Ferrari F149 confirmed

[2ndclasscitizen]

From EVO:

Ferrari will reveal its 'F149' in Paris in October

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo surprised both the audience and the Ferrari PR department at the Geneva press conference by announcing Ferrari will reveal their new front-engined V8 GT car (known internally as the F149) at this year’s Paris motor show in October.

Those expecting an entry level Ferrari will be disappointed to hear the new F149 GT car will be priced above the basic F430 (priced at £138,500 here in the UK) when it goes on sale in 2009. Pervious reports that this car was to be a new Dino type Ferrari, priced sub £100,000, have proved to be very wide of the mark.

Ferrari are still being cagey with the details but we do know the car will be a brand new design and will feature versatile architecture, which is taken to mean a choice of either 2+2 or 2 seat plus a luggage bench inside the cabin. Expect to see a conventional steel roof as standard, with either a glass or folding roof as an option.

Engine is expected to be a revised version of the F430’s 4.3litre V8 with slightly more power thanks to new direct injection technology and new throttle bodies which should deliver lower CO2 emissions as well. This will be linked to the new gearbox that could be the DCT gearbox we know Ferrari have been working on.

It’s exciting times for Ferrari, with this new model Ferrari are hoping to gain a new set of customers who have always been put off by the mid-engined layout of it’s V8 models up to now.

Ferrari F149 confirmed | evo News | News | evo

[The_Canuck]

Sounds good to me.

[Ferrer]

Interesting. I wonder how this will fit within Ferrari's range.

[-What-]

This car better look like GOD designed it, otherwise, I'd rather a V12 Ferrari 599.

[Jack_Bauer]

Interesting. I wonder how this will fit within Ferrari's range.

Well, as a front engined GT car it could end up a more tempting proposition than either the 599 or 612. It should be lighter and more nimble, and will most likely be cheaper. Choice of either 2 seat or 2+2 is interesting too.

Obviously, it will all depend on how she looks I guess.

[NicFromLA]

I really don't know what to make of this. When Ferrari announced a new line I was hoping for a true Dino; V6, mid-engine, light weight. In my head I pictured something somewhere between a 355 and an Elise. When they announced it would be a front engine V8 GT car and it would be called a Ferrari I was enraged. Now I just don't know what to think other than a latter-day GTE.

[2ndclasscitizen]

Well, as a front engined GT car it could end up a more tempting proposition than either the 599 or 612. It should be lighter and more nimble, and will most likely be cheaper. Choice of either 2 seat or 2+2 is interesting too.

Could be priced against the DB9 maybe? And yeah, the seating arrangement choice is interesting. It could mean it's either going to be very cramped in the back, or bigger than it should be.

[NSXType-R]

Well in the 612 two people can be comfortable in the back. I'm thinking that this will be smaller.

[ScionDriver]

Hm this will be curious in how it fits into the range, but I am dying to know what it will look like.

[Jack_Bauer]

Could be priced against the DB9 maybe?

If that report is true then not in the UK it won't. They say it'll be more than the F430, which is already a sizable amount more than a DB9. Not sure how things would stack up in different markets though.

[Roentgen]

I'm glad Ferrari aren't making another Dino. Last time they made one, it was so crap, that they badged it as a "Dino" rather than a Ferrari.

But I don't like the idea of it being a GT car... they should make a car smaller than the F430... a true driver's car... more of an Exige, than a DB9. They're making too many GTs... 599, and 612. That means soon, out of the 5 cars they make, 3 will be GT.

[NicFromLA]

I'm glad Ferrari aren't making another Dino. Last time they made one, it was so crap, that they badged it as a "Dino" rather than a Ferrari.

But I don't like the idea of it being a GT car... they should make a car smaller than the F430... a true driver's car... more of an Exige, than a DB9. They're making too many GTs... 599, and 612. That means soon, out of the 5 cars they make, 3 will be GT.

Dino was a great car. Not really a Ferrari, but a great car none the less.

The 599 GTB isn't a GT car, its a sports car. A Lotus Elise has a better ride and a smoother engine.

[Jack_Bauer]

Dino was a great car. Not really a Ferrari, but a great car none the less.

I assume he was actually talking about the 308 GT4, which was badged as a Dino, rather than the sexy little 246 Dino. The GT4 certainly wasn't what you would call a great car.

[NicFromLA]

I assume he was actually talking about the 308 GT4, which was badged as a Dino, rather than the sexy little 246 Dino. The GT4 certainly wasn't what you would call a great car.

I forgot about that one. Nice looking car though, especially in yellow.

[-What-]

The 599 GTB isn't a GT car, its a sports car. A Lotus Elise has a better ride and a smoother engine.

I've never driven a Ferrari 599 before, but I doubt its ride is worse than an Elise's. I also doubt your "smoother engine" claim in favor of the Elise...given that the Ferrari has a V12 and the Elise has a buzzing 4 BANGER.