SPY PHOTOS: Ferrari Dino

The little pony from Maranello

Here is the first proof that Ferrari is working on a new Dino. These exclusive pictures are showing a mule of the new car. Based on a F430 body it doesn’t yet give away so much but at least a little of what will become the new Dino.

The prototype’s front fenders are a little wider and the side rocker panels are missing due to a different cooling system. It also looks like the area around the gearbox and rear axle is slightly different. Another thing that identifies the test car as a mule for the Dino is the engine sound, or should we say the lack of it. It clearly doesn’t sound as sharp as a F430.

The Classic Dino was built between 1968 and 1976, and its name honours the founder Enzo Ferrari´s son, Alfredino “Dino“ Ferrari, who died in 1956 at the age of 24 from a muscular dystrophy. While that vintage Dino had a V6 behind the driver, the new one will be powered by a V8 with 400 bhp.

Ferrari will most likely start with a Coupe, but expect a Spider later on. There is a high possibility that Pininfarina will do the design work with input from former Ferrari design boss Frank Stephenson, who now heads Fiat´s Centro Stile operation.

We noticed both a BMW M6 and Aston Martin V8 Vantage going in and out of the Ferrari facility in Maranello, so it seems like they are the main target for the Dino as well as the German legend Porsche 911. While the F430 is about 160.000 euros worth, the Dino will be starting at approximately 100-110.000 euros. Insiders are saying that it’s possible to sell up to 4000 Dinos annually once the car gets the green light for production. Such a figure would instantly double Ferrari´s yearly production and give the make a whole new group of customers.

Talk is also about the new Dino to be built at the Maserati factory in the city of Modena. This city is very important to the history of Ferrari, as it is the town where its founder Enzo Ferrari was born. Even if Ferrari is still denying the project, we expect to see it on the roads in 2009.

The photos are showing a test mule and one computer image suggesting how the new Dino could look like upon its release.