by "Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
Published 08/24/2017 at 06:10
by "Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
Published 08/24/2017 at 06:10
Tags: FCA
STARS: 5
Instead of spinning Maserati and Alfa Romeo into their own independent duo, I think Ferrari should purchase Maserati and Alfa Romeo. I mean they already share engineers, powertrains, platforms, and honestly seem like a trio. In fact, there isn’t any sharing of essential parts currently between these three brands and the main Fiat or Chrysler portions of the company besides some switchgear which can easily be traded for the new items out of the Giulia and Stelvio (Ghibli owners rejoice).
I think Ferrari owning the two brands would boost the valuation of all three and actually have other automakers pushing each other out the way for the chance to partner with Ferrari in ownership over Maserati and Alfa Romeo.
I bet this would really get Ford’s attention and we could end up with Ferrari and Ford as partners in shared ownership of Maserati and Alfa Romeo. Think of the boost!!
As for the rest of the brands, I think selling Fiat, Abarth, and Lancia together would be more tempting than one by one for any Chinese automaker looking to expand. Magneti Marelli should be fine to sell as is, which leaves Jeep, Ram, Dodge/SRT, and Chrysler. Toss in the Giorgio platform and I think the traditional selling off of the Chrysler Group is good to go. GM could work with a Chrysler Group only merger.
So my ideal situation is:
Ferrari and Ford end up partners in Maserati and Alfa Romeo ownership.
GM merges with Chrysler Group (Jeep, Ram, Dodge/SRT, and Chrysler). GM-Chrysler...hmmm, they could just kill off GMC, keep the badges, and let Opel-less Buick take those products and tuck the GMC trucks into the Chevy fold. Ram can hold down the “professional grade” market. The Buick and Chrysler brands would make good partners and Dodge-SRT would be like having Pontiac back. Oh, and Jeep! JEEEEEP!!!
Maybe a Chinese automaker or even Tata may purchase Fiat, Abarth, and Lancia.
I can see Mercedes or BMW buying Magneti Marelli.
"SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media" (silentbutnotreallydeadly)
08/24/2017 at 06:46, STARS: 1
Or FCA could end the Chrysler and Dodge brands and leave Jeep as their only coherent US brand. Some of the Dodge lines might benefit from a Jeep face...mostly Ram and the Chrysler minivans.
Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Maserati become the three primary passenger car tiers of the group. Lancia is the loopy sports brand.
Abarth is just a badge for Fiat like M is for BMW or Nismo is for Nissan. And that’s how it should stay.
"Ssfancyfresh" (scotttt)
08/24/2017 at 06:57, STARS: 2
Ferrari as parent.
I’m seeing this as the plot of Van Wilder. Ferrari plays the absentee dad. Alfa and Maser are the asshole kids that have been in college for 7 years: aimless in their ambition, but generally liked.
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
08/24/2017 at 07:31, STARS: 3
I want a Jeep minivan just to see the outrage it would cause among Jeep purists.
"PatBateman" (PatBateman)
08/24/2017 at 07:58, STARS: 0
Who will play Tara Reid’s character?
"Dru" (therealkennyd)
08/24/2017 at 08:27, STARS: 3
Volkswagen. Might seem attractive enough on the surface, but has a disturbingly filthy history.
"nermal" (nermal)
08/24/2017 at 08:50, STARS: 0
You’re partially there. The Italian brands can go back to Ferrari.
The American brands then merge with VW.
Leave the Ram trucks alone, since they’re doing great. Same goes for minivans.
Let Jeep engineers do their thing with VW’s MQB platform for the next gen of non-Wrangler SUVs.
Also use the MQB platform to cheaply badge engineer a few cars to fill in for the departed small cars.
Done.
"Ssfancyfresh" (scotttt)
08/24/2017 at 08:56, STARS: 0
Like
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
08/24/2017 at 09:01, STARS: 3
As long as it comes with “trail rated” badges.
"Now_looking_for_a_cheap_car" (viper2626)
08/24/2017 at 09:24, STARS: 0
Cant wait to see Alfa Romeo: The Naked Mile
Or Maserati’s Gone Wild
"Azrek" (azrek)
08/24/2017 at 10:03, STARS: 1
Pininfarina? Sometimes hot and sometimes leaves you scratching your head wondering if they are on the same world as you.
"SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media" (silentbutnotreallydeadly)
08/24/2017 at 17:43, STARS: 0
Both the Compass and the Renegade stray awful close to minivan territory as it is. Mock outrage is there to be mocked...