Ferrari 420 Dino is Coming

Speculation about a so-called "cheap" Ferrari, slotted under the F430, has been circulating for some time and during last week's LA Auto Show, one of the presenters at the Ferrari booth sought to squash those rumblings.

Although he said there isn't going to be a "cheap" Ferrari, information has come out that confirms that a smaller, less expensive Ferrari is on its way.

What's being dubbed the 420 Dino will come equipped with a front-mounted, 4.2-liter V8, putting out 480 HP. The body will likely begin as a hardtop, with a cabrio due within the first two years of the Dino's initial launch. There is also talk of a folding hardtop.

Pricing will be set in the 140,000 to 160,000 range and sales are expected to begin in 2010. Ferrari hopes to produce between 3,500 and 5,000 cars annually, with their aim set on would-be buyers of the 911 Turbo and AM V8 Vantage.

This new addition to the Ferrari lineup would allow the F430 to move further upmarket (as if it could), by coming equipped with a new, 5-liter, 550 HP, V10 in 2008, then undergoing a full redesign by 2010.

I’m interested to see the evolution of this concept, as it will be very important in the Ferrari line. While Ferrari doesn’t want to dilute the brand name with cheap models, they also want a bigger piece of the action. I think if the car meets the claimed performance numbers at the price they have suggested I think it will do very well and enhance the brand. Below are a few more pictures for you take a look at.