Ferrari New 2009 Dino Renderings

Since the end of last year, Ferrari Dino prototypes have been making appearances with the bodies of the Ferrari F430 and more recently a shortened 599 GTB.

In honor of the founder's son Alfredino “Dino” Ferrari who died of muscular dystrophy in 1956, the Dino brand name represented mid-engine rear-wheel-drive models with less than 12 cylinders which were produced by Ferrari between 1968 and 1976. Groomed to be the successor of Ferrari, Dino was credited for designing the first Ferrari built V6 engine which was first used in motorsports and then later produced in the Fiat Dino in 1966 to help Ferrari homologate the engine for use in Formula 2 racing. Then in 1968 Ferrari produced their own Dino 206 which was their first mid-engined vehicle. The Dino 206 is widely considered one of the best Ferrari's ever made.

Now Ferrari is reviving the Dino name with their most “affordable” entry level 400hp V8 model which is expected to open Ferrari up to a whole new market. The Dino is rumored to be produced at the Maserati plant in Modena and is expected to start at EUR 100,000 with a potential 4000 units per year which doubles Ferrari's current production. The Dino is expected for 2009 launch with a spider version following.

Source:wikipedia

Hear what Ferrari's "Dino" mule sounds like

Posted Sep 5th 2007 11:03AM

We're no closer to figuring out what this car will actually be, but thanks to some cameramen lurking in bushes, we know more about how it sounds. The Ferrari "Dino"/possible Maserati Ghibli has been caught on tape during what appears to be a field trip from the Alfa Romeo factory to the 'Ring and back again. The video speaks for itself, and from the way the car does its work, we think it will, too. And no matter what it's called, Dino, Ghibli, or anything else, it certainly sounds vicious.

Ferrari’s Future: New 2+2 V8 coupe in 2008, new Supercar in the works

Posted on: September 13th, 2007

Ferrari just revealed the new F430 Scuderia at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show. The lightweight version of the F430, the Scuderia weighs 1250kg, 100kg less than the F430 and is powered by a 4.3 liter V8 engine that produces 510 horsepower.

Increasing performance wasn’t the only factor behind making the new Scuderia. As the world shifts towards more environmentally friendly cars, Ferrari is changing as it tries to become a little greener.

Now there are talks that the next supercar will be lighter, more fuel efficient with 500 horsepower being the maximum prerequisite.

F430: Ferrari just added the new Scuderia, which joins the Coupe and Spider in the F430 lineup. The Scuderia is a lightweight F430 that weighs 100kg less than the F430.

599 GTB Fiorano: Ferrari was working on a convertible variant of the 599 GTB Fiorano (which we’d LOVE to see), but plans have been put on hold since there is an 18-month waiting list for the regular Fiorano.

612 Scaglietti: A replacement is likely in 2010.

2+2 V-8 coupe: Early next year, Ferrari will unveil a 2+2 coupe with a front-mounted, 4.3-liter V-8 engine.

New Supercar: The time frame is unclear for the next limited-edition supercar although it is expected to be much lighter with fuel-efficiency in mind. At the company’s 60th anniversary event this year, the automaker showed the Millechili concept that has a 3.0 liter V8 twin-turbocharged, direct-injection engine that produces 550 horsepower. Insiders insist that the car will be developed using the concept but the production will look totally different.


Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

Spy Shots: Ferrari Dino Hardtop Convertible

Posted on: September 25th, 2007

Despite repeated denials by Ferrari chairman, Luca di Montezemolo, our friends over at the CarMagazine say they can confirm that Ferrari is in fact building the Ferrari Dino based on the F149.

According to these latest spy shots, you can see that the Ferrari Dino will be much smaller than the F430 and the 612 Scaglietti. Also if you look closely you can see a two-piece folding hardtop.

Our Take: If Ferrari’s chairman says it’s not worth it for them to build a smaller and cheaper Ferrari, the probably aren’t. However this Dino test mule we keep seeing could be the Ferrari 2+2 hardtop convertible we’ve been hearing about recently that will make its debut at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show

Ferrari Dino: the lowdown

Despite repeated denials, CAR Online can confirm that the Dino will be reborn at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show in March. Developed under the codename F149, the new Dino is front-engined, and features a two-piece folding hardtop.

Our artist's impression reveals how the new Ferrari could look; it's known to be a more comfortable GT style car than the hard-edged F430 and its ilk.

A new Dino... so will it look like the 246 GT of yore ?

The first heavily disguised Dino prototypes have been caught on film by our spy photographers - and its compact proportions leave no doubt about the true nature of the vehicle. We hear it will have its engine sitting up front and its shape does indeed echo that of the original 246 GT, with a cab-backward design reflecting the engineering layout.

Does the Dino retain the transaxle configuration of the related Maserati Quattroporte? We don't know yet. But we were told by several suppliers that production will start next summer and that the car is scheduled to put in its first appearance at the Geneva show next spring.

What's this about Maserati? Is the new Dino related?
It certainly is. The Dino's roots are born in the the car Maserati was going to build alongside the Granturismo - but could not fund. Instead, the Trident brand is now developing a straightforward open-top version of the full-size coupe, while Ferrari has taken over the smaller car for the Dino project.

Insiders are adamant the Dino will be a true Ferrari though, and witnesses who've seen the car on the roads around Maranello - and there have been numerous CAR Online readers who've spotted it - confirm it sounds like a genuine Pracing Horse.

Will it look anything like these images circulating on the internet? They purport to show a Dino styling buck, but we're not sure if they're the real McCoy or some design school project. One CAR Online reader, 28crash, reckons these styling clays are from a company in Portugal called Retroconcept, which is planning a rebodied Lotus Elise sports car.