesting car for Ferrari to make.

So a Smaller version of the F40…? That would be a good idea.

BIG RED FIAT GOES VROOOOM.

Weather we like it or not, the ‘affordable Ferrari’ is coming one day. And so is the SUV.
Regardless of the financial health of the company, they cannot ignore the huge dollars to be had for a sub-$100k car and SUV.

Ferrari low-end Elise fighter: If they can make it reliable and competitive, I’ll be the first one in line with a deposit check.

Ferrari SUV: Why the hell not? Porsche has had good success with the Cayman. The collector snobs might turn up their noses, but most of them don’t deserve these cars in anyway.

Who cares? The Gallardo is better than this POS anyway.

Like everyone already said, theshadow nailed it.
Ferrari: think track car, mini F40. No A/C, no ABS, no traction control, manual gearbox. LIGHT, agile, same high build quality. This will definitely keep it out of the hands of people who would otherwise jump on a less expensive Ferrari just for brand cachet (ie: soccer moms).
I seriously doubt Ferrari will be making an SUV quite yet. A four door maybe (redone Maserati perhaps??)

Wow 1c3d0g what well thought out and eloquent input you have to offer.
The 430 is not a “POS” by any stretch of the imagination and the Dino would not be either. The Gallardo is an amazing machine but that doesn’t take away any from the Ferrari. As a matter of fact, they’re both great cars and I’d take either in a heartbeat.
It is obvious that you’ve never driven either, let alone owned one. If you had, I’m sure you’d be capable of something somewhat higher than sub-high school level babbel.
Next time you have something to say, please be sure it’s intelligent.

yeah i agree with theshadow as well
an elise fighter would be boss, and like DavidS said, it would keep it out of the hands of the wrong people who dont deserve it.

To suggest someone doesnt ‘deserve’ a car they can buy and pay for is barely worth a response it is so inane.
Remember the story a while back about Ferrari developing an AWD system? There’s your future SUV.
Also, I believe collectors would be among the first to buy a Ferrari SUV. It would make wild sales IMHO.

It should definetly be +100000 to preserve ferrari’s exclusivrty & prestige

DavidS: next time you ASSume something, better get your facts straight first. You dolt.

Oooooo “smaller F40″….that really gets the ideas flowing…ppl have some really great ideas so far as well.

So while we’re dreaming:

Imagine they start by basically taking an F430 and cutting everything in half: half the engine, half the weight, half the price (or something like that). If taken literally, assuming they recycle as many F430 components as possible (engine and suspension bits), it might even help to save on production costs!

…so you’d have a 2.15 litre, 16 valve, DOHC 4 cylinder engine with VVT (made from half an F430 engine) good for about 245 horsepower…

…ditch the e-diff, keep the suspension simple but of high quality to save on weight and complexity (f1-style pushrod suspension would help with compactness as well, aside from being super-trick) – or just recycle the F430 suspension for all I care…

…plus carbon fibre everything except the engine and suspension control arms (which would be aluminum), , no driver aids except for maybe ABS and a 1-mode stability control system (for insurance purposes – to keep ppl from crashing them left, right and centre)

…manual transmission only…

…and no creature conforts *at all* except for some well designed racing bucket seats with 5 point harnesses and a removable carbon fibre top so that the thing would at least be useable as a daily driver for the hardcore owner in theory…

…and top it off with the piece-de-resistance: a modern, quick-spooling, intercooled, ball bearing turbo with ceramic blades, in the spirit of the F40 (the F40 was the last turbocharged Ferarri road car after all)…boosting the power from 245 up to, say, 345

…giving the world an Elise-killing Ferrari F20, or F210 Dino, track demon for comfortably under $100k

Sure it’d be a toy, but a nearly-affordable one…and besides, how many ppl spend twice as much on a Ferrari as a ‘toy’ anyways? Just that more people would be able to play…

….now if only someone would appoint me to the FIAT board, I’d get right to work

I remember when Ferraris were not the ultra exclusive cars that they are today. The entry models were priced just over the top 911 and while quite expensive, if you wanted one, you could get one. The 308/328 did not cost double 911 money, like the 430 does now, so I don’t get al the chatter about a less expensive Ferrari being bad.

As long as it is done well, and costs over $100K, everything will be fine.