It’s been nearly forty years since Ferrari first used the name and after a prolonged absence it seems that the Dino nameplate is set to return. Recently-appointed Ferrari chairman Sergio Marchionne, told UK publication Autocar that the revival of the Dino name was “not a question of if but when”.
With prices of the current range of cars constantly rising perhaps this will bring Ferrari ownership to a slightly wider audience. It is unclear of the Dino’s positioning within the market though Marchionne isn’t too keen to dilute the Ferrari name with mass sales.
“The brand is unique and needs to be protected. I would always rather build 500 fewer cars than the market demanded rather than 500 more. We must not mess with customer expectations of Ferrari as an exclusive brand.”
As was the case with the original car, named after company founder Enzo’s son, the engine line-up could start with a V6. Ferrari’s sister company Maserati already produces a small turbocharged V6 that could prove the ideal basis for this new car. We’ve already seen the adoption of a force-fed V8 in the successful 458 model’s replacement, the 488 GTB, paving the way for smaller, more efficient engines in the sports car maker’s portfolio.
Marchionne hints that the new model would have roughly 500 bhp (373 kW) placing it in direct comparison with the Porsche GT3 RS and Mercedes-AMG GT S.