8.1.2006

In a month or two the long-awaited replacement for the 550/575 Maranello is expected to be announced and of course the internet is full of supposed pics of the new car.

These posted here are the latest offerings but we have no idea whether these really represent the new design.....

Supposedly called 600 Imola, the new car will carry over the technical concept of a V-12 front-engine super sports coupe seating for two, but is expected to become a considerably larger car (gaining especially in length) with roomier cabin and luggage compartments. Power will be delivered by a new 6.0-litre engine adopted from the Enzo and 612 Scaglietti models.

Technically, the 600 will draw heavily on the 612's body-panel-on-aluminium-space-frame technology and mechanical underpinnings, including engine, transaxle transmissions, and front and rear suspension corner modules.

The 6.0-litre engine, rated at 540 hp in the 612 Scaglietti and 660 hp in the Enzo, is expected to produce around 580 to 600 hp in the Imola. The 600 will also adopt the 612's front-mid-engine layout. The shorter wheelbase of the 600 and an even more forward position of the front axle will further improve handling abilities over those of the 612.

An open-top "Barchetta" spyder version is rumoured to debut in 2007 or 2008.