Maserati cryptic... if it’s electric I’m off !

Wagons-Lits

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Below is more from Maserati on this cryptic message - a full electric Granturismo it is then

A message from Davide Grasso, Chief Executive Officer, Maserati –
“Today, 11th November, the future of Maserati has begun and I want to share the dawn of a new era with you.
Today, with the end of production of Maserati GranTurismo and GranCabrio, work begins in the Modena plant to update the production line that will deliver the eagerly-anticipated sports car.
Today, we unveil a celebratory GranTurismo, called Zéda, in anticipation of the arrival of a new GranTurismo, the first full electric Maserati. This unique model, tells the story of the dawn of a new era through colours and materials.
Today we open the doors of the Maserati Innovation Lab in via Emilia Ovest in Modena, the beating heart of innovation and development of our Brand.
Today we inaugurate the new, next-generation Dynamic Simulator, a cutting-edge tool that assists our engineers in the development of all new Maserati models.
Today we are sending a special “Save the Date” for May 2020 when Maserati will take centre stage worldwide.
“The best way to predict the future is to create it”, Abraham Lincoln.
The future of Maserati depends on us, on the Maserati family of which you are an integral member.
On our passion, on our energy and our creativity, on the same values which inspired the Maserati brothers over 105 years ago and which I see every day in our worldwide sales network.
We are laying the foundation stone of our future and we are doing it together.
Thank you for being part of the Maserati family.”
is this their way of saying/pre-empting disappointment because the new all-electric Sports Car won't be ready in time for the March 2020 Geneva show ? My bet is that's what this email refers to, the all new Sports Car formerly known as Alfieri - with piped in digital engine noise. No way all this hype for the PHEV Ghibli
 
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iainw

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The electronic exhaust sound in sport mode of my Ghibli diesel produces a pretty convincing sound of a V8. It has certainly fooled a few people. In the future it will all be electronic sound generators.
Surely the best way to replace the Granturismo and propel Maserati back to the forefront of our hearts and minds, whilst being true to the racing heritage - would be to bring out a Ghibli Hybrid.
Who in their right mind would argue with that?
 

Wagons-Lits

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I saw the same message Stuart posted, my take on the "Today, we unveil a celebratory GranTurismo, called Zéda, in anticipation of the arrival of a new GranTurismo, the first full electric Maserati" is there will not be a new GranTurismo next May, but the rumours were a Ghibli hybrid (as already said) next year.
The new 'Battery Hub' at Mirafiori is not due for completion until mid-2020. So, wonder where the batteries will come from for any early models?
the new GranTurismo isn't planned until 2021, as per the FCA Q3 results last month - scroll to page 16 in the presentation:
 

Wagons-Lits

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the new GranTurismo isn't planned until 2021, as per the FCA Q3 results last month - scroll to page 16 in the presentation:
by the way, looking at this page, it seems curious that the Ghibli isn't marked as being BEV or even Hybrid - and a replacement for the current version doesn't seem to be on the cards either. I'd bet they've shelved plans to hybridise the Ghibli and will just go full bore BEV for the new models and replacement QP & Levante. RIP Ghibli?
 

keith

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Surely the best way to replace the Granturismo and propel Maserati back to the forefront of our hearts and minds, whilst being true to the racing heritage - would be to bring out a Ghibli Hybrid.
Who in their right mind would argue with that?

As I have said many times before, the enthusiast is not going to keep the Maserati brand alive. Unlike the very top end brands - Bentley and Aston Martin to name a couple of the British ones, selling cars at the price point of the QP and GT, would make the company unsustainable in terms of the enormous development capital required to produce new models.
So by appealing to a wider base with, as you suggest humble cars like the Ghibli and the all important SUV in today's market allows the brand to remain. Using the brands biggest asset - it's name and what it evokes compared to boring BMW Mercedes etc is why I and many thousands of other owners I suspect bought their cars, enabling the company to stay in business.
So I think when people berate the Ghibli they ought to bare in mind without such products the company would like so many other famous names, vanished long ago.
 

iainw

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As I have said many times before, the enthusiast is not going to keep the Maserati brand alive. Unlike the very top end brands - Bentley and Aston Martin to name a couple of the British ones, selling cars at the price point of the QP and GT, would make the company unsustainable in terms of the enormous development capital required to produce new models.
So by appealing to a wider base with, as you suggest humble cars like the Ghibli and the all important SUV in today's market allows the brand to remain. Using the brands biggest asset - it's name and what it evokes compared to boring BMW Mercedes etc is why I and many thousands of other owners I suspect bought their cars, enabling the company to stay in business.
So I think when people berate the Ghibli they ought to bare in mind without such products the company would like so many other famous names, vanished long ago.
You make a good point. I think I just share others frustration that alongside the Ghibli and Levante (disclaimer- I was tempted by the Ghibli S when it was released and considered the Diesel on Lease) they don’t come out with a halo car to excite.
 

FIFTY

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I think it will be a PHEV 2 door coupe possibly based on the ghibli or Giorgio platform

From the top gear article:

The next GranTurismo and GranCabrio, the “first models to adopt 100 per cent electric solutions in the history of the brand”, will be built in Turin. Meanwhile the Modena factory, which also produced the soon-to-pass Alfa Romeo 4C, will house production of a new “super sports model” slated for launch in 2020.

Source: https://www.topgear.com/car-news/electric/maserati-granturismo-dead?amp

Therefore the new car to be revealed at Geneva next year might be a PHEV at worst... Likely a twin turbo V6 and built in Modena

Shame the GranTurismo replacement will be all electric... By then fast chargers should do 200 miles in 10 minutes so it should be more usable than current BEVs. I feel like this is a response to the Porsche taycan
 

slay

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Well hold on to your Granturismo then, there will never be another like it with such driving pleasure that stirs your emotions.

I don't care if the full electric model does 0-62 in under 3 or even 1 seconds, to me there is no driving pleasure without the combustion engine and the exhaust sound. Imagine the full electric model give you the artificial sound of the blip when you "downshift", but through your car speaker !

This may be good for the daily commute, but very dull for weekend driving enjoyment.
 

keith

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by the way, looking at this page, it seems curious that the Ghibli isn't marked as being BEV or even Hybrid - and a replacement for the current version doesn't seem to be on the cards either. I'd bet they've shelved plans to hybridise the Ghibli and will just go full bore BEV for the new models and replacement QP & Levante. RIP Ghibli?
Actually the first model to be confirmed for launch next year will be a hybrid Ghibli with apparently level 3 autonomy.
 
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I think the only thing ending will be the Ferrari engines, 4.7 v8 na, 3.8 v8 twin turbo etc with the partnership ending. But those engines will be replaced by maserati hybrid v8, v6's, and the full only EV option will be also available. Weather its the replacement Ghibli, Quattroporte, Granturismo etc you will have a option to pick which engine you would like(as below in the pic). Just hope when people configure they don't pick the EV option engine and opt for the hybrid combustion engine in v8 & v6 format. Then you can pick up a used one of those later.
 

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Wagons-Lits

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Actually the first model to be confirmed for launch next year will be a hybrid Ghibli with apparently level 3 autonomy.

I remember seeing this, I guess my point was why isn't on their latest presentation? Sloppiness (surely a possibility!) or they've changed their minds; to be honest I hope the latter as a 3 box saloon which can almost drive itself doesn't seem to be the best opening salvo for "Maserati 2020"