https://www.autoblog.com/2019/05/09/ferrari-to-stop-supplying-maserati-with-engines/
Thank you for posting. I don't think this is necessarily bad for Maserati, and as far as I know it was Maserati that decided not to renew their contract with Ferrari, not the other way around as the article seems to suggest.The two-decade long association with Ferrari has been a rather mixed experience for Maserati. Sure, there has been some positives, of course, but also many constraints. I hope this is the start of a new and promising era for Maserati.
A lot of rumors that the Ferrari engines were not as reliable as hoped, causing a lot of warranty costs for Maserati. I am sure FIAT can come up with something, but they are not exactly drowning in cash right now. I could see a delay in this even though they said it in a press release Maybe the Maserati Pentastar based V6 block(yes it is) will be replaced with a version of the Alfa 2.9 V6 but the V8's will be harder to replace. Knowing the Italians Maserati will pay Ferrari for the V8 design rights even though they payed to have it developed in the first place.
I agree that this may not be a bad thing for Maserati. As they are becoming more mainstream with their new vehicles, a partnership with a more mainstream company could serve them well. Time will tell.
The issues with the current V6 were first the cost of using Ferrari as a supplier, second was the quality control of the engines where fingers were pointed at Ferrari who in turn blamed the Chrysler casting facility in Indiana. As a sales marketing tool using Ferrari engines is tough to beat. If Maserati is again building its own engines and supplying to Alfa great. However if those engines have any association with Chrysler in anyway it will accelerate the death spiral of the brand (and Alfa) that only a quick sale to another manufacturer could stop.
Especially when it was that first Ferrari designed engine for Maserati that served in a variety of configurations and forever got Ferrari & Maserati out of the cam belts and mechanical valve lash adjustment pit. That engine in its Maserati guise is a very sweet thing of beauty to behold. Runs pretty GD good too! While I understand that the absolute necessity for AWD forced them into an inherently less spectacular looking engine with the new V6 Biturbo engines they're just not a thing of beauty to look at. Sound great though. I have grave concerns about Maserati being able to stand on their own two feet technologically. For far too many years (like ever since the late 1970s) Maserati has always been peddling technology that was several years old already. They even did that when it came to engine control, emissions, braking and chassis technology when they introduced the original Biturbo which WAS a big deal at the time.
Reported from Motor Authority: Maserati 2022 roadmap Crucially, the whole Maserati lineup will be electrified, with each model to offer a plug-in hybrid powertrain option. Every model will also offer a battery-electric option, apart from the new SUV whose platform will be shared with the Alfa Romeo Stelvio. Maserati will still need engines, though, as the company has no plans to ever become fully electric like Tesla, at least according to Maserati's North American chief, Al Gardner. Maserati will likely look within its Fiat Chrysler Automobiles parent in the future. Chrysler has already been supplying the aluminum blocks for the V-6 engines Ferrari supplies to Maserati. https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1123025_maseratis-wont-be-powered-by-ferrari-engines-much-longer
Kiss Maserati & Alfa goodbye if they do that. Keep it all in Italy. No body wants a big push rod Hemi in a Maserati. But it wouldn't be the first time Chrysler killed the brand ... Anyone remember the Chrysler-Maserati TC and their mismanagement of the upgraded line of Biturbos back in the late 1980s.
LOL! Hey are they any worse than AMG engine failure rates? I just heard of a guy stranded in his brand new AMG SUV on a long road trip to go racing. It just stopped. Engine seized.
Sorry Not actually meant to be directed at you. It’s more of a general statement on how Chrysler’s involvement with Maserati (and Alfa) was not necessarily a good thing.
How about this? https://www.bbc.com/news/business-48420334 https://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/globenewswire/1000194675.htm Renault F1 to be rebadged Maserati F1!!! Just kidding! Regards.
>> Hey are they any worse than AMG engine failure rates? I just heard of a guy stranded in his brand new AMG SUV on a long road trip to go racing. It just stopped. Engine seized. If it was still in break in (< 3500 miles) and he exceeded the limits which are very benign, it was his fault. MB will still replace it under warranty though. When you consider just how many AMG's are produced and that the "one man, one engine" thing no longer applies to the lower end of the spectrum, most AMG's have superb, well built engines that last many miles without any issues at all. A few fail of course. So do a few of every brand and size engine. (former SL63 owner looking to upgrade)
Here’s a more interesting thought, will the Alfa Romeo/Sauber team continue to run Ferrari engines or switch to in house Renault?
I like that Maserati has used Ferrari engines. I’d be fine with Maserati going with an in-house engine. But I think it’s the end if they start going with Chrysler or fiat units... would seem very cheesy at that point... Robb
Game over for the project of alliance between Renault and Fiat-Chrysler. Back to the starting point for Maserati...
Right decision by Elkann, Renault is infected by decades of French government socialist influence plus the Ghosn fallout is nowhere near over (I also doubt the new CEO has the shoulders for it) so Renault could not possibly have tackled this alliance properly. With Peugeot Citroen DS on the other hand it could work....and maybe there could be a new SM, just a pipe dream;-)!