2 Apr, 2008

Ferrari fans rejoice, we have the first solid piece of evidence that Ferrari is working on a new Dino. These exclusive pictures show the first real prototype of the new car.

Disguised as it is, it doesn’t yet give away so much but a taste of what will become. What identifies the test car as the Dino is the engine sound, or lack thereof. It clearly doesn’t sound as sharp as a F430 for example.

The original Dino was built between 1968 and 1976, and its name honours the founder Enzo Ferrari’s son, Alfredino “Dino“ Ferrari, who died in 1956 at the age of 24 from a muscular dystrophy.

While the vintage Dinos were powered by a V6 behind the driver, the new one will be powered by a V8 with rumours suggesting power figures of around 400 bhp (300kW).

Ferrari is likely to start with a Coupe, and follow on with a Spider. There is a good chance that Pininfarina will do the design work with input from former Ferrari design boss Frank Stephenson, who now heads Fiat’s Centro Stile operation.

Ferrari insiders are currently estimating that nearly 4000 Dinos could be sold annually once the car gets the green light for production. 4000 extra Ferraris is a lot, nearly doubling Ferraris current global output, however given the car’s target audience, it might just work.

The other rumour is whether or not the car will actually be built by Ferrari. Some are suggesting the new Dino will be built at the Maserati factory in Modena.

The new Ferrari Dino should show its face before the end of the decade.