The Granturismo Is No More

[Felonious Crud]

PS washed it yesterday and you can't beat the sound of the V8 at start up/idle.

Did the same and thought the same. Brilliant cars.

It's a huge shame that Maserati seems to be turning its back on sports-oriented cars. OK, so the GTS is a long way short of a sports car as such, but you know what I mean. I'm sure there's more desirability for cars which come from a stable of other cars which schoolboys would blue-tac to their walls.

 

[conaero]

It seems since Ferrari left the Maserati table they are reverting back to their old ways of mediocre saloons for the masses off the back of the heritage.

Bring back Ferrari I say.

 

[Andyk]

I'll second that Matt..

 

[MikeyMaser]

It seems since Ferrari left the Maserati table they are reverting back to their old ways of mediocre saloons for the masses off the back of the heritage.

Bring back Ferrari I say.

Totally agree. Since FCA Group got shot of Ferrari it's been a shambles... a similar story with Alfa Romeo. It's a sad state of affairs for fans of fast Italian cars.

 

[Needamaser]

Totally agree. Since FCA Group got shot of Ferrari it's been a shambles... a similar story with Alfa Romeo. It's a sad state of affairs for fans of fast Italian cars.

The story of Italian cars and bikes since the 50's.
Run on passion (up to recently) and little business sense.

 

[ChrisQP09]

Maserati, despite being older, is Ferrari's little brother and ought to be treated as such. Ferrari management ought to step in (somehow) and do something after all the parts sharing is a business decision. This level of involvement does neither brand any harm, rather the contrary. Maserati though operate in tougher segments and perhaps should take a 'porsche' approach to build, methodical but simple without losing the passion. Take a brilliant chassis/engine and build a reliable car around it which includes wishbones, variators, bushes and clutch

 

[Jono]

Porsche started the SUV trend in the UK with the Cayenne which has become a huge money spinner for them.At the same time it allowed them to develop the 911 and Boxster/variants,to the cracking standards they are now achieving.Subsequently,many other marques with sporting credentials followed,the most recent being Bentley.Perhaps the Levante will actually allow Maserati to produce the Alfieri;the dog wagging the tail?


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[ChrisQP09]

Porsche started the SUV trend in the UK with the Cayenne which has become a huge money spinner for them.At the same time it allowed them to develop the 911 and Boxster/variants,to the cracking standards they are now achieving.Subsequently,many other marques with sporting credentials followed,the most recent being Bentley.Perhaps the Levante will actually allow Maserati to produce the Alfieri;the dog wagging the tail?


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To be fair, not convinced the Levante is up to the task. My local MD has started to take in older QPs as stock against a fleet of Ghiblis which have sat on the forecourt for months. I think the Ghibli is the problem and I've said it from the beginning, maserati need to make cars that owners desire rather than chase segments that are too competitive.

 

[MAF260]

To be fair, not convinced the Levante is up to the task. My local MD has started to take in older QPs as stock against a fleet of Ghiblis which have sat on the forecourt for months. I think the Ghibli is the problem and I've said it from the beginning, maserati need to make cars that owners desire rather than chase segments that are too competitive.

I have to disagree with you on all counts. I think the Levante could be the product that continues Maserati's plans and may be the vehicle that gets the Alfieri to see the light of day ultimately. Sure, it's a bit late to the party, but so is the F-pace, the Bentayga etc. If these other manufacturers are producing brand new SUVs in their range for the first time it suggests there is a predicted demand. Initial views and reviews of the Levante are very good, so my hopes are high. I don't understand why you think why 'the Ghibli is the problem'. It's a great car and IMO a better car than the QP5 for my needs. I think the QP6 and Ghibli are too similar and fighting for the same space. The QP's fortunes should lay in China where demand was huge for large cars - the bigger the better. That ship has sailed and Maserati are now left with a confusing range of an old GT (stunning looking, 20th century tech) and two large saloons that are £20k apart in price. IMO they should have just produced the Ghibli (maybe even called it the QP!) and not made the slightly longer car. This would have freed up development time and cash to bring the Levante to market sooner and also produce the Alfieri or a GT replacement.

 

[Jono]

I am sure you are right about the Ghibli.Uninspiring,and in a desperately competitive sector with the Germans dominant.At least Jaguar are having a decent go.



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[Jono]

Apologies,Maf;I was agreeing with Chris.What are the numbers for the Ghibli?


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[safrane]

So prior to the Porker SUV there was...well not much except mud pluggers and the Range...They created the proper SUV (not to be confused with Honda, Mazda etc) but had the money to do so...they then invested this into a already good product that was already selling in the 10s of thousands.

They had a long term plan...does Maserati?

The new Bentley is doing the same and the Maser is, be honest here, not in the same market segment (£50k car). So the Mazer and the Jag are in the same segment, but jag has a range of cars it can develop...Maser needs to get back to the design boards, secure the ring fenced money for the Alfi. If not they will be left with a non sporting line up which can only go so far.

They expect to sell 35k Levs' pa, thats half of the 70k + they want to sell pa...are the other half really going to be Gibbers and QPs.

Hole to go they move forwards and develop a nice range if cars we all want...but time is running short to save them from the abiss of mediocrity.

