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MrMickS
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I'm not sure we could given that we don't know the constraints that they are under. We all know what needs to be done, I daresay the Maserati management do too. The real shame is that given the turnaround in the recent past it seems that FCA have removed the cash just when it was needed most. They needed the new sports cars to keep the ball rolling and draw people to the saloons and SUV.
GeoffCapes
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When I was in Maserati Maidstone a while back I asked the guys in there if the Alfieri would ever get made.
Their view was probably not.
The GT will get a face lift next year, and an up dated interior (from the Ghibli) and a slightly different engine to meet the new regulations but will still be a normally aspirated V8.
In 2018 we will finally get a successor to the Gransport. A smaller 'GT' basically, but it won't look like the Alfieri. Again with a normally aspirated V8.
However, and it was a fairly large however, this is all dependant on how many Levante's they shift. Apparently order books were looking good so things were looking on the positive side.
Time will tell I guess.
Interesting Mick's point about people not wanting to get out of their (perceived) reliable BMW/Merc/Audi or Jaguar. I remember not so long ago when buying a Jag was financial suicide due to things going wrong, plummeting values and just bad cars, no matter how good they looked.
Maybe Maserati could learn a thing from Jaguar?
Their view was probably not.
The GT will get a face lift next year, and an up dated interior (from the Ghibli) and a slightly different engine to meet the new regulations but will still be a normally aspirated V8.
In 2018 we will finally get a successor to the Gransport. A smaller 'GT' basically, but it won't look like the Alfieri. Again with a normally aspirated V8.
However, and it was a fairly large however, this is all dependant on how many Levante's they shift. Apparently order books were looking good so things were looking on the positive side.
Time will tell I guess.
Interesting Mick's point about people not wanting to get out of their (perceived) reliable BMW/Merc/Audi or Jaguar. I remember not so long ago when buying a Jag was financial suicide due to things going wrong, plummeting values and just bad cars, no matter how good they looked.
Maybe Maserati could learn a thing from Jaguar?
Yep, Jag is now in a sweet spot with a great range of cars and great reliability. Lots of parts sharing with LR to control costs too. Flip that to Alfa where they developed their own petrol V6 as they 'did not like' the Maserati (Ferrari) one - nuts.
Strangely Jaguar did the sports car before the SUV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Strangely Jaguar did the sports car before the SUV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
conaero
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Really, regards the GT? The word is its not happening now but would like to see it, it will prove that what they 'were' producing is better than what they 'are' producing.
GeoffCapes
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It's what they told me. But it's down to the Levante. A bit like Porsche 20 years ago with the Cayenne I guess.
Shift the popular cars to make the niche cars.
MrMickS
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I think that part of Maserati's issue is being passed around the FCA group. Ferrari seemed to have a clear idea of what they wanted Maserati to be. Alfa are concentrating on their own survival and sports cars doesn't seem to be on their agenda at all these days. The 4c as the only sports car, no affordable spider.
I'm skeptical on the naturally aspirated V8. This would be another new engine after they've got the new V8TT in the QP GTS. I can see a facelift GT next year though. It would buy them a little time, but not much, to get a new platform out.
I would say that the Ghibli is due a facelift next year too. It would probably be worth addressing the apparently 'too firm for the class' suspension for the diesel at least so as to get more favourable reviews in the non-motoring press.
Italians and their stubbornness......
Other companies do borrow parts and make their cars reliable and sell loads of as a result, Jag xk being an example, a great car but many parts were borrowed and the aerial was just an after thought.....
Alfa had the choice of borrowing a great engine from maserati/Ferrari and they went ahead and spent millions producing one of their own.....
I do think if they could save some money on these htings then it could free up cash for Alfa and Maserati to bring to the market a big toy....a new GS or GTAs for Alfa
Other companies do borrow parts and make their cars reliable and sell loads of as a result, Jag xk being an example, a great car but many parts were borrowed and the aerial was just an after thought.....
Alfa had the choice of borrowing a great engine from maserati/Ferrari and they went ahead and spent millions producing one of their own.....
I do think if they could save some money on these htings then it could free up cash for Alfa and Maserati to bring to the market a big toy....a new GS or GTAs for Alfa
Spartacus
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Fiat have released this now . The Fiat Spyder based on the brilliant MX5 underpinnings . It was supposed to have been Alfa that put a body on it for the new Spider , which would have been lovely . Instead this got made . I can t look at it any more . I feel sick .
The boot line is too high, the windscreen looks like a giant door handle , and the front just does nt work . The MX5 is much nicer ,which is good news for all our hairdresser friends (Contigo)
The boot line is too high, the windscreen looks like a giant door handle , and the front just does nt work . The MX5 is much nicer ,which is good news for all our hairdresser friends (Contigo)
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conaero
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In a word AMERICAN...and the logo in the background sums it up nicely.
MrMickS
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It was where they sold more of the previous 124 Spider so you can understand that.
It does leave Alfa short of a Spider, or even one on the horizon, for the first time in a long while.
I don't mind the styling compared to the latest MX-5 though. Looked better in the flesh, as did the Levante, as did the Giulia. Funny that.
GeoffCapes
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MrMickS
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You can see where they were going with it, combined with the new safety regs its probably as close as they could get. Would have been good to go for something new instead though rather than invoking a retro feel. The retro thing dates very quickly.
