Buy a Brand new Ferrari for$80k

[csv8]

Australian Ferrari dealerships will sell a special new city car in 2011.

Ferrari will sell a new model in Australia later this year - powered by an engine that's a third the size of the Italian marque's famous V12s.

The Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari is a joint venture between Fiat's performance division and its supercar subsidiary, and the four-cylinder hot-hatch will become Australia's most expensive city car when it arrives in Ferrari dealerships with an anticipated price tag of $80,000.

Even the cheapest Ferrari costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, though the 695 Tributo is essentially a special edition of the Abarth 500 Esseesse that launched into the local market this week.

Australia's Ferrari and Fiat importer, Ateco Automotive, says the Tributo Ferrari will cost signicantly more than the new Aston Martin Cygnet city car expected to cost about $55,000 when it arrives in late 2012.

"It's got a Ferrari badge on it, which means it so it will be sold through Ferrari dealerships on a pre-order basis. We will gain access to limited production run," says Fiat Australia's general manager, Andrei Zaitzev.

"It won't be $100,000, but it will be wickedly expensive. It's not just cosmetics; it's performance enhancements - it's gearbox [upgrades], it's engine [upgrades]. It has a range of fittings [inside and out] that take it a step above the Abarth Esseesse."

The Tributo Ferrari's 1.4-litre turbocharged engine produces 132kW of power and 250Nm of torque.

The hot-hatch, which is available in the Ferrari colours of Scuderia Red or Modena Yellow, can accelerate from standstill to 100km/h in seven seconds and reach a top speed of 225km/h.

An electromechanical automated manual gearbox includes Formula One-style paddleshift levers mounted to the steering wheel.

There's also a sportier suspension underneath, 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in grippy rubber and brakes from Brembo, the same company responsible for the stoppers on Ferrari's F1 racing cars.

Other standard features include xenon headlights, carbonfibre side mirrors, black leather steering wheel and leather, body-hugging sports seats.

The idea for the car surfaced after European Ferrari dealers in 2009 sold a number of limited edition Abarth 500s that were only meant to be used as courtesy cars for customers who were having their Ferrari serviced.

Ferrari's Formula One drivers, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, were each presented with a 695 Tributo Ferrari last year after dominating the 2010 Italian grand prix.

[lockieoc]

Still doing better than Aston. You will be surprised there will be a few people out there who would by one of these, particularly Ferrari owners who are live or commute in the city looking for a run-about.

[Buntz]

It's a total rip off. So it is a Ferrari.

Can't argue with the guy who founded the company... he ripped them a new one with every sale, and even disliked them. Goes to show the people who buy Ferrari's.

[Bossxr8]

Its not a Ferrari thought is it?

Its a Fiat tribute to Ferrari, designed and built by Fiat with a few Ferrari stickers on it.

If I stick Ferrari badges on my Falcon does that make it a Ferrari too?

[XR6_661]

What's next...a Bugati Golf GTI or something...

It's a pretty cool little package though!

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Its not a Ferrari thought is it?

Its a Fiat tribute to Ferrari, designed and built by Fiat with a few Ferrari stickers on it.

If I stick Ferrari badges on my Falcon does that make it a Ferrari too?

It makes it a Ferrari when Fiat owns Ferrari.

[Bossxr8]

No it doesn't.

If thats the case then a few years ago my Falcon was an Aston Martin.

[prydey]

so its a fiat abarth, just like the aston martin cygnet thing is a toyota iq.

just like the holden cruze is a daewoo lacetti. changing the badging doesn't make the car something else.

[dave289]

Fiat are fools , you just dont mess with a brand name like that. It smells like an audi 924 porshe.

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

If thats the case then a few years ago my Falcon was an Aston Martin.

Your logic is bad. If you'd had an Aston Martin that'd make it a Ford. No one owns Ford but Ford.

[funkyyyy]

It's the ugliest thing I've ever seen.. I'm not a big exotic fan buff but I do like seeing the rare ferrari around. This is honestly an embarrassment to such a well known brand.. >:/

[GhiaEB]

It's got to do with average emissions in europe or something I beleave. They have to bring their average emissions across their range down. So what better to do than with a small 4cyl car.

Cheers

[Ben73]

Looks cool. But not for a Ferrari.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Buntz93ED

Your logic is bad. If you'd had an Aston Martin that'd make it a Ford. No one owns Ford but Ford.

