[momo]

What concerns me more is to give Ferrari economic autonomy and i think this will be achieved by the end of 2012. Ferrari has some amazing and important technical partners, but a different financial structure to our competitors and so we want autonomy so that we are not dependent on FIAT, which has always given a lot to Ferrari and will continue to do so, but economic and operational autonomy is very important...between now and 2008 a lot of things will happen. Let´s wait and see.

Is this the real reason for the Maserati spin-off?

 

[Andrew]

god help us all if they are. The last thing we need to see is a Ferrari SUV. I know a company has to make money to survive, but doing so in the manner kills the Ferrari mystique.

 

[4FERRARI]

I think Ferrari allways will remain Ferrari (No SUVs no OFFRoads no GolfClass cars), the only what Ferrari shoud think about is the Fuel Of The Future, The OIL is limited. I think (my oppinion) is to create an hydrogen atmospheric engine, like BMW are doing..... Ferrari can make it better :wink:

 

[Stradale]

god help us all if they are. The last thing we need to see is a Ferrari SUV. I know a company has to make money to survive, but doing so in the manner kills the Ferrari mystique.

Is there anything in that statement that indicate Ferrari will build an SUV? That will never happen!!! Ferrari just doesn't have the production capacity to have another model. The 430 is doing so well that already the back-orders is 2.5 years in the US. Porsche had a drop in orders of the Boxter (down 25%, I think and 911 down 15%) in 2004, so it was the Cayenne that saved Porsche. Ferrari on the other hand can't build enough of their 430 or for that matter the late 360 to satisfy orders!!!

 

[Dj Dirk]

Ferrari doesn't have the capacity to make an SUV, besides they don't need one in their line-up, they are already selling good enough
for Porsche it was nescacerry to survive, besides it is their best selling model now

also Luca has said as long as he is the boss or has enough control there will never come a Ferrari SUV,
let Maserati, Alfa Romeo or Fiat build some of those

 

[senna21]

I think you'll see Ferrari acquire LANCIA. They're in bad shape and FIAT is looking to turn them around. So? Give them to Ferrari and let Ferrari do to LANCIA what they did to MASERATTI.

Ferrari need more profit. True they're selling cars but, the profit margin isn't what Porsche or the others are making of their SUVs. Porsche didn't build their SUV because of the need for profit alone. They were very afraid of being taken over like LAMBORGINI and ASTON MARTIN. The needed the cash flow to be able ward off others. Ferrari are getting close to the same situation. Trust me. Their F1 team is costing God knows how much (500+ million maybe?) and if they start loosing, which will happen sooner or later (when MS and others leave), their merchandising won't be pulling in the cash that it is now.

So what to do? MAS was a good fit but the company doesn't sell enough cars to generate the kind of cash flow Ferrari will need in the future. As you've said Ferrari won't build an SUV so... buy LANCIA. They have the capacity to sell the high volume of cars that will generate the cash.

Besides I'm dying for another STRATOS!

 

[Dj Dirk]

do they even have Lancia in the US?
can't remember seeing one there last summer

so i'm guessing not, so basically you just got back Maserati on the US market, Alfa should be joining in 2008 or something, and you are still missing Fiat & Lancia then

 

[Boxer]

Is this a reaction to the rumored long wheel base 4 door being developed from the 612 Scaglietti with the 2+2+2 seating ?






:wink:

 

[4FERRARI]

I don't think it is time to worry. Ferrari is doing well, and before looses will come in F1, Ferrari will develope some profitable sportscar and their offer will be large enought to survive...

I believ in Scuderia, and if to think that Ferrari is rulled by such a manager like Luka..... :lol:

 

[Stradale]

Is this a reaction to the rumored long wheel base 4 door being developed from the 612 Scaglietti with the 2+2+2 seating ?






:wink:

From one unwanted car to another one? Not likely. Ferrari has to buld cars that buyers want, the 612 ia not what buyers want. Ferrari is finding it hard to move the model. A 4-door Ferrari is almost as bad as an Ferrari SUV.

 

[Boxer]

Is this a reaction to the rumored long wheel base 4 door being developed from the 612 Scaglietti with the 2+2+2 seating ?






:wink:

From one unwanted car to another one? Not likely. Ferrari has to buld cars that buyers want, the 612 ia not what buyers want. Ferrari is finding it hard to move the model. A 4-door Ferrari is almost as bad as an Ferrari SUV.

you don't think a Ferrari with 3 rows of seats and an ample trunk would attract the Soccer Mom crowd

:wink: :wink: :wink:


Seriously I do not think they have any plans to stray from what Ferrari does well i.e. 2 seat high performance Sports and GT cars with a 2+2 based on the same platform as the GT. Plus once a decade producing a very limited edition Supercar. This is the same basic portfolio formula they have used since the 60's.

What I do not expect to see is anymore 2+2's developed off the 8 cylinder engine.

 

[Stradale]

What will sell for Ferrari is a V8 that is around 3-litre and sells for less than 90,000 pounds. The 430 has gone up the ladder and it would be great if Ferrari can have an entry level Ferrari that will cost around Porsche 911 and the upcoming Aston Martin V8. That'll be something!! And it will certainly make money for Ferrari.

 

[Boxer]

Stradale, I have a slightly different twist on the same idea, what would be great is a 6 cylinder mid engine entry level Ferrari along the lines of the Dino 246. It would need to have great handling/balance but could compromise a bit on top speed. I think this would really fly off the show room floor.

 

[Dj Dirk]

Stradale, I have a slightly different twist on the same idea, what would be great is a 6 cylinder mid engine entry level Ferrari along the lines of the Dino 246. It would need to have great handling/balance but could compromise a bit on top speed. I think this would really fly off the show room floor.

And 3 seats :wink:

 

[Boxer]

definitely

 

[Stradale]

Stradale, I have a slightly different twist on the same idea, what would be great is a 6 cylinder mid engine entry level Ferrari along the lines of the Dino 246. It would need to have great handling/balance but could compromise a bit on top speed. I think this would really fly off the show room floor.

And 3 seats :wink:

:lol: :lol:

I thought of the 6-cylinder engine but opted not to suggest it. It's difficult to churn out torque and hp from 6-cylinder, not the kind that's needed for a good sports car. Porsche has been struggling to do that and they had more than 25 years experience. Aston Martin, BMW and even Porsche are going the V8 route for perfomance.

 

[senna21]

NSX is a V6! MMmmm... screaming V-TEC.

 

[Boxer]

Stradale, I have a slightly different twist on the same idea, what would be great is a 6 cylinder mid engine entry level Ferrari along the lines of the Dino 246. It would need to have great handling/balance but could compromise a bit on top speed. I think this would really fly off the show room floor.

And 3 seats :wink:

:lol: :lol:

I thought of the 6-cylinder engine but opted not to suggest it. It's difficult to churn out torque and hp from 6-cylinder, not the kind that's needed for a good sports car. Porsche has been struggling to do that and they had more than 25 years experience. Aston Martin, BMW and even Porsche are going the V8 route for perfomance.

However as an entry level Ferrari, I think you could make it work with a Turbo Charged 3.0 liter V6. Weight saving would have to be a key design focus and the body would have to be either aluminum or fiberglass. Performance target would be high but not quite on par with the 360/430.

 

[Stradale]

With all the engine technology from F1, I don't think Ferrari will ever go the turbo route. That's too simple. Ferrari like BMW take pride in their engines, they'll stay with normally aspirated.

 

[Dj Dirk]

i wouldn't mind a V6 with a TT on it :green:
but stradale is right, they will stay on the normally aspirated route