Maserati’s small vehicles are no longer a premium brand.
Maserati’s new product plan does not allow the Italian brand to launch smaller products than the Ghibli or Levante. “You don’t want to go lower. Harald Wester, company boss, told Autocar that he wanted to go up.
According to Wester, Maserati’s smaller models make it seem more mass-market, which makes the company less desirable as a luxury carmaker. Also, the product margins for smaller vehicles are lower.
It’s unclear if Wester’s statement is an explicit intention to stop building the compact crossover previously announced, or if he’s saying that the automaker won’t make any compact vehicles other than what’s in the product plan.
Maserati had announced plans in 2018 to launch a smaller crossover (rendered below), which would slot below the Levante. Unnamed models were expected to come with a plug in hybrid powertrain and level three autonomous capability. A lightweight platform would have offered the best power-to-weight ratio in its class.
Alfieri coupe is the next Maserati to, which reportedly will make its debut at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show. However, sales wouldn’t start until 2021 or 2022. The convertible version will also be available later. These two models replace the aging GranTurismo, and GranCabrio.
Because Ferrari has terminated its engine supply agreement with Maserati, the future generation will undergo a major powertrain overhaul. The Trident brand will use electric powertrains, including plug-in hybrids, performance-oriented hybrids, and plug-in hybrids, instead of the Prancing Horse mills. Maserati executives don’t intend to be a fully-electric automaker. Therefore, combustion engines will continue to be used for the foreseeable future. However, they can have some electrical assistance in order to meet modern emission standards.