That nightmarish future we told you about, the one where Chrysler and Maserati get back in bed together for a Jeep Grand Cherokee-based Alfa / Maserati SUV? Yeah, you've got until 2013 until that one pans out.
According this time to the Wall Street Journal, celebrity-CEO Sergio Marchionne was quoted at the L.A. Auto Show repeating his faith and pride in the JGC platform, "This is just a great architecture, why wouldn't I put a Maserati on it?" That's solid logic right there. (Other examples of the same thinking: "This is just a great McRib, why wouldn't I put truffles on it?" "This is just a great Timex, why wouldn't I put diamonds on it?" ...I could go all day here.)
The WSJ is stating that the vehicle -- which despite all mockery will be built on a darned good platform that's already shared with the Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV -- is to be produced in 2013...in Michigan.
Fingers crossed Mayan conspiracy theorists...fingers crossed.
( Wall St Journal )
lostboyz says:
08:49 AM, 11/22/10
whats with all the negativity?
Its the most sophisticated unit body SUV, its capable enough to be a jeep, and solid enough to be a mercedes, why would an alfa/maserati version be a bad thing?
mrryte says:
09:22 AM, 11/22/10
+1 Lostboyz.
Not ONE single spec on the vehicle has been released and it's getting bashed already......
arbiter says:
09:29 AM, 11/22/10
I think the negativity comes from a sense of "purity". It may very well be as lostboyz types:
"...the most sophisticated unit body SUV, its capable enough to be a jeep, and solid enough to be a mercedes"
I don't believe that's the point, though. When one thinks of Maserati it should bring images of racecars, sports cars, GT's of beautiful design and performance, NOT some lumbering SUV to haul the kiddies off to (insert childhood activity here). Yes I know the Porsche Cayenne and BMW X5/X6 are more than capable on-road and they still don't interest me.
No doubt there MAY be a financial case to be made here (i.e. Build an SUV so the Quattroporte, Gran Turismo and GranCabrio can continue to exist) but I feel it would dilute the passion of the Maserati marque. MAYBE as an Alfa it would work since their current lineup is more "across the board".
Finally, I think "world ending" this is not. Now, if Ferrari built an SUV...
exnevadan says:
09:55 AM, 11/22/10
... it would join Lamborghini as having made an exciting/overpriced SUV for buyers in the oil producing countries.
firstwagon says:
10:27 AM, 11/22/10
I think it will depend on how they do it. If they simply rebradge (and re-grill) a Grand Cherokee then it will deserve all the scorn people will heap on it. Remember the embarrassing Saab 9-7?
However if they want to use the basic platform and give it a unique body and a Maserati drivetrain then they might have something to compete with the Porsche, Audi and Mercedes SUV's.
I'll wait and see.
lostboyz says:
10:37 AM, 11/22/10
@arbiter
welcome to the future, where aston martin as a mini car and a sedan, porsche has an SUV (soon to be 2) and a sedan, bmw has 2 SUVs and however you classify the X6, etc.
There is no purity in brand images anymore.
j84ustin says:
10:39 AM, 11/22/10
+2 lostboyz
arbiter says:
11:15 AM, 11/22/10
'There is no purity in brand images anymore.'
That may be the reality but it's still a shame. I can only speak for myself but if someone tells me, or I overhear someone saying, they drive a Porsche/Aston Martin/Maserati/etc. and they pull up in an SUV version? The building excitement of seeing it crashes like a child coming down from a sugar high.
Regarding the AM mini car, that's just as bad as an SUV. If it was something either given away with each purchase of a DBS or listed as an option on the order sheet I would just chalk it up to British humour but...
My original post was merely trying to give a rationale for the hatred for the idea of a Maser SUV which I must say have sympathy with.
arbiter says:
11:23 AM, 11/22/10
"... it would join Lamborghini as having made an exciting/overpriced SUV for buyers in the oil producing countries."
Lamborghini "sort off" gets a pass since they started out making farm tractors. lol. Also, the old LM-series had no real practicality for its' size.
93aero says:
12:18 PM, 11/22/10
Maserati makes some really sexy cars, if they can translate well to the already very good looking grand Cherokee, then why not!? Sure it will be out of most peoples price ranges, but there will be a really nice lux/sport SUV for the utilitarian to dream of! Hopefully it doesn't end up like the first cayanne, tho i think porsche has finally fixed that mistake!
notabigdeal says:
06:39 PM, 11/22/10
It worked for Porsche. Why not Masa? It is gonna need more then a Pentastar to sell this one though. Only way i would be disappointed is if they use a Jeep engine in it also.
It would be totally awsome if it turns out to be a Wrangler/masa with the vipers v10. I would want that. No idea why.
wrinklebump says:
07:16 PM, 11/22/10
arbiter, you're being a bit ridiculous, as McGiggles was with the original post. The Cayennes of the world make the 911s of the world possible. It's no great tragedy to make money.
firstwagon says:
12:02 AM, 11/23/10
"It would be totally awsome if it turns out to be a Wrangler/masa with the vipers v10. I would want that. No idea why"
I'm cheering for a Grand Cherokee with a 500+ HP Ferrari engine.
0757lx says:
04:35 AM, 11/23/10
+3 lostboyz
arbiter says:
12:53 PM, 11/23/10
@wrinklebump
"arbiter, you're being a bit ridiculous"
- Maybe, just a bit. When it comes to sports cars, I admit to having a soft spot.
"The Cayennes of the world make the 911s of the world possible".
- That may be true and I made that very point in my first post BUT I if I aspire to own a Porsche it is certainly not an SUV.
"It's no great tragedy to make money."
- Never made any claim to the contrary and find nothing wrong it. I'm almost as capitalistic as they come. (Side note: Both Maser and Ferrari made money last year despite the contracting market for those types of vehicles).
To be balanced though, I would think Land Rover to be out of their minds if they built a sports/exotic car.