Maserati Alfieri To Spearhead Global Expansion - Is This The Face Of Progress?

At the very top of an official Maserati document that explains how and why the company aims to lift its sales fivefold to 75,000 units by 2018, there’s a bold new strapline that shows how this rejuvenated Italian marque believes it should be regarded. Maserati, which turns 100 today, claims it is “the absolute opposite of ordinary”.

As we sit in his bare office, surrounded by the hubbub of the Paris motor show, it occurs to me that this description could just as easily be applied to the company’s boss of the past six years, Harald Wester, as to the six-model Maserati range that he is constructing – because this softly spoken engineer breaks most of the rules that make a typical Italian car industry boss.

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TheSteve - 12/1/2014 5:30:34 PM

0 Boost

Reminds me of Infiniti, which I don't care for, but I'm sure some folks will love it.

MDarringer - 12/1/2014 5:59:45 PM

+1 Boost

Unless and until Maserati RADICALLY expands their dealer network in the USA, they will remain a niche player and that is unfortunate because the Ghibli is a hoot and the Qporte is the lap of Italian luxury.

ATrain - 12/1/2014 8:43:03 PM

+1 Boost

I guess it's a good thing they're still planning to be a niche player by 2018... :)

bperlow - 12/1/2014 7:46:16 PM

+3 Boost

Maseratis are pretty, but the "detuned" ferrari engines make them a second rate competitor to Porsche. Until a maserati coupe can go toe-to-toe with a base 911, and be RELIABLE, I dont think they will make much traction, other than folks who want a ferrari, but can only afford porsches. Heck the Maserati sedans cant compete with the BMWs or Benzes..

iamdabest1 - 12/1/2014 7:51:12 PM

+4 Boost

after having 5 bmw's and 1 lexus and now the ghibli i can honestly say maserati needs to work on their quality if they want to be the next volume selling player.
i know you guys here complain about the quality about bmw's, maybe i have just been lucky, but i abused my bmw's and didnt have as many issues as i do with the maserati.
in 6 months of having the ghibli ive been at the dealership like once a month,
rattle in the turbo waste gate, liner under the car, hood paint imperfection, sat radio antenna needed to be replaced, couple times check engine lights...
ive never been stranded so im still ok. i love how the car looks and the exhaust note is amazing, but the bmw's were more fun to drive...
after haveing the maserati for 6 months, i dont know if id get another one.. an alfieri maybe because it looks amazing, prob not another sedan from maserati though.

CarCrazedinCali - 12/1/2014 8:49:05 PM

+3 Boost

Good to know! I had a fun test drive in the Ghibli S a while back... Still would choose a BMW over it though...

MDarringer - 12/2/2014 8:44:24 AM

0 Boost

The biggest impediment to Maserati's growth--beyond its lack of dealers--is Marcionne's insistence that Alfa Romeo will be FCA's BMW/Mercedes competitor and that Maserati will be one level up. MASERATI should be the BMW/Mercedes competitor and Alfa Romeo the Acura/Subaru near-premium brand.

mini22 - 12/3/2014 10:50:31 AM

+1 Boost

Marchionne does not feel that you can make enough money pricing Alfas with Acura's and Subaru's. I'm not understanding his thinking. If Maserati is not competing with BMW, Mercedes and Audi than who is it competing with? How do you expand it. Is he pricing it so it will not cannibalize Alfa? We will have to wait and see how Alfa is priced in the US. The 4C is not really indicative as it's a very low volume production vehicle.