Should Maserati "up their game" since no longer under Ferrari's thumb?

Should Maserati consider stepping up their performance capabilities, since they will no longer be using Ferrari supplied engines? What's to stop them? Italian politics? Mission Statement? I think it would be great upped their game a bit.

Agree - Maserati needs to up its game and the power and move away from Alfa and closer to Ferrari imho

They need to up their game full stop....Ferrari or not.

FCA will stick to the existing strategy: Alfa Romeo will up their game performance wise while Maserati will produce luxury cars

I can only see that changing if Maserati enter motorsport again

flat-12 said:

Should Maserati consider stepping up their performance capabilities, since they will no longer be using Ferrari supplied engines? What's to stop them? Italian politics? Mission Statement? I think it would be great upped their game a bit.

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How? It was Ferrari supplied engines that upped their game in the first place. Nice thought but don’t see it happening under FCA. I’m equally sceptical that Alfa - which has precisely two performance cars on the market, one of which has a Ferrari-derived engine - will prove much of a beachhead for FCA in the performance segment. One has only to look at how well they’ve exploited Lancia...

They desperately need a Gran Turismo replacement. As said earlier elsewhere, a 4200 sized car, four seater with 500bhp. From that a two seater GT racer. Do the Blancpain series and enter Le Mans.

mattjevans said:

How? It was Ferrari supplied engines that upped their game in the first place. Nice thought but don’t see it happening under FCA. I’m equally sceptical that Alfa - which has precisely two performance cars on the market, one of which has a Ferrari-derived engine - will prove much of a beachhead for FCA in the performance segment. One has only to look at how well they’ve exploited Lancia...

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Hum, the 4.2V8 was actually a Maserati derived unit, not Ferrari. Sure, Ferrari took over the build but still it exists from the Trident brand.

As for the OP post, yes, Maserati do need to up their game. The problem is, they may be free of Ferrari but not Fiat.

There not interested, FCA make more money selling Alfas!
Lets be honest, most of the latest Maser stuff doesn't cut the mustard...

The Alfa Giulia on the other hand is just amazing, whatever model you choose!

Dave

Andyk said:

They need to up their game full stop....Ferrari or not.

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This, not a desirable car in the new range imo.

This next generation of cars is critical for Maserati. In the same way that Alfa canned the proposed 159 replacement and re-developed to produce the Giorgio platform that under pins the Giulia, Stelvio, and other new Alfa cars to come, Maserati need to make sure that they produce the right replacement for the GT. It is likely to have a 10 year lifespan so has to be able deal with what is likely to come in terms of regulations over that lifetime. This is why the Alfieri concept didn't appear as a production car.

The tie up with Alfa gives Maserati access to the Giorgio platform which may be a better option than the one developed for the QP VI and used by the Ghibli and Levante.

As for the current cars not being desirable. It depends on what you are after. If you are after a performance, luxury, motor that you can use daily then its fine. It is missing a halo sports car which everyone, including Maserati, knows.

I'd take any of the current Maserati over the equivalent Alfa any day of the week. So much so that given the option I have done. Twice.

“I'd take any of the current Maserati over the equivalent Alfa any day of the week. So much so that given the option I have done. Twice”

Yeah but don’t they cost at least twice as much......

I’d take any of the current Maserati over a Kia........any day of the decade....

conaero said:

Hum, the 4.2V8 was actually a Maserati derived unit, not Ferrari. Sure, Ferrari took over the build but still it exists from the Trident brand.

As for the OP post, yes, Maserati do need to up their game. The problem is, they may be free of Ferrari but not Fiat.

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At the time wasn't Maserati actually owned by Ferrari directly anyway - before being spun out to be owned by Fiat directly. Anyway, I think that the fact they are now free of Ferrari is in fact the problem.

mattjevans said:

At the time wasn't Maserati actually owned by Ferrari directly anyway - before being spun out to be owned by Fiat directly. Anyway, I think that the fact they are now free of Ferrari is in fact the problem.

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I have heard conflicting reports about the 4.2.

At the end of the day, it has FPT (Fiat Power Trains) stamped on the block. What I was told from a reliable source is the 4.2 was in development under Maserati. Obviously, Ferrari came knocking and took Maserati under its wing. Probably had some input, allowed it to be trialed in the 4200 then once proven, had their own version.

There was no point designing 2 different engines for the same application.

Maserati have had variants of that 4.2 in 4.7 guise over many years. Ferrari then allowed their V8T to be in the Guilia, albeit with 2 cylinders lopped off plus in the Levante with all cylinders. Obviously Ferrari feel they have met their obligation coupled with the advance news that FIAT would team up with Renault-Nissan so pulled the plug.

What happens next is anyones guess. With the RN deal appearing to have been scuppered by the French government.

I feel that negotiations with the French are still ongoing behind the scenes and something may still come of it all. Personally, I think its a good fit and would leave Maserati at the top of the brand group and free to put what engine and what power they like into their cars without Ferrari looking over its shoulder.

conaero said:

I have heard conflicting reports about the 4.2.

At the end of the day, it has FPT (Fiat Power Trains) stamped on the block. What I was told from a reliable source is the 4.2 was in development under Maserati. Obviously, Ferrari came knocking and took Maserati under its wing. Probably had some input, allowed it to be trialed in the 4200 then once proven, had their own version.

There was no point designing 2 different engines for the same application.

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Interesting - makes a lot of sense. As I understand it the V12 F140 is derived from the F136, meaning the Enzo, 599, F12, 812 Superfast etc really wouldn’t exist without Maserati engine development.

I love the brand and the history and I still have two Maseratis, but I switched to Alfa as there just isn't a car which competes at the moment. I had a Levante and they are just too big for the UK and the performance is lacking compared to the Stelvio QF (unless you spend silly money on the new Trofeo). So I sold my Levante and bought the Gulia QF Nring which is an incredible car. It has performance, handling and (some) exclusivity/ I'm just sorry that it doesn't have a Trident badge.

Still a cool badge, though! If it was in the same price bracket as a GT....

C