Well it's official

[iainw]

Absolutely spot on Barrie....

+1

 

[iainw]

Ok, a lot of ranting and finger pointing to Modena.

I think we all know that Maserati could not survive on the course they were on during the 90's and 00's, so something had to change.

They looked at Porsche and with volume clearly being the chosen path have embarked on the current course.

I agree, the current offering are not bad cars, quite the opposite, I rather like them.....but I don't lust after them, which what Barry said, is the lure for most on here.

To be that oddball person who does not follow the crowd and choose style over function.

So Maserati have gone about their 'Porsche' plan and have come in for rather a lot of stick for it.

I feel if they had done things different, the collective on here would have not been on their backs and they would be happy to see Maserati to chase volume...to survive.

The banana skin I feel was the Alfieri.

If they had put it into production, it would have sold like hot cakes, but they didn't.....they showed it to us, then buried it.

I can only deduct that this was due to one of two things....or a little of both:

1. No money
2. No production capability

Clearly at the time, FGA decided to plow the money into Alfa and the results at first looked promising but again, as with Maserati, they moved in the direction that their dedicated following would not like. OK, you have to accept the capabilities of the QV, its a Wonderfull Halo car and shows what the Italians can do when they put there mind to it but the same cannot be said for the for the rest of the range where they would then make their money. They clearly are not selling, you never see one on the road and I mean down here on the South Coast, never which must be killing Alfa especially with all the debt they must have loaded on them.

I had the misfortune to instantly dislike the Guilia, mainly the front end. It screamed "Thats not an Alfa". Over time my harsh opinion dulled so needing a new lease car I went and had a look and a go in a new Speciale. Sitting in it just left me numb. Zero Alfa feel and terrible build quality. In Alfas of old you could forgive the build quality and you did not think with your head, you went with your heart and this is clearly missing in the Alfa and our beloved marque.

The Stelvio will sell, I feel thats a given and maybe Alfa's only saving grace but I see dark times ahead for both brands as clearly, FGA cannot continue to throw money at 2 struggling marques.

A good balanced view.

 

[MrMickS]

The reason that I think they killed the Alfieri was that they though that the GT and GC would continue to act as the Halo car and allow them to spend money on the Levante, which they'd shown even earlier and hadn't brought into production.

Its been said before that the delays are as much to do with power train and what the regulations are going to be like as much as anything. If they'd brought out the Alfieri in 2015/6 with the lovely V8 in it it would have been adored and sold. Not massive numbers though and they would now be looking at a new platform and successor to provide the required electric/hybrid versions. They couldn't have a platform that would only last 5 years given the numbers that are made. It was a wise business decision but not one for the purists. I've always looked at this being a 2019/20 car, which is when I'll be in the market to change, hopefully it'll be ready then.

 

[BJL]

Agree with the Alfa feeling cheap inside. I tested the 280 bhp Stelvio and thought it OK but not special. Performance was on a par if not better with most in that category and engine size but inside there was too much hard plastic on the dash board and general trim. The appearance at first was appealing but after looking at it for a while it dawns on you what is wrong. Too high for the width, too much wheel arch showing, aggressive front (good) apologetic rear (not good) compared to the Jag and Porka it looked a lightweight and not as solid.

To save money and cash in on a global success Maserati could have thought OK the GT is held in very high esteem but dated so.....Tweak the chassis, put in the TTV8 with 8 speed box, keep the front end with a few tweaks ala Lambo and Porsche regular updates, redesign the back end making it more edgy and call it the GT2 with an S as the sport moniker. we would have had a new car evolved from the best selling maser to date that would have easily kept in pace with the competition.

Too bl00dy simple.....obviously.

 

[Andyk]

Agree with RW that Maserati has never been about outright speed but the passion that comes with the brand.................but they also have always had the ability to make your heart miss a beat when you saw one.......I fully understand that the current range is needed to survive but the current range for me has lost that ability to make me feel excited when I see one on the road....and that has taken a big chunk of what made them special for me......So as I said I fully understand the need for the range but really want to see a new coupe/GT to reignite that excitement I had for Maserati.....it cannot come soon enough either.

 

[outrun]

Agree with the Alfa feeling cheap inside. I tested the 280 bhp Stelvio and thought it OK but not special. Performance was on a par if not better with most in that category and engine size but inside there was too much hard plastic on the dash board and general trim. The appearance at first was appealing but after looking at it for a while it dawns on you what is wrong. Too high for the width, too much wheel arch showing, aggressive front (good) apologetic rear (not good) compared to the Jag and Porka it looked a lightweight and not as solid.

To save money and cash in on a global success Maserati could have thought OK the GT is held in very high esteem but dated so.....Tweak the chassis, put in the TTV8 with 8 speed box, keep the front end with a few tweaks ala Lambo and Porsche regular updates, redesign the back end making it more edgy and call it the GT2 with an S as the sport moniker. we would have had a new car evolved from the best selling maser to date that would have easily kept in pace with the competition.

Too bl00dy simple.....obviously.

This.

Why oh why have they not put the engine that they already have into a lighter Stradale? It's in the QP for gawds sake. Doesn't seem like the most expensive route to a halo model to me. They already have the beautiful design of the GT, the fanatastic engine and a raft of off the shelf gearbox options from ZF and Getrag to choose from. A little bit of carbon, a rear wing, 150 more horses and 250 less kg and BANG there it is.

The rest is just corporate excuses to sell more. It's time the marketing department explained that the Porsche GT2 is there to sell the others and keep the cars on the bedroom walls of children so that they become the next generation. This is why they race them, this is why they build them.

 

[bigbob]

They are building volumes and taking the brand more downmarket than I expected. Could be good for profits but who knows. If the fast beautiful coupes and convertibles follow then great, if they do not then the brand no longer interests me.