Luca di Montezemolo goes to......

Fair enough, what I find most interesting about your point of view is this is exactly the criticism that gets leveled at the current management: they are just making status symbols, the cars have lost their soul, (fill in the blank for the rest)... yet, I had my 296 out yesterday and thought, wow, this car is incredible! Maybe it's more of the same, they have to sell the brand to a wider group as time goes on.

The only thing I can add is I dont see how he would help McLaren with luxury EVs as another poster wrote about, because those two things are a contradiction in terms, and thats not just my opinion. The market place, at least in the West, has spoken quite negatively on those. Perhaps in other places there will be a market for luxury EVs, but then I wouldn't think it would be western brands any advantage.

The other lesson I take away from the discussion is I guess you can be a hero one day, and a goat (not the abbreviation) another. Here is a man with such tremendous accomplishments, and he also had his failures. Worth remembering when the world slaps us in the face.

 

I don’t think Luca was a bad businessman - with respect to Ferrari - the proof is in the revenue - or that he oversaw bad cars - also objectively untrue - i just prefer the company before him: smaller, enthusiast-focused, inscrutable.

 

I guess numbers and facts mean nothing to you. Unbelievably misguided and uninformed are you.

 

It amazes me some of the commentary here, clearly people forget what a dire situation Ferrari were in when Luca arrived, the 348 was hardly well regarded, the 512 based on a car that arrived in 1984. 458, 360, 430, 550 etc, all of these cars moved Ferrari forward. As for from enthusiast to brand, I challenge anyone to drive a 360CS or 430 Scud and tell me those cars are marketing rather than enthusiast cars.

There is a lot to thank Luca for, had it not been for him....best not thought about.

 

I think Montezemolo saved Maserati. before him and Fiat they were essentially bankrupt and an also ran, making cool cars that usually did not work for long.

 

I would agree. I do think the 348 is not a bad car, but just compromised. 355 way better.

Montezemolo pulled Ferrari out of the 90's manage by committee... Next to Enzo he has made the largest impact on the company. He took Ferrari from a niche car maker... to a real car maker. before him Ferrari's may have been more "hand made" but they were crude, and not very sophisticated... and what was worse is they did not work all the time ( when new ) during his tenure he made Ferrari's into cars that actually worked, and you could use. that is not a bad thing. A/C that works, basic things that a cheap Toyota has Ferrari's now had ... windows that worked, electrics that were reliable, cars that did not overheat at the drop of a hat or sitting in traffic... and then he brought back power. lots and lots of power. He knew what owners wanted from their cars... they had to look good, and perform, but he also knew that most just drove them to golf, and dinner... and they wanted some comfort along the way..... if he can do that for McLaren in any measure ... they will be better cars.

 

disagree. Pre Luca... Ferrari was stuck in a rut... post Luca they were leading the pack. Ok, so he sold t shirts and hats by the millions... good for him.... he built a niche brand into a global name.

 

FIAT took over and saved Maserati years before trying to have it under Ferrari management; this attempt was recognized as a total failure and FIAT took back the management. The sales of Maserati eventually picked up with Marchionne.

 

Why cant the truth be that Luca had good and bad aspects during his tenure. Thats how I see it. I love the early days of his management, when he refined the cars to be reliable and livable. But then IMO he went too far in that direction and drained the soul out of them.

 

All I’ve said is I prefer the Enzo era — a completely subjective opinion — and I’m personally insulted. I love FChat.

 

The Era pre Lucca was not the “Enzo” era it was the “Pierro” era and it was failing HARD.

 

Doesnt mean he cant prefer that era. He isnt making the argument (that i can see) that the era he is refering to was more financially successful

You guys are arguing withoout agreeing to what your definitions are. Its silly. He is arguing that he personally prefers that era and you are arguing about business success. Completely different things and not mutually exclusive.

 

I agree. I believe he’s conflating the two eras.

 

if it was a failure, why are they still around today? I think its a bit of an exaggeration. sadly Maserati is not as sexy as it once was... but still some cool cars.

