Alfieri highlights Maserati five-year plan
BY JUSTIN HILLIARD | 4th Jun 2018
ALL-NEW plug-in hybrids and pure-electric vehicles, including the highly-anticipated Alfieri grand-tourer and a box-fresh mid-size SUV, will recharge the Maserati luxury brand as part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA)’s five-year plan.
After making its debut in concept form at the Geneva motor show in March 2014, the Alfieri is officially set for production by 2022 as the electrified replacement for the current GranTurismo coupe and GranCabrio soft-top.
The plug-in hybrid will be employ an all-wheel-drive system with full active torque vectoring and active aerodynamics for a sprint from standstill to 100km/h in about two seconds.
The Alfieri will be offered in Coupe and Cabriolet body styles, backed by an aluminium modular spaceframe that results in weight gain being limited to 175 kilograms when compared to its internal-combustion predecessor.
Meanwhile, an unnamed mid-size SUV – likely based on the Alfa Romeo Stelvio – is set be released by 2022, and will give Maserati 26 per cent more segment coverage, bringing its total to 68 per cent.
This critical new model will ride on a “best-in-class” lightweight platform with perfect front-to-rear weight distribution, which enables a “superior” ride and handling, according to Maserati.
Maserati’s second high-rider will employ a plug-in hybrid powertrain that contributes towards its “best-in-class” power-to-weight ratio. As such, it will go toe to toe with the BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC and Audi Q5, among others.
Furthermore, Maserati has confirmed new-generation versions of its Quattroporte upper-large sedan and Levante large SUV, both of which will be plug-in hybrids underpinned by a “state-of-the-art” modular platform with a “dynamic” Q4 all-wheel-drive system.
A next-generation Ghibli large sedan is also planned, but Maserati has withheld further information for the time being.
Additionally, diesel engines will be discontinued within the Maserati model line-up, with plug-in hybrids and pure EVs the focus due to improved performance and efficiency.
Pure EVs will fall under the Maserati Blue banner, with such Tesla-targeting variants to be drawn from the Alfieri, Ghibli, Quattroporte and Levante ranges.
Each will feature three electric motors, an all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring, 800-volt battery technology, a long driving range and quick charging times.
While Maserati expects to have eight plug-in hybrids and four pure EVs in its model range by 2022, the remaining internal-combustion engines will continue to be sourced from Ferrari.
Level 3 autonomous technologies will be standardised across the entire Maserati model line-up, too.
As a result, by 2020, Maserati forecasts its global sales tally will double, to 100,000 examples, while its margins are set to be 15 per cent.
Maserati sold 6000 units and had 14 per cent segment coverage in 2012 but increased these marks to 50,000 and 46 per cent in 2017 thanks to launch of the Ghibli and Levante.
This represents a 733.3 per cent increase in sales over the six-year period, of which the Levante is currently responsible for 53 per cent of Maserati’s overall volume.
China is projected to account for 15,000 examples in 2018, up 1500 per cent over 2011, while North America is also expected to contribute 15,000 units, up 650 per cent over 2011, with Europe (11,000, up 450 per cent) and the rest of the world (9,000, up 800 per cent) to provide the remaining sales.
Maserati sales in Australia have been steady this year, with 273 examples sold to the end of April, representing a 0.7 per cent decrease over the 273 deliveries made during the same period in 2017.
The Levante has shouldered most of the load with 135 sales (down 31.1 per cent year-to-date), while the Ghibli (92, up 67.3 per cent), GranTurismo and GranCabrio (27, up 170.0 per cent), and Quattroporte (19, up 35.7 per cent) have accounted for the remaining volume.
Maserati will also add 81 dealerships to its global network by 2022, including 34 and 32 new locations in China and North America respectively.
