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Car Forum / Alfa Romeo Cars / March 2005Fiat buys Maserati
www.grandprix.com FEBRUARY 16, 2005 Fiat buys Maserati Fiat has stripped Maserati out of the Ferrari group in an effort to spruce up the Alfa Romeo brand, using a little of the reflected glory which Maserati has acquired with its association with Ferrari. It is not clear how much the Fiat Auto company is paying for Maserati but the money will help to boost Ferrari's coffers but will mean that in the longer term the company will not gain the benefit it wanted from the Maserati brand. That process began in 1997 when Ferrari took over the Maserati brand (although it did not own the brand fully until 1999). There followed an injection of capital for a complete revamp of the factory and a new management team and was followed by new cars which used Ferrari technology to begin building brand credibility. Taking Maserati back into Fiat will help the company to transfer technology and image to the downtrodden Alfa Romeo brand. "This operation is essential for the future development of Alfa Romeo," said Fiat chief executive Sergio Marchionne. This is all well and good but it leaves open the question of what Fiat will now do with its Lancia brand which has struggled in recent years with fairly uninteresting cars. The thing that is worth noting is that Lancia did once have a great brand, based on competition activities, and rebuilding that would be a useful way for Fiat to turn Lancia around. The recent design studies from Lancia, notably the Fulvia Coupe concept and the Lancia Carcerano Granturismo suggest that the brand might be pitched into the Mercedes-Benz market. The fastest way to achieve this would be for Lancia to put under Ferrari control and be revamped as Maserati has been. Lancia is also has much bigger production than Maserati and so its results might one day help Ferrari to make more money, the company's biggest problem in recent years. That would help Ferrari pay for its F1 programme. So this may mean the 8c may see the light of day after all? > So this may mean the 8c may see the light of day after all? NO, it does not. In fact, not until yesterday's news did the announcement of the shelving of the 8C project make any sense. Now it makes perfect sense. Apparently Fiat KNEW that they were going to group Maserati and Alfa together in a new business unit, and that the 8C and Maserati Sports Coupe would then be direct competitors within their own profit center. What it hopefully does mean is a fairly quick return to the North American Market for Alfa Romeo now, since Maseratis are already here.  SignatureGeorge Graves ------------------ "Windows sucks. There's no doubt about it." Bill Gates - CES-2005, Las Vegas, Nevada > > So this may mean the 8c may see the light of day after all? > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Maserati Sports Coupe would then be direct competitors within their own > profit center. A view expressed on http://www.italiaspeed.com/ "Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione concept to get the green light? While discussing any impending tie-up between Alfa Romeo and Maserati, mention must be made of the gorgeous Alfa 8c Competizione concept. This sports car, which has received widespread public and press acclaim, is based around the Maserati Coupe and Spyder's 4.2-litre V8 engine and rear transaxle. As such it is a prime example of the superb synergy between the two brands, available by combining Alfa Romeo heritage and design, with modern day Maserati engineering, and is the perfect example, in the metal, of how collaboration between the two companies could become a reality. For the near future, the severing of the agreement with GM makes it ever more likely that the 8c Competizione will, after all, receive the green light for a limited series production." >> > So this may mean the 8c may see the light of day after all? >> NO, it does not. In fact, not until yesterday's news did the [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >more likely that the 8c Competizione will, after all, receive the green >light for a limited series production." The next Maserati coupe will be based on the 4-porte platform, to compete with the LARGE M-B coupe and cab offerings, the 4200 based 8c would then slot in as a BMW competitor? > > > So this may mean the 8c may see the light of day after all? > > [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > more likely that the 8c Competizione will, after all, receive the green > light for a limited series production." I'd like to see it happen but it would be horribly expensive (according to an article Britain's "Car" magazine last fall) at US$150K (80K Quid). Compare the 