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[Animal]

It's the supercar scoop of the year! Auto Express has had exclusive access to insider details and can now reveal all the details of the Italian legend’s most important new model of the decade. Yes, the Dino is back!

These pictures show the new Ferrari 420 Dino, which our sources in Italy have confirmed will go on sale in 2010. Despite being conceived more than two years ago, the whole project only got the green light in September, and is scheduled to be unveiled at a major motor show in 2009.

Taking the latter part of its name from Enzo Ferrari’s son, our contacts are confident that the eventual title will be ‘420 Dino’, with the number referring to the V8 engine’s size.

Back in Italy, one fierce debate is still raging between Ferrari, Pininfarina – the car’s designer – and Ferrari’s owner, Fiat. While all indicators still lean toward the Dino being a coupé-cabriolet with a folding hard-top, some bosses would prefer to launch the entry-level model as a berlinetta hard-top GTB first, followed soon after by a targa GTS.

This would follow the trend set by the 246 Dino GT and GTS from 1968 and 1971, and the 308 GTB and GTS from 1975 and 1977.

Whatever is chosen, annual Dino production is figured to be anywhere between 3,500 and 5,000 cars, and Ferrari has actively sought partners to help lower and spread out the massive manufacturing costs. One company involved is aluminium specialist Alcoa, who will be making the spaceframe chassis in a new facility in Modena, Italy. The outer shell will be constructed from carbon fibre.

The new Dino started life as a Maserati in 2004. However, Ferrari’s then sister firm changed its plans, deciding to develop a luxurious Quattroporte-based coupé to rival the Mer­cedes CL instead. So Ferrari adopted the chassis and technology for the Dino.

Unlike the classic original, the newcomer will get a front-mounted V8. The unit is expected to be an all-aluminum 90-degree 4.2-litre unit with around 480bhp.

Inside, the Dino will be the first Ferrari to get standard-fit satellite navigation. The cabin promises to be practical, and alongside the carbon fibre trim shown, an aluminium finish will also be available. Transmission options haven’t been confirmed, but the paddleshifters are likely to control an automated manual.

Aimed squarely at Porsche’s 911 Turbo and Aston Martin’s V8 Vantage, the Dino will be priced between £82,000 and £90,000. This will make the Ferrari badge more accessible, but will also leave room for the F430 to move upmarket. We can also reveal plans to give that model a 550bhp 5.0-litre V10 by the end of 2008. An all-new replacement for the F430 is also already on the drawing board, and is scheduled for 2010.

LINK with more pics!

 

[Burai]

Ugh.

It's like a Porsche and a Viper had a baby.

 

[celestial body]

That's a bad mock up. The car isn't even designed yet from the sounds of it. I think, I hope.

 

[Lo-Volt]

That mock-up is way too close to recent Porsches.

 

[S. L.]

Porsche

is the first thing that crossed my mind

 

[mashoutposse]

Dude, did you ever get your 335i? Impressions!

 

[Thai]

Porsche

is the first thing that crossed my mind

i guess we all had the same thought

 

[Tommie Hu$tle]

Yeah, that looks like a Cayman to me.

 

[emomoonbase]

That's a photoshop. The real one isn't even styled yet.

 

[elostyle]

Lotus elise anyone?

 

[dasein]

Somewhat of a ripoff of the beautiful Carrera GT

 

[kammy]

Prefer the F599... SEXAH!

followed by...

 

[thirty]

wow, the italians copying the germans now?

 

[Shinobi]

I just wanna know how Ferrari can top the best looking car in the history of the universe...

 

[Templar Wizard]

There is a woman behind the wheel. Its like... a monkey flying an aeroplane.

 

[thirty]

I just wanna know how Ferrari can top the best looking car in the history of the universe...

i prefer the F50

 

[Borci88]

....Best ferrari ever made.

 

[Variable]

I like the F40's design more then the F50.

 

[Animal]

Dude, did you ever get your 335i? Impressions!

Yes Sir!
We picked her up last week! They had screwed up our initial order so we had to wait for another car to come to see if we liked that one more. We ended up sticking with the original delivery.

The car is an animal. The 19" wheels look huge on this car. Mayby even too big for my taste.
The sound that comes out of this exhaust is heavenly. It has that tell tale turbo flutter with a a more porschy ballsy type sound. It sounds much for like a race car then the M5 at idle. The sound reminds me of the old turbo renaults race cars and the CANAM Turbo cars from the 70's. It really is a beautiful sound.

