Photo: Stefan Baldauf/Robert Kah
After reporting a strong second quarter of 2019, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles shifts the focus on Maserati. The Italian brand – twinned with Ferrari but not quite on par – posted an adjusted EBIT margin of minus 34.7 percent as opposed to the second quarter of 2018.
The House of the Trident claims that shipments were down 46 percent, caused by “dealer stock reduction and lower sales.” This explanation has a snowball effect on net revenue, which is down 40 percent. To make ends meet, Maserati will launch a handful of exciting products through 2023.
Fairly different from the product plan presented in 2018, the new one includes the refresh of three models. The mid-cycle facelift of the Ghibli, Quattroporte, and Levante are due to arrive at dealership lots next year, along with the launch of an “all-new sports car.” The latter sounds a lot like the Alfieri coupe, a promising rival to the evergreen Porsche 911 that’s supposed to feature an all-electric option at some point in the future.
2021 will see the introduction of an “all-new D-UV,” the Alfieri cabriolet, and all-new GranTurismo. Moving forward, the product plan lists the GranCabrio and Quattroporte for 2022 while the Levante will be redesigned for the ground up in 2023. If you were wondering what D-UV means in Maserati talk, it’s likely the Italians will re-think the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio into an all-new nameplate.
Considering that overpromising is a thing at Fiat Chrysler and especially Maserati, we’re not keeping our hopes up. The plan could once again be changed, something that would hurt sales and people’s perception of the brand even further. Also worthy of highlighting, Maserati isn’t exactly loaded with cash for research & development these days.
The Alfieri saga speaks for itself, and lest we forget, the GranTurismo is believed to predate the dinosaurs. Codenamed Tipo M145, the 2+2 grand tourer entered production in 2007 and go out without a bang in 2021 if everything goes according to plan. That’s 14 years of production, more than any other nameplate in the segment and double the lifespan of a Volkswagen Group product such as the Golf Mk 7.
Fairly different from the product plan presented in 2018, the new one includes the refresh of three models. The mid-cycle facelift of the Ghibli, Quattroporte, and Levante are due to arrive at dealership lots next year, along with the launch of an “all-new sports car.” The latter sounds a lot like the Alfieri coupe, a promising rival to the evergreen Porsche 911 that’s supposed to feature an all-electric option at some point in the future.
2021 will see the introduction of an “all-new D-UV,” the Alfieri cabriolet, and all-new GranTurismo. Moving forward, the product plan lists the GranCabrio and Quattroporte for 2022 while the Levante will be redesigned for the ground up in 2023. If you were wondering what D-UV means in Maserati talk, it’s likely the Italians will re-think the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio into an all-new nameplate.
Considering that overpromising is a thing at Fiat Chrysler and especially Maserati, we’re not keeping our hopes up. The plan could once again be changed, something that would hurt sales and people’s perception of the brand even further. Also worthy of highlighting, Maserati isn’t exactly loaded with cash for research & development these days.
The Alfieri saga speaks for itself, and lest we forget, the GranTurismo is believed to predate the dinosaurs. Codenamed Tipo M145, the 2+2 grand tourer entered production in 2007 and go out without a bang in 2021 if everything goes according to plan. That’s 14 years of production, more than any other nameplate in the segment and double the lifespan of a Volkswagen Group product such as the Golf Mk 7.
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