8C with, say, a new Ford GT (US$135K or 72K Quid). Mid-engined, more power, better handling (ostensibly) and iconic good looks. Which would you choose? Don't get me wrong, I love Alfas and have owned many. But IMHO in this case, the Ford is probably the better car. Now, if they could sell the 8C for LESS than the Maserati upon which it is based (instead of more), then we'd have something there. SignatureGeorge Graves ------------------ "Windows sucks. There's no doubt about it." Bill Gates - CES-2005, Las Vegas, Nevada >I'd like to see it happen but it would be horribly expensive (according >to an article Britain's "Car" magazine last fall) at US$150K (80K Quid). [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >Now, if they could sell the 8C for LESS than the Maserati upon which it >is based (instead of more), then we'd have something there. In the US the Coupe is $100-105k, and the "GT" well over $150k. > >I'd like to see it happen but it would be horribly expensive (according > >to an article Britain's "Car" magazine last fall) at US$150K (80K Quid). [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > In the US the Coupe is $100-105k, and the "GT" well over $150k. The Ford GT has an MSRP of under $140K. The Maserati coupe (I suppose that's what you are talking about) is actually less $100K. But the press was pricing the Alfa 8C in the US$150K range. SignatureGeorge Graves ------------------ "Windows sucks. There's no doubt about it." Bill Gates - CES-2005, Las Vegas, Nevada >> >I'd like to see it happen but it would be horribly expensive (according >> >to an article Britain's "Car" magazine last fall) at US$150K (80K Quid). [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > >The Ford GT has an MSRP of under $140K. $139,995. Try to find one. >The Maserati coupe (I suppose >that's what you are talking about) is actually less $100K. Again, stripped like a '69 Nova; try to find one in that condition and at that price. >But the press was pricing the Alfa 8C in the US$150K range. A bit fallacious, as it will never see the US. > >> >I'd like to see it happen but it would be horribly expensive (according > >> >to an article Britain's "Car" magazine last fall) at US$150K (80K Quid). [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > $139,995. Try to find one. I know. > >The Maserati coupe (I suppose > >that's what you are talking about) is actually less $100K. > > Again, stripped like a '69 Nova; try to find one in that condition and > at that price. Looked at a nice one at Ferrari of SF recently. ~$89K out the door. >> >But the press was pricing the Alfa 8C in the US$150K range. > > A bit fallacious, as it will never see the US. Since it's been canceled, it'll never see anywhere. As for being fallacious, ever heard of currency conversion? The "Car" article expressed the car's estimated price at 115,000 Euros and I converted it to dollars (about 80,000 Quid, you know.) SignatureGeorge Graves ------------------ "Windows sucks. There's no doubt about it." Bill Gates - CES-2005, Las Vegas, Nevada >> >> >I'd like to see it happen but it would be horribly expensive (according >> >> >to an article Britain's "Car" magazine last fall) at US$150K (80K Quid). [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > >Looked at a nice one at Ferrari of SF recently. ~$89K out the door. ...High-mile demo or '04 holdover? > >> >> >I'd like to see it happen but it would be horribly expensive > >> >> >(according [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > ...High-mile demo or '04 holdover? Don't know. Not used though as it has never been registered. It had few miles on it. Don't recall the exact figure. SignatureGeorge Graves ------------------ "Windows sucks. There's no doubt about it." Bill Gates - CES-2005, Las Vegas, Nevada > the Ford is probably the better car. Until you try parking one in Europe <ROFLOL> Pete Signature<iowna156@rustclubalfa.com> 156 2.0 TS (2001) - Proteo Rosso (his) 147 2.0 TS (2002) - Gem Green (her's) >So this may mean the 8c may see the light of day after all? No it wont. Anyway, I am past caring now Tony. After all the joy of the news that it would be built, and the planning to buy.... Then the final news that it had been definitely scrapped, I have spent a chunk of the money. So Alfa wont be selling me one now any how. I am utterly fed up. I, like the rest here in the UK, live with the abysmal lack of dealer support, but if the owner cant even be bothered to make the cars. I will just spend the rest on keeping old Alfas instead and have the added joy of knowing the money will be going into indie workshops and not FIAT. I wish I had been born more recently. Then maybe I would have grown up loving Evo rally cars or some over such Jap crap. That