Alfa Romeo May Be Going on Sale Afterall, You Just Need to Buy the Entire Brand

"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
12/28/2016 at 22:51 • Filed to: None

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! of Marchionne selling off Maserati, Alfa Romeo, and Magneti Marelli (no mention of Lancia...probably forgot). FCA is $7 Billion in debt and these brands could pay it all off. So who would you like to takeover Maserati and Alfa Romeo? I already know who wants Maserati...

DISCUSSION (31)

BIGBLOCK472 - wide and bizarre > Wobbles the Mind
12/28/2016 at 22:59

Dang I always knew about the tail light similarities but never paid attention tooo the grille. To be fair though, I can remember ever seeing a Cadenza in person (or a K900 for that matter).

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Wobbles the Mind
12/28/2016 at 22:59

Someone who understands steering feel, so not Kia or Hyundai in any shape, form, or fashion.

PatBateman > Wobbles the Mind
12/28/2016 at 22:59

I say sell Maserati to Mitsubishi. Because fuck it.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Wobbles the Mind
12/28/2016 at 23:03

I want to say Honda but I don’t* know why.

*that’s not true

Busslayer > Wobbles the Mind
12/28/2016 at 23:11

My guess is a Chinese company like Great Wall could be interested and might actually have cash to buy some or all of these brands.

Tapas > Wobbles the Mind
12/28/2016 at 23:12

Sell it to Toyota - just cos I wanna see what happens.

Jack Does Cars > Wobbles the Mind
12/28/2016 at 23:13

If VW wasn’t stupid broke, I could see them buying Maserati and slot them between Audi and Bentley. Nonetheless, VW is stupid broke so that won’t be happening.

I think some Chinese company buying Alfa would be beneficial, and have them do what Geely did with Volvo: just give them lots of money and not really get too deep into details. It’s worked great for Volvo, I don’t see why it won’t work well for Alfa.

Steve in Manhattan > Wobbles the Mind
12/28/2016 at 23:18

With a careful brand rebuilding, Alfa and Maserati could be great again with the right products. There are enthusiasts out there willing to sign on - most cannot afford a Ferrari or Lamborghini, so these brands are there. How stupid are these people?

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > Wobbles the Mind
12/28/2016 at 23:33

Ferrari should buy Alfa or Maserati and use it as their down-market brand to increase the bottom line. I think Alfa would be better as Maserati is already kinda out of that price bracket.

Chariotoflove > Steve in Manhattan
12/28/2016 at 23:36

I know others will disagree, but I think Maserati already is great.

Chariotoflove > Jack Does Cars
12/28/2016 at 23:43

I don’t see why Maserati needs to slot between anybody. It has its own legendary aura and performance cred. I see it easily becoming an equivalent to Ferrari and a legitimate competitor for the customers that don’t fit Ferrari’s style.

Nick Has an Exocet > Wobbles the Mind
12/28/2016 at 23:54

I could see Tata taking Fiat. Jaguar Land Rover Fiat would be a nice compliment.

If Mercedes took Maserati, they could platform share up to Maserati. That might work.

Strangely enough, I think Toyota would be an interesting match for Alfa. Toyota reliability with Alfa RWD platforms would be amazing.

Realistically, a merger between Mitsubishi and Fiat would really interesting. Fiat has platforms and Mitsubishi desperately needs updated platforms. But financially, I’m not sure if that makes the most sense.

Sam > Busslayer
12/28/2016 at 23:54

Chinese or Indian. Bet one of them will pick it up.

Jack Does Cars > Chariotoflove
12/29/2016 at 00:30

VW already has Lamborghini, so why would another Lamborghini be necessary? In a VW-Maserati world, I think they would build the same or similar vehicles, I just think they would be “too nice,” to be Audis but, “not nice enough,” to be Bentleys.

jimz > Steve in Manhattan
12/29/2016 at 02:27

There are enthusiasts out there willing to sign on

“enthusiasts” is a group too small to sustain any brand.

jimz > Wobbles the Mind
12/29/2016 at 02:27

Q: How do you know if Sergio Marchionne is talking a bunch of bullshit?

A: His lips are moving.

C62030 > jimz
12/29/2016 at 04:49

Except Caterham and Zenos and BAC and Saleen and technically Koenigsegg.

jimz > C62030
12/29/2016 at 05:04

niche kit manufacturers and modders don’t matter in the slightest. and you might not want to talk about Saleen...

Manny05x > jimz
12/29/2016 at 05:55

This is true. Build crossover=profit.

Steve in Manhattan > jimz
12/29/2016 at 07:12

You’re right - and therefore the SS is doomed.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > Steve in Manhattan
12/29/2016 at 08:59

Judging by the US launch of the 4C, very stupid.

Steve in Manhattan > haveacarortwoorthree2
12/29/2016 at 09:18

Bungled?

gawdzillla > Wobbles the Mind
12/29/2016 at 11:25

think about it ....

Mazda & Subaru should do a joint venture and buy Maserati / Alfa .... (not that mazda has much money left ...)

haveacarortwoorthree2 > Steve in Manhattan
12/29/2016 at 11:25

A major cock-up

cberg > Wobbles the Mind
12/29/2016 at 12:43

Now Volvo!!!

Chariotoflove > Jack Does Cars
12/29/2016 at 13:42

I don’t think a Maserati is anything like a Lamborghini. But honestly I was thinking there shouldn’t be a VW-Maserati world. I don’t like the thought of the brand being slotted into a market segment of an automotive empire. Maybe I’m too sentimental.

Jack Does Cars > Chariotoflove
12/29/2016 at 14:56

Well Maserati has a slot within FCA. Ferrari (kinda, as they’re semi-autonomous) is over Maserati, which of over Alfa Romeo, so on and so forth. While Maserati, Ferrari, and Alfa, etc. keep their prestige and history, they still have their, “slot.”

Vítor > Wobbles the Mind
12/29/2016 at 15:32

It truly needs to be Tata or Geely. I loved what they did with Jaguar/Land Rover and Volvo. Imagine what would come from Maserati and Volvo with the same funds as Volvo and J/LR.

Vítor > Nick Has an Exocet
12/29/2016 at 15:36

With Mercedes’s current interest in Aston Martin, I doubt they would buy Maserati.

Vítor > e36Jeff now drives a ZHP
12/29/2016 at 15:38

That’s exactly what Ferrari was doing with Maserati before the FCA. Cheaper, more confortable GT cars and sedans with Ferrari DNA

Chariotoflove > Jack Does Cars
12/30/2016 at 11:45

Yeah, but I don’t like the “slot” they are in now. I don’t think of Maserati as below Ferrari. But like I said, I’m sentimental.