 

[Contigo]

Last year the Cayenne and Macan accounted for 63 percent of all Porsche sales.

 

[safrane]

Massive brand loyalty and aspiration by others built on years of quality products with a reputation for long term reliability...thats hkw you build a brand.

Maser only restarted this in 2000.

 

[StuartW]

I have to disagree with you on all counts. I think the Levante could be the product that continues Maserati's plans and may be the vehicle that gets the Alfieri to see the light of day ultimately. Sure, it's a bit late to the party, but so is the F-pace, the Bentayga etc. If these other manufacturers are producing brand new SUVs in their range for the first time it suggests there is a predicted demand. Initial views and reviews of the Levante are very good, so my hopes are high. I don't understand why you think why 'the Ghibli is the problem'. It's a great car and IMO a better car than the QP5 for my needs. I think the QP6 and Ghibli are too similar and fighting for the same space. The QP's fortunes should lay in China where demand was huge for large cars - the bigger the better. That ship has sailed and Maserati are now left with a confusing range of an old GT (stunning looking, 20th century tech) and two large saloons that are £20k apart in price. IMO they should have just produced the Ghibli (maybe even called it the QP!) and not made the slightly longer car. This would have freed up development time and cash to bring the Levante to market sooner and also produce the Alfieri or a GT replacement.

Wise words Mark, the Ghibli as it is now should have been a QP - it has 4 four doors and is nothing like the previous 2 Ghiblis which were both 2 door sports cars, it was confusing from the outset. The new Ghibli is a good car and as a 4 door saloon, is plenty big enough for most Europeans' needs in my opinion. And after all, how many QP6s do you see on the road, virtually none

 

[Guest 1678]

also remember Porsche nearly went tits up in the late 90's. 944 rehashed into the 968, 928 dropped and the 993 was the 911 option. How did they survive - product development and gambling on producing a better car and also entering new niches. Not sure the cars were better, but they show a vigorous company and sparked new interest in the brand:

968 dropped
original boxter launched
996 (911) variant launched sharing over 40% of the boxter components
Cayenne development started (sharing with the Touareg and Q7)

How are Jaguar attacking the problem - producing better product
Hyundai (seriously look at the strides they have made and the plans for the next 5 years) - better product
Volvo - sales up 10% from last year - better product

Seems there is a theme.

 

[Felonious Crud]

A Ghibli, a silly long QP that sells to people with chauffeurs and who like to get behind the wheel themselves from time to time, a cracking kick-*** GT and an Alfieri (with and without roof) would be a great line-up for Maser. Unfortunately the final two are missing.

 

[Andyk]

Massive brand loyalty and aspiration by others built on years of quality products with a reputation for long term reliability...thats hkw you build a brand.

Maser only restarted this in 2000.

You have a valid point there Pete....I have friends with Porsche and they wouldn't buy anything....Most have been buying them for years and years......

 

[Andyk]

I have to disagree with you on all counts. I think the Levante could be the product that continues Maserati's plans and may be the vehicle that gets the Alfieri to see the light of day ultimately. Sure, it's a bit late to the party, but so is the F-pace, the Bentayga etc. If these other manufacturers are producing brand new SUVs in their range for the first time it suggests there is a predicted demand. Initial views and reviews of the Levante are very good, so my hopes are high. I don't understand why you think why 'the Ghibli is the problem'. It's a great car and IMO a better car than the QP5 for my needs. I think the QP6 and Ghibli are too similar and fighting for the same space. The QP's fortunes should lay in China where demand was huge for large cars - the bigger the better. That ship has sailed and Maserati are now left with a confusing range of an old GT (stunning looking, 20th century tech) and two large saloons that are £20k apart in price. IMO they should have just produced the Ghibli (maybe even called it the QP!) and not made the slightly longer car. This would have freed up development time and cash to bring the Levante to market sooner and also produce the Alfieri or a GT replacement.

I must say that the Ghibli is a car that seems to be doing well ..... I see one everyday on the road which I must say I have never been able to say that about Maserati...Is that a good thing...Yes as far as I'm concerned.....Is it the hit that Maserati thought it would be....Not sure but in a world of every car looking like an Audi it is good to see. Every time I see a Ghibli up close these days it looks amazing....Look close and you can see the Maserati DNA in it and the lines mimic some of the GT lines. This si still a true Maserati...........Do I think we will start to see the Maserati 4x4 everyday on out roads......Not sure either as there is tough competition coming out and out there.....The reviews have been good so far so the car may tempt some out of their Porsches. I hope the Levante is a success so we can have other models that will once again put passion back into the line up. Would I buy one if I needed a 4x4.....You have to like the looks and I am not warming to it. When I say the F pace straight away I thought it looks great but I am not buying so lets hope lots of others love the look of it.

 

[ChrisQP09]

@ MAF, I respect your opinion and I'm certainly no expert but as with all things, time will tell. Despite being a great drive, imo the Ghibli and possibly even Levante are not cars which I think future generations will look at and say 'That's the car that changed Maserati's fortunes'. The QP and GT had to some extent and its continuing that same DNA going forward something I think Maserati may have missed the boat on.