Maserati should have stayed as the GT option of Ferrari. The exclusivity was lost the moment it appeared in competion with other rep mobiles.
Just got back from Italy and had a VIP tour of the Ferrari factory and half day on the Fiorano. They have definately pegged production at 7000 units and order books are bursting with prices for used examples going up monthly. Scuds 200k plus, Super americas 300k plus. 360 strads 200k plus. 355s going up daily, even 612s hardening and tidy 599s starting at 120k. Exclusivity is everything at this end of the market so to promise up to 70,000 units a year screws that good and propper. Plus Ferrari have refused to have any association with anything from Maserati with a diesel in it. Good for them.
Worst of all for Maserati is the new Alfa will blow the Ghibli out of the water
With respect to BJL, and without meaning to cause upset... What a load of nonsense.
To start with the last point first, the new Alfa will be no more of a competitor for the Ghibli than a 3 Series is to a 5 Series, or a C Class is to an E Class.
This romantic idea of Maserati being able to survive selling a 2 dr sports car and a large saloon is just utterly absurd. The only reason a replacement QP could be produced was using the economies of scale of developing a common platform where the costs can be spread over as many model ranges as possible. I have no doubt that Maserati would be only to happy to spin off other new ranges beyond the Levente and Ghibli. In fact those traditionalists should consider themselves lucky that Fiat Chrysler decided to come up with the budget for an entirely new platform. Its not inconceivable in past mismanagement, that you could have ended up with a reheated Chrysler 300C platform, which I think was based on the old model E Class Mercedes.
Fortunately those in charge, it would seem, realise it could take a decade to turn Maserati into a competitive premium brand with the investment that goes with it, comprising a proper range of models including Diesel, Hybrid, or even all electric drive. Using structures such as developing MTC from Chrysler for example are an essential means of producing a modern car profitably.
The Ferrari business model is a world apart from Maserati, and I would guess one of the reasons the GT has yet to be replaced, is the financial case is proving very difficult. Maybe something could be done with the Alfere in that direction, but as it stands the GT is in danger of becoming an anachronism such is the level of out of date technology it contains. The multimedia I am told first saw light of day in several previous generations of Citroen.
The current short term situation will have no bearing on future model plans, although if these ranges all fail to deliver sales in the medium or long term, its possible Maserati relevance no longer exists and it could go the way as Lancia.
So whilst the idea of a cheaper diesel car or an SUV may offend, if owners of GT and QP want to be able to buy new versions in the future, we had better hope the new ranges succeed!!
Nothing like setting the cat amongst the pigeons, to spark some debate!!
Regards
Keith