 

Piero Ferrari Never lead the Company in either racing or on road cars. Piero Fusaro did... When Enzo dies in 88, Piero had been sent back to the Road car division because he and several others had collaborated against John Barnard on a rival F1 car design. Enzo did not like that and basically said I'm in charge regardless of my age. Piero Fusaro was the person in charge of the road cars at the time, and when Enzo died and his will was triggered he became the person overall in charge of both Road and Racing divisions when FIAT bought the 40% left by Enzo ... the rest 10% split between Piero Ferrari and Pinninfarina.

 

what's wrong with FF? what cars should Ferrari build nowadays to make you happy? please give some serious arguments

 

FIAT took Maserati back from Ferrari; a counter example is Lamborghini kept under Audi's management- if Audi had failed, Volkswagen could have taken back Lamborghini (but they didn't).
Under Ferrari management, Maserati struggled to sell as many car as Ferrari, which was actually a failure given that Maserati were positioned as less exclusive cars. After a some years of FIAT cleaning up, now Maserati sells about twice as many cars as Ferrari (in spite of the big Ferrari production increase), which is more consistent.

 

I think the plan was for Maserati to compete against BMW, Mercedes, Lexus etc... so production would have to be higher especially than Ferrari. Going backwards, from Maserati production in the late 80's through the 90's ... they were not making many cars... so that when FIAT takes them over they doubled and tripled production seems to me to be a good thing. In the 80's they sold Hundreds of cars per year... now they sell Thousands.... how can that be a failure?

 

I’m a big fan of the 348, and I agree—he committed the cardinal sin of ****ting his own house. That said, I’ve forgiven him. It’s pretty clear to me he was being deliberately hyperbolic, trying to leave his own mark on the company after taking the reins of the Prancing Horse.

 

When over half the world (see: China) is going EV, you don’t really have a choice—you have to offer something electric in your lineup if you want to stay in the black. Don’t like Coke Zero? Simple—don’t buy it. Same goes for Ferrari and the rest of the exotics—they’ve all said they’ll keep making ICE cars as long as they’re profitable. After all, these companies aren't charities.

Airlines are a tough business...

I agree, his net legacy to me will be largely a positive one.

wasn’t it Fiat—and specifically Sergio—that pulled Maserati back out from under Ferrari’s wing? If you’re thinking about the QPV and original GranTurismo as failures, that’s kind of odd—those were both excellent cars. In fact, the parts in em are largely Ferrari. Are you maybe assuming Ferrari was still calling the shots with the post lineup? Oo me, quality really took a nosedive after Dodge Dart-grade parts started creeping into the Trident—QP6, GranTurismo 2, Ghibli, Levante, Grecale—all had that FCA stuff.

Wow, calling the 458/Speciale/488/Pista/F8 lineup a failure over some gearbox engineering issue feels like a stretch, don’t ya think?
The F12, tdf, and 812 are actually pretty well-regarded—at least in the circles I run in.
And as for the FF/GT4? I love those cars. Sure, the hatchback look isn’t for everyone, but as daily drivers, they’re tough to beat—at least in my book.

I thinking you hate the PTU and looks. most folks hate the breadwaggon too - for the former get the 't' I think the FF/Lusso are extremely underated.

yup, QP 5 and GT are excellent cars, that sadly jabronies largely own these days.
F355, 456, 550, 360, 430, 458, Enzo, F50, 599, hell the La Ferrari? we have lots to be grateful for.

348 is an awesome car. always loved it. There's always been just one problem with it. The F355 exists. Change out the steering on the F355 from the 348 and you've got the Ferrari magic.

affimative.

 

Specifically, the turnaround of Maserati took place not during Ferrari / LdM's management, but after FIAT took back the direct control (having witnessed the Ferrari failure at reviving Maserati, which was indeed in a not brilliant shape when Ferrari took responsibility - but the fact is, Ferrari achieved nothing with Maserati, and it's FIAT that actually kind of revived it).