458 based Maserati

Recently I'm sure most of you heard the scuttle on a possible 458 chassis Maserati possibly in the pipeline. I did not give it much weight until I heard a local Ferrari dealer shop manager mention he heard something more of it very recently. Has anyone else heard any further news of this? I'm at the edge of my seat on this one as I'd love to see Maserati put out a proper sports car.

 

Nothing official or unofficial. At the moment it is just a rumor based on some computer designs that someone made.


Either Maserati is "fishing", to see if there is a large response from clients and then maybe they go for it, otherwise they'll pretend it never happened.

Or it is just a silly rumor that got a lot of attention because a 458-based GranSport is truly what most of us want, so we keep repeating the rumor and the factory isn't even aware of it.


who knows

 

There is a "so called" "proper sport car" in the box... It will be based on the Alfa 4C... But with a bigger engine... Some says it will be the new V6 Turbo made by Ferrari and tested on the california (see video below) and some says it will be the classic 4.2 liter V8 already in use...

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STJdwhhtO5U&list=UUBzfdgfIAANfgP3xyhVaEfQ&index=57&feature=plcp[/ame]

 

All I can glean from journalist tweets from Paris so far is they have acknowledged a new "E segment car" in H2 2013 (whatever E segment means, I presume its the baby QP), to be called Ghibli???
Oh and the 4x4 is to be called Levante and comes 2014.
I don't vouch for the veracity of any of that of course.

 

That is correct, the E segment is the executive "Full-size car" or "Mid-size luxury car".

The baby-QP fits in the executive mid-size luxury E segment market. The same as the BMW 5-series.

The GranTurismo is in the "Grand tourer" of the S segment market.

 

with the current market, i would be very surprised to see a 458 based Masi ...the California is getting a new engine for improved mpg and emissions reasons, and likely that v6-turbo engine will find it's way into the next Masi update, not vice-versa

 

Ghibli - OMG...
The name should be reserved for a luxury & sporty coupe!

May some of this FIAT-paid super-marketing-managers be able to open a book on Maserati's history and find one of the most amazing cars ever to be designed.
NOT a saloon.
(Even the Ghibli II was a elegant coupe - but NEVER a saloon...)

I hope this new car is at last not based on a Chrysler/Lancia.

If you want to name it after a wind - there are endless names http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_local_winds - or are these managers even unable to read?

Sorry, sometimes it is too much...

 

The baby-QP will be called Ghibli and made in the ex-Bertone FIAT factory.

The SUV will be called Levante and will be based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee and made in the USA (Detroit).

 

Sooo....the name Ghibli, that was given to one of the most exiting Sport GT-car designs in the automitive history, will now grace the upcoming 4-door sedan!

They have definitely no clue what they are doing!

 

Unfortunately, the FIAT/marketing people are clueless.

 

As I said before - these people are dangerously clueless - what are they paid for? Not enough winds around? Maybe the next Maserati SUV will be called Barchetta - or 250F.
It starts to make me angry, do they think we are all without brains?
Sack them and the products might become better quality.

 

I think you may be missing the bigger point here. They're not really all that concerned about marketing to people like us. Their target market doesn't know a Ghibli from a Smibli. As long as the name sounds cool, evoques a bit of the past and the car satisfies the desires of the latest group with money to burn then it's all good.

People like us are a pain in the arse a lot of the time. Just look at how we disagree with one another over what should come next from Maserati.

I still think they're wrong and clueless when it comes to how they're treating the heritage but will it have a big effect on the company's success? Probably not. Very few will be as vocal or outraged by this as someone like Walter or frankly many other's on this website.

They'll just shrug their shoulders and move on.

They should just put a plug in the Ghibli port hole and retire that name.

Car companies don't do that though.

 

Inspired by these perhaps?
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Funny, le vent is the wind in french, where this is at best a tiny wind better known as fart.

 

staatsof, although we disagree on many things, I think you nailed it with your explanation quite well.


The same is what I was told by FIAT, they only care about the BRICS markets, which are mostly clueless about the Maserati heritage. FIAT just wants to raise sales.

 

AFAIK we don't disagree on many things, just a couple.

BTW, am I correct in saying that you now own a Ghibli II?

 

That is correct, it is a Ghibli GT (second series, production December 98).

 

Ok, now its time to stap this bashing of me, OK?
I am a modern person who always look forward - but with a fascination for the past!
I always said, that a new car from Maserati, Ferrari etc. can not be manufactured like in the 60s/70s etc.! I have nothing against modern technology and strategy. Maserati, Ferrari etc. are small manufacturers with less cash in their pockets to compete against companies like Porsche, BMW, Merc B or VW.!
Its not very difficult to produce a perfect car today with a high performance engine-design. Modern computer (used by all manufacturers!) are very helpful here.
The only reason that keeps Ferrari, Maserati as being a Ferrari or Maserati is ---the image! And this comes from the past!
I worked for 25 years in the fashion-industry, an industry that is based on image! Here the Italians are very good and protect, polish and develop their brands.

We can not say this at all about the Italian automotive industry! As long as one company -FIAT-is more or less ruling a very big part of the economical industry of the entire country, we can not expect anything better!

Whatever we can say and critizise with BMW, Mercedes, Porsche etc - they are very keen on watching their image!

Maserati needs a strong development investment with people involved who understand that you can not sell a luxury, high image product only by selling it! This kind of products need to be represented! With quality, performance, style, heritage and image!

As long as young dudes from rich families are coming from the polytechnical University in Bologna to get a job -via protection!- at Ferrari only because to have that name in their personal vitae - as long you can show them a BMW M1 with a Ferrari logo on it and they truly believe its a 12-cylinder!

This guys are quite often also responsible for the business strategy of Maserati. And that is what it is - a disaster!

 

California...

GTO...

Ghibli...

They definitely know they want to derive value from their past.

Will the next Enzo be the Daytona?

 

Walter I threw everyone in the mix including myself. But you ARE the poster boy for talking about Maserati not properly adhering to the image of what they used to be.

I can't think of anyone else who so fervently and passionately puts forth their feelings about this.

Or do you disagree with that assessment?

I also don't think I was implying that you were stuck in the past with your views about automobiles. You have been quite complimentary about the The GranTurismo's driving dynamics.

 

Do you argue with yourself in your dreams then?

 

Maybe