get back into top level sports car racing. has to include usa also make maserati a better competitor for mercedes hp, jaguar style, porsche handling, lexus reliability. as it stands maserati looses to all of these 4 imo keep ferrari concentrated in exotic mid engine design. the 550, 456, 612 just do not command the attention that current 360 or older tr's used to. need 12 cylinder mid engine model make next enzo type super car with a retro ferrari style from the 1960's
The brand name bling stuff (notebook, colone, etc) may be silly, but it brings in cash, and is better than having to build mass-market dronemobiles to keep the ledger in the black. On modern roads, the V12 is a highway cruiser. Flinging that much mass around tight corners is fighting inertia. A "small" V12 just isn't in the cards. It seems to me that Ferrari is pretty much on track (no pun intended), especially with the Maserati marque to take up the "luxury" end of the market, to compete with 9-series bimmers. About the only changes I'd look at would be to move the 456 (four seater) into the Maserati brand, and split the 360. Keep the extreme version (stradale) for the six figure market, but build a smaller, no frills, lightweight "dino" (or elise) type basic model to sell in the 80s or so, to get into a larger market. But then, there may be some market value to the perceived "exclusivity" of the Ferrari marque, so the entry level Ferrari might not be such a good idea. After all, look how bad the 914 turned out. I'd like to see more official Ferrari involvement in sports car racing, but today's racing venues are far more regulated than in the past, allowing more mods from production equipment, with more emphasis on "improving the show", so I can understand Ferrari staying away. In the past, I would buy what was winning. But winning a modern race doesn't mean as much as it once did, so you can't just assume that a winning sports car racer is the best street machine. That's not a Ferrari problem so much as an issue with race organizers catering to the TV sponsors.
With Jean Todt and chief engineer Amedeo Felisa running Ferrari, LDM can now concentrate on reviving the entire Italian automobile industry. Since we are on Ferrarichat, I'll begin with Ferrari. FERRARI- Costs and currency fluctuations could dictate what he could and could not do. Competitors will always attempt to "out-value", eg. Porsche, VW-group, or "out-horsepower", eg Lambo, (even though it is VW, it's approach is different.) Only Aston Martin attempts to compete directly with the Vanquish. In this environment, you strike the middle course, you be more and more Ferrari. You don't play the hp game per se, because that ante will always be raised and you don't want your cars to simply be dragsters. But you do want to incorporate more and more F1 technologies and lessons into all cars, while simultaneously lowering the cost of ownership and increasing the usability of all models. Why shouldn't Ferraris be daily drivers and weekend/track stars? The technologies are ready and available for this. The 612 clearly does this, and Ferrari's high-profile 10,000 mile northern European snow/ice trek is another indication that LDM's plans are these exactly. Therefore, these are the three goals: increase performance and prestige, decrease costs of ownership, maintain production levels, and from these increase profit margins. This last factor is more dependent on currency fluctuations. Because of this, licensing must increase. As much as many people on this board dislike it, it is the best way to make money with no cost or risk. Perhaps you would rather Ferrari take Porsche's route? Maserati is there for those sorts of products, not Ferrari. Let people buy their Ferrari laptops and sneakers. You have the cars themselves. Relax, gentlemen, relax. With each model, the pattern is set and clear. The 600 will be a GT luxury and a track star, sort of a 575/Enzo. There may be two models, with perhaps a third Modificato or Spider or GTC version. Production and development costs will determine which ones it is. What is certain, however, is that the aluminum, front-mid engine layout is a stunning performer. What I would do, however, is increase the number of options for buyers who want more of a GT or more of a track star. The technology should be there. If they want to pay, let them. Everyone's happy. The 575 GTC points to this future. MASERATI Maserati's mission is simple-- Do everything Ferrari can't do, with Ferrari's style and prestige. Maserati can do this because they can share in Ferrari's high-end platforms and engineering expertise, while developing it's own distinct style and image, inside and out. First, take on Porsche, and to a lesser degreee Aston/MB/BMW directly, in the $60-$100K range. The 4200 coupe/cab made a decent first move in this direction. Performance, beauty and reliability, with Italian flair. The dealer network is the major obstacle but whatever deal has been struck with Audi should help. The next model, the first truly Ferrari/Pinifarina model, will take this several steps further. It should be stunning. The Quattroporte (QP) strikes BMW/MB/Audi directly and should be a smash hit. ALFA ROMEO The grand-daddy of them all, but now the wayward, lost son. I would focus Alfa directly on the $30K-$70K market, again going head-to-head with BMW, and to a lesser degree MB. I would let Ferrari expertise trickle further down to Alfa. Open with the Competizione, return to the US market, then build a sedan/coupe in the 35-50 range, using the multi-car, single platform strategy that BMW has employed so well with the 3-series. Obviously, the selling point is that it is an Alfa Rome. This segment would be the most profitable because you could use economies of scale and productions efficiencies in a way you can't with low-volume Ferrari. The biggest hurdle, however, would be building a US dealer network, with mechanics to match. The opportunity is worth the risk. And again, what makes it possible? Ferrari merchandising. Lexus and Acura did just this, without piggy-backing directly on Toyota and Honda too much. FIAT Everything below $30K. CONCLUSION The template is clear: bring Italian beauty and verve to a comparatively dry and prosaic automobile industry. Who wouldn't want a $35K Ferrari? That car, ladies and gentlemen, is the Alfa Romeo, available in coupe and sedan, with a 3-year warranty. Buyers could then move up the Italian range, from Fiat to Ferrari, from SUV to Enzo. Give LDM a decade. You'll see. Forza, Cavallini
The only way an Alfa will be a "$35K Ferrari" would be to stop making FWD commuter boxes and go back to RWD. The European Sports Car event have gotten nearly boring, as it's painfuly clear that the RWD BMW out-handles the Alfa handily, but the GTA can out-power the beemer. Put that Alfa mill in a chassis like the Alfetta/75, and you'd have a heck of a sports car. But Alfa would rather build Italian Camrys. Fiat has never known how to run a dealer network in the 'States. When I had a 124, the last place you'd take a Fiat was the combined "Fiat/Buick" or "Fiat/Cadillac" dealers. Conan the wrench would obliterate the aluminum parts on a Fiat. That was the end of Fiat in the US. The nanosecond Fiat took over Alfa, the Alfa US dealer network disintegrated. And how does Alfa propose to return to the 'States? Through GM dealers. These boys ain't learnt nuthin. From what I've heard over the 'net, the Alfa dealers in the UK aren't doing much better. To make matters worse, the new Alfa, by all the reports, will be based on the GM international "Epsilon" platform. If Alfa sends a car not worth buying with another lame dealer support plan, the "return of Alfa to the US" is likely to become a famous flop. Alfa has zero chance of competing with all the FWD boxes available in the US from Toyota, Honda, etc. But the RWD market is pretty wide open. There's the Mustang and ... uh ... oh yea -- the Beemer. Alfa's rep was made by RWD cars. There hasn't been a single notable FWD Alfa built by Fiat. I think Alfa would'a been better off if it had been bought by Ford.
Give Pininfarina a SWIFT kick in the gonads for puking out the last couple of designs. As many have already said, they just are not beautiful any more. They either look like a squashed Bentley or something from a Japanese Sci Fi cartoon. Get back to business! Jim
I agree with the already mentioned return to sports car racing, but more because the sport needs Ferrari rather than the other way around. I also agree they should make a series production mid-engined 12. Not because their current line up is lacking, but rather becaused based on what I read here, it is what their clients want, and why not make them happy. I would not change a thing with the F1 program or Pinninfarina styling, both are perfect IMO.
Alfa is an extremely popular line in Europe, and well reviewed. You see them all over the place in many countries. The 147 and 156 are stunners. I love the lines. I know they offere goosed up versions of both. Are they competetive? The 156 has won many awards.
I did. Perhaps Lancia and Alfa in that market. I've never seen a Lancia. What types do they make? Cavallini
I have seen one Lancia in my time in person up close. Not bad looking cars (it was a mid 80s), and pretty cheap cost of entry (they were asking 4k). It would seem to fit between Fiat and Alfa in terms of build and lux. The dealership was stupid, and I waited a good 10-15 min before anyone even came and talked to me, and it was not like anyone was busy either. I wonder what they thought when I later pulled away in my 328. That irked me, and if the car did not have rust issues I would prob. have bought it.
Dino II a "entry level" $60-80 k fun ship that looks and feels like a car. Limit the tech that goes in it and you can only get the thing in a full MANUAL NO paddles no semiautobox with no Traction control. Light weight tossable little Ferrari for those who 150-700k is a tad out of reach. can you see it....?
Ahh, what do Lancia make? Well, in the anals of rallying there have been many cars with a claim to be stars. The biggest 3 stars though are: Lancia Stratos Audi Quattro Lancia Delta Even you guys on the wrong side of The Pond must know what a Stratos is surely??
