SPY PICS: Ferrari Dino V8

They do things differently in Italy. The Dino Ferrari was the cheapie of the range when it was launched in the mid sixties, despite being named after Enzo's son, who died of muscular dystrophy in 1956.

Yet the Dino 206 and the later 246 are highly regarded now and are right up there with the 250 GTO as one of the more immediately recognisable Ferraris.

But at the end of the day, 'Dino' still means 'entry-level' -- and so it is with the latest car to wear the name, caught on camera by our superlative spy photographers at Carparazzi.

Ferrari is denying the project, but the Carparazzi blokes speculate that a new age Dino priced at no more than 110,000 Euro (about AUD$180,000) would sell up to 4000 units a year -- doubling Ferrari's total current production.

There are wild rumours around that the car could be on the roads in 2009, designed by Pininfarina and built by Maserati. If the new car goes ahead -- and the signs look fairly promising -- it may also be built as a convertible.

This particular vehicle was 'sussed' by the sound of the V8 engine, as Carparazzi reports. The engine note was distinctly different from the note of the F430, in the explanation provided.

-- with Carparazzi