How is it any different if Ford decided to badge a Falcon as an Aston Martin when they owned them. No different to Fiat badging a 500 as a Ferrari.

Doesn't make any sense.

[RAPID_BA]

A ferrari that a sv6 would run away from at the lights?

I know someone who just spent over $500,000 on a ferrari. If i buy one of these, can we sit at the same table and dangle our keys on the table for all to see?

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by GhiaEB

It's got to do with average emissions in europe or something I belive. They have to bring their average emissions across their range down. So what better way to do it than with a small 4cyl car.

Cheers

^^^This^^^was the first thing that came to my mind upon hearing about the Aston and the Ferrari....

[buggo]

Originally Posted by HULK_BA

A ferrari that a sv6 would run away from at the lights?

I know someone who just spent over $500,000 on a ferrari. If i buy one of these, can we sit at the same table and dangle our keys on the table for all to see?

Ofcourse you do.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by dave289

Fiat are fools , you just dont mess with a brand name like that. It smells like an audi 924 porshe.

Hey id happily cruise around in a 924 turbo or GT thankyou, great car.

But a mini Ferrari sounds like prostitution of their name to me.

Porsche have entered the SUV market to generate more cash for the 911, which seems to have worked, but that segment doesn't mind splashing the cash. I cant imagine many people forking out $80k for a mini Ferrari...not long term anyway.

The mini Aston is an embarrassment aswell, atleast the Ferrari has decent under pinnings.

And 132kws...LOL...but hey, it makes the Focus RS look like a bargain now

[Polyal]

OK so after seeing a few pics it is cool, but maybe $50-60k cool tops. I reckon it would be a hoot to drive though.

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

How is it any different if Ford decided to badge a Falcon as an Aston Martin when they owned them. No different to Fiat badging a 500 as a Ferrari.

Doesn't make any sense.

Wouldn't bother me.

[ZDHLANE]

Where do you put the Man Bag?

[Bossxr8]

Where's the Ferrari badges?

Goes back to my first post that it's not a Ferrari, its still 100% a Fiat 500Abarth with some other goodies on it.

At least the Aston has interior and exterior mods done by Aston themselves. This has no Ferrari input whatsoever.

[cheap]

Decisions decisions decisions

Do I buy a pretend Aston (aka Toyota)

or

Do I buy a pretend Ferrari (aka Fiat)

Oh why is it so difficult????

[flappist]

Originally Posted by cheap

Decisions decisions decisions

Do I buy a pretend Aston (aka Toyota)

or

Do I buy a pretend Ferrari (aka Fiat)

Oh why is it so difficult????

Or you could buy a pretend Ford GT........

[pauljh74]

Originally Posted by GhiaEB

It's got to do with average emissions in europe or something I beleave. They have to bring their average emissions across their range down. So what better to do than with a small 4cyl car.

Cheers

The money they spend developing these sort of cars could have been utilised making the high performance cars their customers actually want to buy cleaner, yet still high powered. Instead they are being forced to dilute their brand due to emissions regulations. You'd think the niche/supercar brands could be let off the hook as they aren't high volume car makers. Another thing they could do is allow Ferrari to be averaged out over the Fiat group, Lamborghini to go into the Audi group etc and save them from the insanity of this new rule.

[Grum]

The Dino wasn't a "Ferrari" when released and look at them now???

Regardless, it's fugly.

[drew`SEVNT5]

Ugly?

You guys have your taste somewhere south of your stomach.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by pauljh74

The money they spend developing these sort of cars could have been utilised making the high performance cars their customers actually want to buy cleaner, yet still high powered. Instead they are being forced to dilute their brand due to emissions regulations. You'd think the niche/supercar brands could be let off the hook as they aren't high volume car makers. Another thing they could do is allow Ferrari to be averaged out over the Fiat group, Lamborghini to go into the Audi group etc and save them from the insanity of this new rule.

I think it would be a pretty safe bet that Ferrari have spent close to nothing....who do you think will win more out of this?

[aussie muscle]

if i saw that drive past i'd think it was a fiat 500. it's got no ferrari badges, so i wouldn't call it such.

[cheap]

Originally Posted by flappist

Or you could buy a pretend Ford GT........

At least it is mostly still made by Ford