We haven't pushed the car to its limit but we've brought it up to 6000 a couple of times for a very short pull. This thing moves. It has insane amounts of kick. We also opted for Active steering which is very impressive, at 60km/h, you barely turn the wheel and it changes direction like a go kart.

The only thing we didn't like is the shifter. It is too long in my opinion and it makes the car feel less sporty than it is. So we ordered a shorter knob and we put it in last night. It was worth every penny.

We will be installing an ECU override chip from Vishnu in Spring which should give us about 330hp at the wheels.

 

[mashoutposse]

Easy moddability (not a real word)... I'm hating you right now!

Oh well, back to choosing between several $2k+ exhaust systems, none of which offers more than 10whp over stock :lol

I just put 19s on the whip, too; changes the whole look of the car, especially when rolling.

 

[MaverickX9]

I have a Ferrari dealership right across the street from me. It is odd to see 3 or 4 Ferraris driving around nearly every single day. I think I saw maybe 4 Ferraris over the course of 20 years before I moved out here.

The same guy must be driving them around all the time because the ****er never uses a turn signal. You'd think if you were driving a $120,000 F355 convertible, you'd want to take all precautions.

 

[ferrarimanf355]

There is a woman behind the wheel. Its like... a monkey flying an aeroplane.

Don't you mean a snake?
Personally, I like it. Rather sexy. The car I have my eyes on, though, is the upcoming Dodge Challenger. As long as the weight is around 3500 pounds or less, I want one.

 

[Animal]

Easy moddability (not a real word)... I'm hating you right now!

Oh well, back to choosing between several $2k+ exhaust systems, none of which offers more than 10whp over stock :lol

I just put 19s on the whip, too; changes the whole look of the car, especially when rolling.

Looking so good, so good.

 

[mashoutposse]

Thanks bro We need pics of yours, stat! Maybe a sound clip, too?

The 335i sound is very restrained from the cabin (windows up), but I did get to hear it a little when the salesman drove it away -- sounded great; much better than the played out G35/FX35 sound.

 

[Shogmaster]

The original Production Dino (named after Enzo Ferrari's deceased son's nickname) became the basis for the 308 which in turn was basis for most of Ferrari's line up during the 80's (various iterations of 328s, 288GTO).

Here's are the original production Dino (I can't find a pic of the showcar which is quite
different).

 

[Zaptruder]

Well... since there's a supercar thread here... what do you guys think of this car?

The Maserati Birdcage

 

[Shinobi]

It's erm...different. I think I could get used to it though.

 

[MrToughPants]

I'd rather just mod a Tercel for 1/10th the price and get 7 secs.

 

[Bboy AJ]

I want a 335i

I've heard that you can't even tell there are turbos in there. You can't hear the spool? What, is there a silencer on there?

 

[TurtleSnatcher]

http://www.windingroad.com

I reccomend this site.. Shows off the new Ferrari 420 Dino in this months online magazine..

Its a site with a free online magazine that is updated monthly and is just as good as some of the newstand magazines.. It rocks !

 

[Animal]

Thanks bro We need pics of yours, stat! Maybe a sound clip, too?

The 335i sound is very restrained from the cabin (windows up), but I did get to hear it a little when the salesman drove it away -- sounded great; much better than the played out G35/FX35 sound.

I'll try and get you some pics and sounds tomorrow

 

[ferrarimanf355]

Well... since there's a supercar thread here... what do you guys think of this car?

The Maserati Birdcage

Let me show these pics to Belle's dad. I assume he's interested...

Maybe not.

 

[patrickthehedgehog]

thats not her dad, kthx

 

[Zaptruder]

Let me show these pics to Belle's dad. I assume he's interested...

Maybe not.

It's an insane futuristic dream-car that's not exactly suited to luddites like yourself!

 

[jett]

Well... since there's a supercar thread here... what do you guys think of this car?

The Maserati Birdcage

That's all CG, isn't it? Pretty cool, like something out of a sci-fi movie...just needs to hover.

 

[MickeyKnox]

The Maserati Birdcage

Reminds me of

and it also looks like you will be able to see a fraction of the road ahead of you and nothing behind.
Concept failure.

 

[mashoutposse]

I'll try and get you some pics and sounds tomorrow

 

[Pimpwerx]

Best-looking Ferraris:

1. F430
2. F40
3. F550
4. F50
5. Enzo

The Dino doesn't sound that interesting. The Enzo is like the F60, in that everything that follows will be pretty lame until the F70. The F50 is still the shit, though. PEACE.

 

[X26]

Lotus elise anyone?

Yea I thought that too. Elise + Ferrari 550 = this