My mom had a Lancia Beta Couple when I was beginning to drive. While not a bad body style (reminiscent of 164 Alfa Romeo) it was super slow and very prone to breakdown. Because of our experience with that, I developed this perception that Italian cars were all flaky. Having run my Dino around a bit, I am starting to reverse the perception.
1. Dump Maserati!!!! IMO it's dead weight. 2. Trim the F-1 budget by getting rid of the superfluous crap such as: the hospitality trailer, publicists, spiritual guru's, massage therapists... 3. Improve dealer/customer rapport and seriously sanction any dealer that acts like an *sshole. 4. Have Pininfarina focus on a more (Ferrari) destinctive design, and not churn out a body based primarily on areodynamics. 5. Stop meddling in the affairs of the F-Clubs (dictating the dress code, colors of stationaries, standardizing logo's...). 6. Two words: tasteful merchandise. Enough with the racing suits for 2 year olds and the teddy bears.
Maserati -should compete with MB and BMW, the quattroporte should be the top of the line 4-door and as fast as a MB S55. I would also have a lightweight racer like the Lotus Elise. Like someone else said use this make for everything Ferrari should not do, i.e. 4 seaters and automatics. Luxury, performance and reliability should be the focuses. Ferrari -should stop making 4 seaters (I love classic Ferrari 4-seaters) they should not be competing with Maser in this market. I would ad a mid engined V12 or V10 and compete head on with the Murci. I would keep the GT Maranello, but make the GTC handeling standard. The replacement to the 360 should have all of the Stradale improvements as well as it should surpass the Gallardo in all performance numbers. I don't like that Ferrari comes out with a car then makes a special edition that the original should have been all along (e.g. Modena vs Modena CS). I would put some serious time and money in reducing the cost of Ceramic brakes and making components like clutches last much longer. I would go back to chain driven motors for reliability. Styling should be more classic Italian with sexy lines. Reliability should be a huge focus as well as dealer/client relations. Racing -continue with the success of F1 no reason to change such a successful part of the company. I would however put more research and developement into GT racing. Reduce the cost to teams that want to run 575GTCs and make a real effort to win in this series. I would rebadge the MC12 to an Enzo Competition and compete in the LMP with this car. I would develop a Maserati car for the GT2 class to compete with BMWs and P-cars. Factory teams would be cool, but probably cost prohibitive, real factory support to private teams would be a great improvement. Maybe try to repair the Prodrive relationship and throw a little money and knowledge their way and maybe win GTS class at LeMans a few more times. Merchandising -I would get rid of the really low end stuff, legos, plastic writing pens. I would also limit the rediculous stuff laptops, cameras, cell phones - they are a great revenue stream, but limiting this stuff might give a grater percieved value. I would not renue the Mattel contract and would let some of the higher end companies go back to making Ferrari toys. Being able to get a model of a certain car is very cool to children that may grow up to be customers, the toys should be plentiful as well as the video games. The F1 support stuff is great if it was not for the T-shirts, hats, flags, shoes, jackets, etc.... they could not pay for the F1 program...I would expand this so that every race continues to be a sea of red..... I know everything I posted was said by someone else.
In ye olde days, the Lancias were a step between Fiat and Alfa. I didn't know they were still building Lancias, as I haven't heard anything at all about them, even in Europe. But then, the news does tend to get a bit distorted in the Internet hop across the pond. I even heard a rumor that Alfa would go into WRC using "the AWD system from the Stratos". (gronk?) (As I recall, the Stratos had the 246 dino mill but was RWD.)
You see Lancia's quite alot over here, and my dad drives a (98 or 99 i think) Dedra SW 1.8. They've currently got 4 cars in production: Thesis: Ypsilon: Lybra: Phedra: It's just ashame that the new Fulvia prototype probably won't go into production .
more nimble? have you driven a 360? i personally wouldnt feel safe in a 2500lb car on the highway with 6000 lbs s uv everywhere.....2800-3000 lbs is low enough..and i like being able to drive the ferrari to the country club on a nice weekend day for 18holes.... what, you have to take some crappy suv everytime you want to play golf or go to the store?
1. Merge 612/575(600) into one car. They are not *that* distinct. 2. Bring back the mid-engine V12 supercar 3. Keep the 430 as it is, BUT.... 4. Develop a real screamer for the 430 CS -- I'm talking 15% increase in power, 7-10% decrease in weight. Ferrari is playing catch up in the strictly performace categories. This should not be.
