Ferrari shows us the prototype of its next city car

This morning we had breakfast with this new and exclusive teaser of a city model that Ferrari is reportedly preparing to enter a segment that is already becoming crowded with many players. The model was unveiled during a more than secret, exclusive event aimed at a select group of customers who already own several units of the brand in their garage.

During the presentation, Amedeo Felissa took the floor and explained the reasons why Ferrari is turning toward this segment, along with the corresponding engine downsizing: “The demands of European emissions and consumption regulations have put Ferrari in a situation where a city model is unavoidable“, according to Felissa’s words. And although Marchionne never wanted an SUV, it seems market research may have convinced him otherwise.

After all this more or less official information comes the moment to address the rumours, a much darker world, where we hear, for example, about the involvement of the Abarth division in creating the small city car, which would explain what they have been working on these last few months: nothing less than the creation of something as fundamental as its chassis, which would make it very true that Abarth will not have its own sports car.

Apparently, a new structure made of aluminium and reinforced in certain areas with exotic materials such as titanium and carbon would guarantee that, although as the company’s entry model it would still maintain, within reason, the performance that a true Ferrari must offer. We will see how it all turns out in the end.

Mechanically, this is where the executives of the Italian company may start pulling their hair out: from Fiat it was recommended not only to use a new four-cylinder engine but that, in the rush typical of a “crazy” development, the same block developed for the Dodge Darz would be used, although reworked by the brand’s engineers to deliver power much more in line with the specifications.

As you can see, the new European anti-pollution regulations are wreaking havoc on all brands. At first it was Aston Martin with its Cygnet, and now Ferrari joins in. It is the bill to pay for continuing to bet on enormous V12s for the next generations of the 599 and Enzo. At least we can be sure that, although in collaboration with other brands in the group, no Toyota with new bumpers will be created

UPDATE: Happy April Fools’ Day!