Details of the new Ferrari F149 confirmed by dealers.

[Janus]

Some interesting details on the new Ferrari F149 that is currently in development.

Revised launch is Paris 08.
First deliveries last quarter 08

1) Hard top convertible with ultra light roof construction. My dealer told me that it is possible that it will be panorama retractable roof.

2) Engine will develop a little bit more than 500 HP.

3) Price will be aproximatly the same as for the current F430 Berlinetta.

4) My dealer told me that it will be possible to choose if you want small rear seats or luggage shelf similar to 599 GTB.

5) My dealer has seen first top secret images of this car and confirmed that it looks very nice.

6) Launch at Paris, because now Ferrari is finishing the work on hard top retractable roof construction. That is why launch is delayed from Geneva to Paris.

7) My dealer told me as well that Ferrari is focusing now on developing hard top retractable roof constructions for futrure convertibles.

What is claimed to be a very heavily camoed test mule.



These are claimed to be pictures of the car in testing, sadly none of the front, but have heard that multiple dealers say it looks fantastic.

Ferrari is separating its model range into GT sportcars and hardcore sportcars. I suppose in close future F-model range will develop in such way:

1) Entry level F-car will be "F149", which will be priced aproximatrly as current F430 Berlinetta.

2) F430 replacement model or so called "F142" will be much more hardcore and pricey F-car in comparison to current F430 series.

3) 599 GTB will the highest point of GT's range. And there will be 599 Spider or 599 GTS to run alongside with 599 GTB and to bring market success of this range to the new level.

4) Enzo successor or so called F70 will be next F-hypercar.

More and more customers are coming to Ferrari who want to drive F-car daily, they are ready to pay money for rather comfortable and easy-to-drive F-car, better with hard top retractable roof. So there will be "F149" to suite their tastes. And real mid-engined supercar as current F430 range needs to be more hardcore and oriented to real F-drivers. So there will be fast, hardcore, hi-tech equipped and of course much more pricey "F142". I suppose that Ferrari knows what they are doing.

Sounds like a very good car, especially for an "entry level" Ferrari. Considering the time it will take to come out and then actually come to Australia all those who want one should order them now. Now if only I could ensure I would inherit by then...

[ViperVX]

There will be a lot of confusion, ppl will want F139, F142, 149, plus there will be different numbers for convertibles/rear seats/boot models, so it will compete with the current Porshe range in paper stupidity.

[Donington]

Looks Japanese

[Xeon SX]

I dont see a point in hard top entry level Ferrari. I know rich want comfort but then they should get a Bentley and you have a Ferrari if you want to be a driving God.

[Janus]

Originally Posted by Donington

Looks Japanese

Well you can't really make a judgement on the looks based on the camoed test mules as you can't see the lines, curves or angles.

From what I have heard from people who have seen the images from Ferrari it is kind of like a mini 599, which is a stunning car.

Originally Posted by Xeon SX

I dont see a point in hard top entry level Ferrari. I know rich want comfort but then they should get a Bentley and you have a Ferrari if you want to be a driving God.

It kind of seems that Ferrari is trying to be like every other auto maker now-a-days and have their fingers in as many pies as possible. They are trying to capture the "cheaper" 911 market with the upcoming Dino, then you have the F149 for the person who probably only has this as their main car as it is all they can afford who wants to drive it everyday and tell their friends they drive a Ferrari, then you have the hardcore models for people who nodoubt have many cars in their collection so can have other things to drive and then the Ferrari for special occasions, this is Ferrari's current customer base.

I just hope they stay sensible and don't go down a similar route to Mercedes making dozens of different cars for very small market segments and then they wonder why they hardly sell any of them. Come on, who came up with the R class. And I just prey that Ferrari never think about making a SUV.

[thedguy]

Originally Posted by Xeon SX

I dont see a point in hard top entry level Ferrari. I know rich want comfort but then they should get a Bentley and you have a Ferrari if you want to be a driving God.

Ferrari is, was, and always will be a firm we can look to, for cost prohibitive, impractical, high maintenance, high performance driveway ornaments too expensive to risk, on the nations highways. So it's suiting that they at least make the cars comfortable for the occasion they are cruised over to get serviced, or shown off.

[vRS]

Next they'll be making a SUV and a Boxster rival........

