Hahaha......Peolpe just didn't like Dany Bahar.....As a Lotus fan at the time I though his vision for future Lotus models were spot on.....the new cars looked great. Esprit, two seater, 4 seater......
The other two remaining models needs consideration.
It’s two of:
Smaller SUV
GranTurismo + Cab
Alfieri + Cab
99% of you lot would pick 2&3 but commercial viability is key.
Porsche model is probably the one to mirror so viability would suggest 1&3 which would leave no room for a GranTurismo but I feel this is the trade off.
This way, I feel die hard Maserati fans would pick two of the above, one sports and one SUV or QP.
Regarding new customer sales, saloon cars are not where the money is, new sales are mostly SUV and there is no getting away from that fact.
A variant of the above formula would be to ditch the QP, force those sales into a Range Rover type Levante and develop the GranTurismo.
As Alfa has found to its cost being the fastest kid on the block (QV) does not drive base model sales...a scenario to be avoided.
For me Maserati is the comfy, big, fast Italian car, Ferrari and Lamborghini do the two-seat mid-engine thing better.
They always had a QP tho, from early 60's on, QP1, the only alternatives from Italian stables have been the Iso Lele (I think) and was the Lamborghini Espada a four door? Think it was a two door four seater from memory...This is an interesting perception. The earliest cars were either racers or Granturismo type cars. The QP only went into full production after Maserati were acquired by Fiat.
But that this is a current perception should in some way have a bearing on the future of the brand.
They always had a QP tho, from early 60's on, QP1, the only alternatives from Italian stables have been the Iso Lele (I think) and was the Lamborghini Espada a four door? Think it was a two door four seater from memory...
There was the Monteverdi 4 door, don't remember the model, but I think they were Swiss, maybe from an Italian speaking Kanton? Apart from the QP's tho, all pretty fugly.
It's why I always hankered after the Ferrari 400 series coupe, still do in a way, but I'd probably end up disappointed if I got one, look a bit boxy now and it would have to be the 365 GT4 2+2, with the six lights on the rear and the spinners - interestingly Eurospares have one for braking, but they won't sell whole cars....
Cheaper alternative to entry-level Ferrari. Competing against 911 and Vantage
Isn’t the Ghibli already small enough inside anyway? Surely any less space will turn it into a 2+2 with seats only suitable for the very small or short journeysWhat do people think of a smaller saloon? Im thinking of a rebodied Giulia Quad but with more power?
Isn’t the Ghibli already small enough inside anyway? Surely any less space will turn it into a 2+2 with seats only suitable for the very small or short journeys
Ok so Fiat phone you up and beg you to become the CEO of Maserati...what’s your plan?
It has to be commercially viable and within the constraints of the Fiat Group.
I’m going to take some time to consider my response.