way I would not have developed a soul in the first place. Pete Signature<iowna156@rustclubalfa.com> 156 2.0 TS (2001) - Proteo Rosso (his) 147 2.0 TS (2002) - Gem Green (her's) > >So this may mean the 8c may see the light of day after all? > > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > loving Evo rally cars or some over such Jap crap. That way I would not have > developed a soul in the first place. I hear you there. In my humble opinion, the Japanese have built only one car with the character (or "soul" if you prefer) which defined British Sports cars of yore, and Italian Sports cars from any time, and that's the gorgeous Toyota 2000 from late '60's (check out the latest "Octane" for a nice article about it). As pretty as any coachbuilt Italian car, and lots of fun to drive (a bit underpowered with a 2-liter 150 HP straight-six though), it just looks RIGHT. SignatureGeorge Graves ------------------ "Windows sucks. There's no doubt about it." Bill Gates - CES-2005, Las Vegas, Nevada "George Graves" <gmgravesnos@pacbell.net> wrote in message > I hear you there. In my humble opinion, the Japanese have built only one > car with the character (or "soul" if you prefer) which defined British [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > and lots of fun to drive (a bit underpowered with a 2-liter 150 HP > straight-six though), it just looks RIGHT. Funny how, having such soul it still has a Japanese look to it. It's like looking at an old Honda GP bike. It's Japanese but it has that certain something about it. As you said, it just looks RIGHT. -Matt- "..." > "George Graves" <gmgravesnos@pacbell.net> wrote in message > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > -Matt- "..." I agree with everything you say. BTW, I think that the "Japanese look" you speak of is the result of the way in which they handle the rear quarter window. If you shape any car's rear quarter window like that, it makes it look Japanese. That was definitively carved in stone by the Datsun 240Z. Heck, the first time I saw a Lancia Stratos, and saw how the side window was shaped, I thought it looked Japanese - I mean I knew that it wasn't, I just thought the "greenhouse" design made the car "look" Japanese. SignatureGeorge Graves ------------------ "Windows sucks. There's no doubt about it." Bill Gates - CES-2005, Las Vegas, Nevada >> "George Graves" <gmgravesnos@pacbell.net> wrote in message >> > I hear you there. In my humble opinion, the Japanese have built only one [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >that it wasn't, I just thought the "greenhouse" design made the car >"look" Japanese. Don't forget the archetype, that quintessential Japanese car, the Ferrari "Daytona"... > >> "George Graves" <gmgravesnos@pacbell.net> wrote in message > >> > I hear you there. In my humble opinion, the Japanese have built only one [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > Don't forget the archetype, that quintessential Japanese car, the > Ferrari "Daytona"... Doesn't look Japanese to me! SignatureGeorge Graves ------------------ "Windows sucks. There's no doubt about it." Bill Gates - CES-2005, Las Vegas, Nevada >> >I agree with everything you say. BTW, I think that the "Japanese look" >> >you speak of is the result of the way in which they handle the rear [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >Doesn't look Japanese to me! ...That was "sort of" my point. So perhaps Fiat will be to Lancia as VW is to Audi, with Maserati as the upper crusty top shelf marque? Fiat making everyday cars, Lancia making more refined, edgier, shaper creased models, Maserati making large displacement, lower volume models for the Polo set? I see lots of ways to produce sedans, coupes and sport cars but not luxo-mobiles like the Mercedes offerings. TBerk > So perhaps Fiat will be to Lancia as VW is to Audi, with Maserati as the > upper crusty top shelf marque? > > Fiat making everyday cars, Lancia making more refined, edgier, shaper > creased models, Maserati making large displacement, lower volume models > for the Polo set? If they return to the US I'd assume that is the course they'd take. It'd be great if they did return, along with Alfa Romeo. It'd be nice to see some Italian offerings in the mix that aren't high end models. Maybe add a little more style and personality to the cheaper ranks... My $.02.... -Matt- "..." >Maserati making large displacement, lower volume models >for the Polo set? If the Polo drivers want a bit better then buy a Golf but don't tell us :-) We are not into VW Lambos in here <LOL> Pete Signature<iowna156@rustclubalfa.com> 156 2.0 TS (2001) - Proteo Rosso (his) 147 2.0 TS (2002) - Gem Green (her's) |
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