[Lilleput]

Originally Posted by vRS

Next they'll be making a SUV and a Boxster rival........

Had the same thought, they should stop listening to their rich idiot customers and just keep making the best driving cars they can. The are not in need of cash like Porsche was so theres no excuse for making poser cars.


Fast edit: If they really start softening the F-Cars and start making more GT'ers it will open up for more small companies to get into the performance / supercar market, which should be interesting.

[Gman333-X-ferrari]

More information:

I have just finished phone talk with my dealer in Germany. I can say that he always was very reputable and always had all fresh news from F-factory. He told me about 430 Scuderia launch back in April, when I have not heard even not a word from any mag or web. All that he said was confirmed only in July, when first offical reviews showed up in press. So I called my dealer to discuss my December 430 Scuderia colours and selected options and we had 2 hours phone talk regarding my 430 Scuderia specs and about Ferrari new models adding to Ferrari model range in 2008/2009. And so what he told me about Ferrari future models:

1) "F149" or so called 430 California GT will be launched next Spring, during Geneva auto show (similar information from his F-dealer have F-chat member "icemanbops" who posted thread about "F149" launch in 599/612 section: http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthr...highlight=f149). This car will be equipped with more than 500 HP engine and will be priced aproximatly same as current F430 Berlinetta. Only thing my dealer in not sure is if 430 California GT will be hardtop convertible, but told me that this scenario is quite expected.

2) "F142" will be launched in September 2009, during Frankfurt auto show, Spider will be launched in January 2010, during Detroit auto show. So Ferrari will continue their FIVE YEARS PRODUCTION CYCLE:

F355 - 1994
360 Modena - 1999
F430 - 2004
"F142" - 2009

So this seems quite logical and possible scenario. My dealer told me that "F142" will feature completely new style, chassis, engine, interior - everything. My dealer told that with "F142" Ferrari is now focusing not on HP amount, but more on horsepower/ton ratio and that "F142" probably will be equipped with monocoque chassis and full carbon body. "F142" will be to the 360 Modena/F430 range, like what the 360 Modena was to the 348/355 range. So it will next step in F-supercars developement.

May be my other news and information is not so important for 360/430 section but still I will post it down here:

1) SLR Roadster's big market success inspired Ferrari to launch 599 Spider sooner as expected. This Ferrari convertible will be launched next Autumn or at least during Detroit auto show in January 2009. Now Ferrari is working on some extraordinary roof construction to make car totally unique. 599 Spider will have 640 HP engine, 20 HP more than 599 GTB. That is all information my dealer have as for now, but he promissed to keep me updating, because I really want to order one and put down my name for it.

2) Ferrari is continuing F40 - F50 - Enzo - F70 SEVEN YEARS PRODUCTION CYCLE. Year 2009 will be the year of NEXT Ferrari HYPERCAR launch. My dealer do not know any tech details of F70 as for now.

That is all I know from my dealer about Ferrari new models. I hope so much that my given information is fresh and true. Best.

Hi guys. Today had phone talk with my dealer. Latest news:

1) "F149" project will be launched during Paris Auto Show 2008.
First customer cars due to arrive late 2008.
It will be convertible with ultra light hard top retractable roof.
Interesting fact is that there will be possible to choose if you want car 2+2 or two-seater with rear luggage shelf as on 599 GTB. Pretty interesting availability.
Engine - aproximatly 500 HP.
Price - aproximalty current F430 Berlinetta price range.
All other more detalised tech detalis are top secret as for now. But my dealer told me he saw how this car will look like and told that it will be knock out car - it means real Ferrari.

2) "F142" - F430 range replacement. My dealer told me that it is hard to predict how this car will look like but only thing is sure that this car will be developed under new Ferrari programme, weight reduction, new engines, carbonfibre body and so on. Ferrari now testing and developing many tech novelties and plenty of them will be first time used in "F142". Ferrari is working on ultra light retractable roof for next Spider as well. So there is hard to say what "F142" will look like but it will be something extraordinary for sure.
Estimated launch time of "F142" Berlinetta is late 2009, "F142" Spider early 2010.

