THAT A SUCCESSOR to the Ferrari Enzo is on the cards is no secret; Ferrari boss Amedeo Felisa confirmed a number of future models in October. But, at this early stage, that’s all Maranello is willing to give up.

According to British website Auto Express, Ferrari’s new hero car, codenamed F70, will be built with a greater focus on weight loss rather than bigger power.

Drawing inspiration from its 2007 Millechili concept (Italian for “1000kg”), Ferrari will, according to AE, look to keep the F70’s weight significantly lower than the Enzo’s 1365kg.

A new, smaller tub, carbon-fibre body panels and a thrifty approach to the interior could help bring the new Ferrari’s kerb weight down to Lotus Exige levels.

Ferrari is reportedly eager to keep a 12-cylinder powerplant in its hero car, but with Europe’s emissions laws growing tighter, the supercar company may have no choice but to downsize its engines.

Smaller, lighter and more efficient than the nearly eight-year-old Enzo, the F70 will reportedly be powered by a  520kW twin-turbo V8 - like the legendary F40 - if Ferrari can overcome the problem of turbo lag.

Speaking with the UK’s Autocar earlier this month, Jacques said that turbocharging “will come eventually”, but that any sort of power delay in a Ferrari engine is unacceptable.

Production of the F70 is expected to begin in 2012.