Why don't Maserati...

[Lee Jones Jnr]

currently make an out and out sports car?

 

[allandwf]

Because they fit in a niche in Fiats Hierarchy.

 

[alfatwo]

It's because there gentlemen's and ladies high speed GT's with nothing to prove!...except for Benny of course....

Dave

 

[Emtee]

Because Fiat won't upset the Ferrari gravy train. Can't say I blame them. Maserati could never generate the profit per unit that Ferrari does.

 

[Lee Jones Jnr]

Seems like an obvious gap to me between the Alfa 4c and the 458.
A 911 priced 2 seater would be a fit.

 

[bigbob]

currently make an out and out sports car?

Not allowed to.

The Alfa 8c is really the GranSport replacement for what it's worth.

Some people take the view that the first gen California started off as a Maser.

Whatever your opinion, Fiat is stopping Maserati developing what is needed which is a real shame.

 

[Rags]

Yep they are turning Maserati into BMW/Jaguar/Mercedes or slightly higher end equivalent

 

[Emtee]

Seems like an obvious gap to me between the Alfa 4c and the 458.
A 911 priced 2 seater would be a fit.

Hopefully the Alfieri will get close to 911 territory (if they make it)' but two seats rear engine is sadly very unlikely.

 

[alfatwo]

Miles, that why Masers will always be rare,but not necessarily worth.....

There's a guy in the village who last year bought one of those expensive Ferrari 4x4 thingies, but always wants to blag a drive in my old 3200GT saying its far better!

This is the problem we've always had..

Dave

 

[Emtee]

Miles, that why Masers will always be rare,but not necessarily worth.....

There's a guy in the village who last year bought one of those expensive Ferrari 4x4 thingies, but always wants to blag a drive in my old 3200GT saying its far better!

This is the problem we've always had..

Dave

Perhaps there in lies the rub Dave? Maserati make cars, beautiful cars in the main. Ferrari make money. The fact that they make cars is incidental. No different to DeBeers or OPEC in that regard and just like DeBeers and OPEC they don't like competition.

 

[highlander]

IMO, masers have never been out and out SCs. They always stood apart and always slanted preferentially towards the GT route even before the F/F takeovers.........imo, long may that last, that is why as boy and man I have preferred them/had posters of them/and now, thankfully own one in preference to an out and out italian SC. just my 2 cents worth mind............

 

[alfatwo]

Perhaps there in lies the rub Dave? Maserati make cars, beautiful cars in the main. Ferrari make money. The fact that they make cars is incidental. No different to DeBeers or OPEC in that regard and just like DeBeers and OPEC they don't like competition.

Your exactly right there Miles...just look at Alfa Romeo, with very little money coming in,if Fiat pull the plug there history....

Not sure about Maserati in the long term though,but they do need to wash their face!

Dave

 

[Emtee]

Your exactly right there Miles...just look at Alfa Romeo, with very little money coming in,if Fiat pull the plug there history....

Not sure about Maserati in the long term though,but they do need to wash their face!

Dave

And let's not mention the fine historic brand that is (was) Lancia. Anyway, never mind Fiat Dave, we should all fall prostrate at the feet of Chrysler. If they don't come up with the goods, we're all fooked.

 

[BennyD]

Talking to the head of sales UK, Maserati want to build desirable front engined, rear drive, 4 seat GT cars, (some coupes and some four door). Here's hoping they see the wisdom of making another 2 seat drop top with a big engine and slack traction control.

 

[alfatwo]

Talking to the head of sales UK, Maserati want to build desirable front engined, rear drive, 4 seat GT cars, (some coupes and some four door). Here's hoping they see the wisdom of making another 2 seat drop top with a big engine and slack traction control.

Benny, all of our large engined high CO vehicles are eventually coming to an end in a few years time,EU directive's mate!

Dave

 

[BennyD]

Here's hoping they can sneak one in for old-times sake!

 

[Lee Jones Jnr]

Not allowed to.

The Alfa 8c is really the GranSport replacement for what it's worth.

Some people take the view that the first gen California started off as a Maser.

Whatever your opinion, Fiat is stopping Maserati developing what is needed which is a real shame.

Hmmm. The 8C is pretty far from being a replacement for a GranSport IMO and even if the California was meant to be a Maserati, it isn't a purely focused sports car.

I wouldn't want to see a rear engined car as someone mentioned but a 2 seater mid engined or well weighted front engined car would do just fine.
I think Maserati being manoeuvred into more of a direct rival to Porsche is pretty likely in terms of model line up and price point. Dunno how long that may take but at the end of it I think there will be a couple of sports cars in a range of around 6-8 models.

 

[alfatwo]

Here's hoping they can sneak one in for old-times sake!

Bit like the old Harrier then on the Australian carrier's.. rockin!

Dave

 

[Andyk]

As above...because of Ferrari......Heaven forbid that they built a car with more power than the 458 and drove better....That would be horses head in your bed stuff...

 

[zagatoes30]

Maserati have never made true sportscars, the odd exception but in general the majority are Grand Tourers and to be honest IMO all the better for it. GT cars are more useable hence a lot are used as daily hacks.

Ferrari on the other hand build race and sportscars and occasionally they drop in the GT to make some money. Even the GT cars have are more sport inspired, hard core machines than Maserati. Again there is the odd exception.

This is also why Masers tend to run 6 and 8 cylinders as opposed to Ferrari who favour 8 & 12.

In my mind they are different brands with different philosophies, always have been and hopefully always will be.