Marchionne Comments - Production Numbers and "SUV"

I don't think this will affect the brand that much. The demand for the sports cars will still be the same since no one will be cross shopping an SUV and a mid engine car.

Just look at Porsche. Over half their sales are SUVs yet they are cranking out cars like the 911R and 918, and their GT cars are still as revered as ever!

 

They would not be fools. The should be leaders and not followers. Focus on your core and don't waste time chasing what everyone else is doing.

 

Person l would never buy an SUV no matter how much money I had or what make, I prefer estates for space etc. Oh hang on a minute, its nothing to do with practicality, just trend/lifestyle!!!

Who in their right mind would by a Ferrari SUV ? It couldn't be an everyday car as the reliability compared to say Porsche, Jag F Pace, Mercedes G wagon etc is, lets be honest, rubbish. So that leaves it as a toy for the weekend. So why would you want an SUV as a toy for the weekend instead of a 488/FF/911/AMG etc?

Whilst Porsche have done it to great success, I don't think this is a fair comparison as they are in a completely different market. They are cheap in comparison and reliable and are competing with Jag/Volvo/Rang Rover etc for SUV sales.

I think Ferrari building a SUV completely dilutes the brand. Unless off course this is a proper off roader and they go after the Paris Dakar and spin a SUV off that; then fine. But they should base it on their heritage, i.e. racing, not trend/lifestyle.

As many company's have fund to their peril, unless you can do the basics right, you have no hope. So I would suggest they get back to basics, even if that is a rose tinted version of history and sort the racing out, develop the grass roots and the heritage business.

 

Currentlky all they make is really really fast gts. If ferrari ends up makign some great core drivers cars again, then the suv is a very small price to pay.

 

Won't do a thing. They'll still sell each and every car they make. Enough new buyers that only care about a badge... won't matter. It's disappointing, but it won't matter. Cayenne didn't kill Porsche, it let Porsche build even more amazing 911's.

Only thing that will matter is when sales drop and stock price drops. The "old europe" Ferrari is done. Remember the Cimarron gentlemen.. remember the Cimarron. It's the endpoint where all profit seeking management ends.

 

4-door sedan.

 

Steadily declining market for those, unfortunately, and all the consumers are going for SUV's instead.

 

Sergio's next step: The Ferrari FF150! Image Unavailable, Please Login

Don't knock it --- it has $2000 shields!

 

Dozens and dozens of companies that kick Ferraris a-- in racing, looks and so on. What utter rubbish. Don't name a dozen, name one.

 

IMO, SUV = stupid useless vehicle

 

I absolutely agree, the brand can be expanded without killing it's essence. A Dino would be great for the brand, priced in line with a "regular 911" or a little above with tons of options you could pull a lot of each unit with a 911 base price, coupled with Ferrari option costs. A mid mounted engine using the 2.9 liter turbo V6, you would have a real winner.

 

For me, I've always viewed Ferrari as a very special brand with extreme class. It seems to me the company is moving away from it's founding or historic focus / values.

 

I think you are missing my point. I love advances in technology and I love how Ferrari has evolved up until Sergio came in and the departure from Pininfarinna. To me, the last great mid engine Ferrari is the 458 and 458 Speciale. It's not the point if "the SUV will kill them". It's a poor decision to move dramatically away from the roots of the company. In Rob Lay's 2nd post in this thread, he said it perfectly:

 

I would like to remind you that once, and for quite a few years, Nokia was the world leader in cell phone sales, trends, and technology with extremely high brand loyalty.

When was the last time you bought a Nokia flip phone?