I think supercar prices are inflating way ahead of the general economy.
In 2005, a Ferrari 360 cost around $160k USD and it was essentially the Ford's #1 target (even though the Ford was really quite a bit beyond the 360 in terms of performance)
The 360 was out of production by then. The F430 was the current V8 at $186,000 & was pretty close with the GT.
The 2015 Mclaren 675LT (which is arguably in the same class as the 360, or perhaps the 360CS) will cost a staggering $350k USD and it seems to be Ford's target this time, maybe.
How do you figure a 666Hp upper-tier McLaren is the same class as a sub 500Hp 360/F430? The F430 if anything, would be closer to the 650S as the "entry-level" car.
USD-160k in 2005 is USD-191k in 2015 according to normal inflation. For reference, the 458 Italia costs between USD-233k-260k. Even considered relatively, these supercars (I still call them exotic sports car, despite how increasingly ridiculous this is beginning to be) are more closely resembling 'hypercars' every year in both performance and price. If the Huracan and 488 are to keep up, then I'm not sure there's room for the Aventador and F12 at the top. Mclaren can do this because there is a huge gap between the 6** range and the P1.
Except there was never a Ferrari in 2005 that retailed for $160,000. Again, in 2005, it was the F430 that retailed for $186,000 or in today's market, $230,000. $230,000 is exactly where the 458 started. In 2000, the 360 Modena was retailing for $154,000; $210,000 or so in today's market. It should give an idea of where Ferrari intends to keep their V8 bread & butter remaining at so as not to step on the toes of the V12 line
unless you build the car to that point option-wise.
As for where McLaren sits, it's pretty obvious. The 650S will always be priced to compete against the Ferrari V8/Lambo V10. Judging by the 666Hp horsepower in the 675LT & a $350,000 MSRP, it's going to be set against the $400,000 Aventador & $320,000 F12. There's no need for the 488 or Huracan to keep up because from a performance stand point, they're already there being lighter & more agile. The Aventador & F12 are high horsepower cars, but they're not built with the same goals in mind as the lower-tier models. The performance is there because it has to be to help justify the price, but the cars are typically marketed to a more laid-back demographic.
Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Mclaren*, let's see a sort of mortal-performance line of supercars around 500hp and $150k. The rate of performance increases between generations of performance cars in the last 10 years is quite literally numbing. It's hard to appreciate any of it anymore.
*I know Mclaren are already working on it
How is it numbing? The performance is increasing by each generation just enough to keep prices remaining where they have been for the past 20 years.
I think the reality we're facing is that the 488 (for example) simply isn't a 355/360 anymore. It's an Enzo, they just make more of them. The entire lineup of Ferrari has moved upscale so quickly that there is a void below. There is no relatively affordable Ferrari now - the cheapest is simply unaffordable no matter how you slice it.
Lamborghini hasn't done this. The Diablo's price in 1991 was $240,000 - equivalent to $412,000 today, actually more expensive than the Aventador's price of $380,000. The Murci's price was $270,000, equivalent to $356,000 today. Overall, the cars' prices have been in the same ballpark.
The 488 will be competing with the base Aventador on price and performance, surely.
Lamborghini has room for an upmarket car. Ferrari has room for a downmarket car. McLaren is already going downmarket as they've quickly shifted the MP4-12C upmarket to the 675ST.
Ferrari sells a whole lot of products that not many people can afford. I take it they're living off their merch on the low-end.
There's no room for it there. Performance wise, sure, but it's not an Aventador competitor to begin with & thus, it won't be priced competitively.
The 488 is expected around 240K Euro, or $260,000. I think it will price a bit less at $250-255,000. That's a decent increase above the outgoing 458, a little above the Huracan, & priced perfectly against the 650S.
Lamborghini's upmarket has already been seen; Reventons & Venenos galore. Ferrari's down market is the California T at under $200,000. It's priced just enough to sway a 911 Turbo or DB9 buyer.