3) 599 Spider is in Ferrari plans for this year. It is almost everything developed as for now, and as our F-chat comrade Mike "icemanbops" told, just waitng for right time to make the most impact. Here are some facts about future 599 Spider:
Ultra light hard top retractable roof. My dealer told me that we all will have sweet shock treat when will see this car in flash.
Engine will be more powerfull as on 599 GTB. 640-650 HP.
Price - aproximatly + 20-25% to the 599 GTB price.

My dealer told me also that 599 Spider will be limited prodution car and sold out for most priveleged customers. So flippers and premiums will follow.

My dealer told me also that he is unsure about ENZO successor launch time and tech details, but told me that it can be 2009-2010. So that is all I know and share with you.

Exciting years ahead if you're an avid Ferrari fan such as myself! What I'm really interested in is the "F142", the F430 replacement, and the F70, the Enzo replacement. They should be awesome, especially with all the recent development gained from Formula 1 and the fact that Ferrari have been quite dormant for a few years now- meaning that they've been quietly designing the upcoming cars. The "F149" should be a great GT car and the 599 Spider is what worries me. Ferrari decided to make such a car following the SLR Roadster's success, which means Ferrari are looking for the profits...

[Aiolos]

Sounds interesting 8)

I look forward to the challenge of memorizing all the new names and specs

[klutch]

So would this be the successor platform to the F430? If not, I see no need for another convertible; the F430 is already the 'base' model, and its already offered as a spider - why build another 500-ish horsepower small convertible? Make the 599 in a retractable hardtop and call it a day.

But then again, I'm not in the market for a Ferrari right now, so I could care less if they make SUV's, SAV's, or even a truck.

[ViperVX]

Sensation, by 2010 Ferrari will create an SUV, a station vagon thing, a red caravan & a rival to Yamaha quad bike, but with 600hp v12.

Also rumored, that they just bought 51% of shares of unknown boat-constructor, to build ferrari boats & waterbikes.

And finaly, they signed a 5 year deal with Paris Hilton to promote their new range or perfume, rubber, sex toys, including a special edition F1-style vibrator, shaped in Ferrari wind tunnel, tested & partly developped by M.Schumacher himself.

Rumor has it, that they've just decided to put a new engine in the vibrator, so it cud develop close to 500bhp, 16000rpm and it will have a very special "oil drill" setting mode.

[powah]

Originally Posted by ViperVX

Sensation, by 2010 Ferrari will create an SUV, a station vagon thing, a red caravan & a rival to Yamaha quad bike, but with 600hp v12.

Also rumored, that they just bought 51% of shares of unknown boat-constructor, to build ferrari boats & waterbikes.

And finaly, they signed a 5 year deal with Paris Hilton to promote their new range or perfume, rubber, sex toys, including a special edition F1-style vibrator, shaped in Ferrari wind tunnel, tested & partly developped by M.Schumacher himself.

Rumor has it, that they've just decided to put a new engine in the vibrator, so it cud develop close to 500bhp, 16000rpm and it will have a very special "oil drill" setting mode.

I hope not.

[joru007]

I'm sure it'll be really good, but it will propably suffer from the same thing that Jeremy always talks about when he's reviewing Porsches.
When you'll pull up next to an F430 you'll propably wish you saved abit more money and bought the more expensive model, but I guess there always has to be the cheaper one.

[klutch]

Originally Posted by ViperVX

Sensation, by 2010 Ferrari will create an SUV, a station vagon thing, a red caravan & a rival to Yamaha quad bike, but with 600hp v12.

Also rumored, that they just bought 51% of shares of unknown boat-constructor, to build ferrari boats & waterbikes.

And finaly, they signed a 5 year deal with Paris Hilton to promote their new range or perfume, rubber, sex toys, including a special edition F1-style vibrator, shaped in Ferrari wind tunnel, tested & partly developped by M.Schumacher himself.

Rumor has it, that they've just decided to put a new engine in the vibrator, so it cud develop close to 500bhp, 16000rpm and it will have a very special "oil drill" setting mode.

Wouldn't surprise me, the Ferrari brand already adorns everything from cheap shoes, to laptops, kitchen utensils to theme parks. And all of it is crap.

[argatoga]

Originally Posted by klutch

But then again, I'm not in the market for a Ferrari right now, so I could care less if they make SUV's, SAV's, or even a truck.

They could call it the F150.



I'll be here all night.