Ferrari chairman Luca Di Montezemolo to quit after 23 years

Yes... way to go.
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That "Americanized Lineup" is f'ing hilarious! That's the funniest post of 2014 ... unless you count posts from people who continue to maintain that Kimi is faster that Fernando ...

 

+1

 

This means Luca-era key models become even more desirable

 

Jim -- can you share more about why you think it will be a good thing?

 

The SUV and sedan are not of interest to me either, I am holding out for a mini-van.

 

Key models maybe.....maybe.

Except the 599GTO, I'm sure Marchionne is gonna spawn some more dozens of thousands of them to satisfy the requests coming from Czeck Republic.

 

The sharing of parts in Ferrari's with Chrysler has already started. The NAV/radio unit is straight out of a Dodge Caravan in the Cali and FF. The headlight switch is also a Chrysler part.

 

I couldn't be happier to learn of the news today. Four reasons:

1. Contrary to what many here believe, Ferrari is a business, not a church, and they do not hide behind an insular "Vatican wall" apart from the industry. As a part of Fiat's larger interests, they hold a responsibility to serve the broader business goals beyond extracting money from a few wealthy people -- Technology sharing, marketing partnerships and overall cooperation are the way to make industrial groups like Fiat work and LdM, despite having the rockstar brand at his disposal, was simply not playing ball.

2. The artificial exclusivity strategy is bunk. Newsflash: Your cars are already mass produced, folks. Have been for years! They now build more Ferraris than Mazda sells Miatas in this country. Really. If anything, LdM's success was based on producing quality Ferraris no differently than Hondas. Limiting production is not "exclusivity", it's under-utilization of a) expensive factory capacity and b) brand potential. That's unsustainable when their profits depend on "official Ferrari socks" and merchandising, concurrently draining brand value.

3. The F1 team won during a brief period with the right people in place. That was years ago. Despite robbing the sport of cash, leaving the sport's entire business model in doubt, they are losers. No excuses.

4. Ferrari, like LdM, is now "mean." It's a brand that sends C&D letters to artists who make light-hearted jokes with their cars. It's a company that charges heaps to "certify" vintage products despite 60 pounds of Bondo in the nose. It's an operation that clearly uses vindictiveness, double-dealing and greed as its core behavioral principles, NOT excellence or any higher-minded purpose that would earn our affinity. That no longer flies in an era of information transparency.

Sure, they make a lot of money. You would too if you had suckers lined up to pay 20 times the going rate for a carbon ashtray. But Ferrari needs to change and showing this man the door is, IMHO, a very, very good thing.

 

A very real concern. Ferrari suddenly is left without an influential voice in F1. In addition to the inexperience with the team leadership, Ferrari are in danger of fading further behind the field. Soon they'll be looking for a "new Luca" to go with the elusive "next Schumacher".

I haven't been a fan of many of the F1 decisions he's made of late, yet I still felt that he could fix things if he set his ego aside. I no longer feel certain Ferrari will get it together.

Luca left because the Ferrari brand is changing. I think it's important that a leader have conviction with his vision. I can respect LdM for making this decision. I just hope Marchionne has a good following act.

 

He did on post 40 of the thread. Page 2 I believe.

 

Anybody who has been in business for a long time knows two things.

1) Everybody has a time to come and a time to go. It doesn't matter who you are or what you did while you were there. There just comes a time when it is right to go. Better to quit at the top than have them shoot you on your way down, which will inevitably come. FOr example, Shumacher arguably could have preserved more of his legacy by not coming back to Mercedes. Retire at the apex and stand by it.

2) Nobody is irreplaceable. There are all sorts of guys who can pick up where Ferrari is and take it to the next level. Luca did that himself in his heyday, and they can find someone to do it again. I think they will.

Luca has been great. There is no greater fan than myself, and I have bought 5 of his cars starting in 1995 and watching how they steadily improved until today. These are big shoes to fill but they will find someone to do it with the fire and passion to take Ferrari forward to the next level.

But his time has passed, and a new champion is required. That does not diminish his contributions or greatness.

We all love Ferrari, and will look forward to how they set a course for the future while respecting the past.

 

Thanks -- I had missed that post.

 

Couldn't agree more, its like Clint Eastwood once said, "A Man's got to know their limitations".

 

I think BART summed it up quiet eloquently here. Where is the 4C that was promised to the FIAT Dealers back a while ago? No where, it went to the Maserati Guys instead. This Guy Marchionne is a lightweight.

 

+1

For those who wanted him out, be careful what you wish for...

 

Chrysler already sharing with Ferrari. Look at the volume meter-radio channel controls of chrysler town country minivan compared to volume read out and switches in back of 458 steering wheel. Pretty much the same. I should know. I have both.

 

oh well ferrari will move on to the next era as all companies do. I do think someone missed the boat on not offering the 4c in a better version as a Ferrari (and not an alfa) to fill a spot similar to the DINO would have been killer .. It would need the right power etc.. but might have been a smart business move increasing the Fcar brand with a new product line that would have fit in very nicely....and we already have a US distribution network and the fact they could sell it for about double while still having buyers thrilled to finally get a new ferrari.

 

Something like this is what one must be concerned about. Luca understood that Ferrari is special, yet made it hugely profitable and a worldwide symbol of style, performance, and exclusiveness. It was also something that Italians could be proud of and as such would attract the best people to work there. One has to be concerned that Marchionne's razzle dazzle, bull-in-a-China-shop style will uproot the carefully developed Ferrari formula and replace it with something less attractive than what we have now.

 

LDM was always "Big Opera". His announcements were often ridiculed and put themselves out to be false or only met no one. But Ferrari was always "Big Opera" and this attitude is typical Italian. So it was and still is part of the Italian way.

Further more I heard from various Ferrari people that the current models are not so good seller. The FF stands still in almost all countries, the F12 hype is more or less over and the Italia and "Speciale" are going with discounts. Only the LaFerrari sold very well as this is a very limited model.

Not sure if this influenced LDM`s position - but I strongly assume: yes, it did…! It was not the current F1-situation only….

 

And you seriously believe Sergio is the answer? No I mean SERIOUSLY? Have you seen the mistakes in Fiat and Alfa and you think he's the guy to lead them away in a new and better direction?

Let me give you a clue. Sergio is no new Enzo.

 

I guess you missed Apple's announcement ceremony yesterday.

 

+++1!
VW Group has enough money to buy the entire FIAT universe twice (incl. Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa and …..Chrysler!). No chance for Sig. Marchionne to fight against Herr Piech!

 

…was it that funny?

 

I felt like it was an SNL skit.

Omg! Apple has invented the concept of TIME!