We know Ferrari said over and over again that where won't be any Dino in the future, but they were just denying the obvious: the Dino will happen and will happen pretty soon: at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show in March.

The new Dino will be a front-engined model featuring a two-piece folding hardtop.

From the first spy photos you can see that the new Dino's shape does indeed echo that of the original 246 GT, with a cab-backward design reflecting the engineering layout.

The Dino's roots are born in the the car Maserati was going to build alongside the Granturismo - but could not fund. Instead, the Trident brand is now developing a straightforward open-top version of the full-size coupe, while Ferrari has taken over the smaller car for the Dino project.

Also Ferrari is working on a F430 replacement. Known as the F142 it will feature an all-new design, and will be unveiled in ate 2009 or early 2010.

The F142 will no longer be available as a soft-top Spyder. I will be lighter still than the 430 Scuderia and will be a mid-engined model. It will be powered by a turbocharged small displacement direct-injection V8 engine.