Strategies and collaborations in sight for two brands that embody the Italian sports car. The race towards electric slows down and we return to exploiting the technical heritage questioned by the former CEO of Stellantis, Carlos Tavares
Meanings matter much more than facts, at least for now, but it is finally becoming legitimate to expect a new generation of cars with petrol engine based on the high-performance Giorgio platform, the pride of Italian engineering which until a few months ago seemed destined for retirement. Above all, we can now reasonably hypothesize the birth of an Italian hub made up of Alfa Romeo And Maseratia romantic and at the same time rational choice, regardless of the technical collaboration formula on which one wishes to rely, and which should fall within that new Stellantis industrial plan expected by June 2026. CEO Antonio Filosa will take care of officially illustrating it in due course, but decisive clues are already arriving from the last meeting in order of time which dramatically placed side by side Jean-Philippe Learnednew CEO of MaseratiAnd Holy Ficilihead of Alfa Romeo and operational director of the Trident brand. In addition to the meanings of the ceremony held in recent days in Modena, there remain clarifications that are valid as facts. One above all: the era of Carlos Tavaresand its far too detached attitude towards the future of the most prestigious Italian car brands, now seem to have passed.
The real pillars
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The formal occasion was the production line transfer ceremony Maserati Granturismo And Grancabrio from the Mirafiori plant in Turin to the historic and institutional one in Viale Ciro Menotti, in Modena. “Maserati returns home”, this is the message, which for now takes the form of “guaranteeing operations” for a factory that currently employs 200 workers on a single shift, and has a maximum production capacity of 7 cars per day. Consider brand sales Maserati in an overall sense it would still be ungenerous, with forecasts for a 2025 result of less than 8,000 units marketed in total, worldwide. Lowest level since 2012, therefore new year zero for the Trident. The situation appears to be the opposite Alfa Romeowith a 2025 target of 80,000 deliveries now judged by many to be achievable, well above the 62,000 vehicles of 2024. The merit, or responsibility, if we look at the strategic sense of a brand that should look to the highest segments of the market, lies in the success of the small urban Junior SUV. It was born on the Cmp 2 platform of Peugeot origin, in common with Fiat 600 And Jeep Avenger. It certainly does not claim to ideally represent the Alfa Romeo of the future: the overall strategy will be based on very different pillars.
Italy again
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The Last May 25th Gazzetta Motori itself revealed the situation of sensational delay in which the new project found itself Alfa Romeo Stelviowhich was expected to debut by the end of 2025 in an exclusively electric variant, based on the Stla Large platform. Stellantis then had to admit the need to redefine the entire project, which inevitably also involved the renovation of Juliato be developed in parallel with the new Stelvio. After certifying the delay, Jean-Philippe learned and Santo Ficili now help to reconstruct the possible new plans. The current Giulia and Stelvio will remain in production until 2027but the Giorgio platform on which they are built will gain a second life. So we’ll talk about one George 2updated from a technical point of view to Euro 7 regulations and of which every development “will be guided by Maserati”, as Jean-Philippe Learnato underlined. In the Stellantis plans, the Giorgio platform therefore goes from being a burden, as it was considered in the great strategy of synergies and savings wanted by Carlos Tavares, to an asset for both the Biscione and the Trident. Let’s try to understand how this wealth will be used.
A heritage already at home
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In the technical registry there are not one but three variants of the Giorgio platformwith that in dowry to Julia And Stelvio to which are added the Giorgio Evo used by the Maserati SUV Grecale and Giorgio Sport, which is the basis for the models Granturismo And Grancabrio. The last two can already accommodate 100% electric engines, as the Grecale and Granturismo Folgore variants have demonstrated. According to the information collected, the first model to receive its update will be the substantial update of Grecale, but surprises are not excluded already with the arrival of the new generation of the sedan Quattroporteexpected by 2027 to fill the demand on Asian markets that the Trident has no way of responding to today, with the previous model leaving the scene without heirs in 2024. Yet another strategic mistake by Carlos Tavares. What will be instead of Alfa Romeo? According to official press releases, there is still no change in program for the new Stelvio and Giulia, with the expected use of the Stla Large platform chosen in 2022 for its ability to accommodate electrified engines and also 100% electric powertrains. However, appearance hides the real discussions going on. In fact, the Stelvio and Giulia project is not only delayed, but totally rewrittenwith an internal questioning of the design of the models and the consequent realization that the scenario has radically changed. Electric is no longer the first priority around which to design strategies. The return of the V8 Hemi petrol engine to the American Stellantis range, following heavy protests from US consumers, is the most serious threat to a compromise solution such as Stla Large, which will have difficulty climbing to the top of the price lists. Elsewhere like in Europe.
There are alternatives, and Jean-Philippe learned himself cites them: “The hybrid V6 is something we need to decide on and finance in the coming months.” The topic is of course the V6 Nettuno Maserati engine with a displacement of 3,000 cc, with its innovative pre-chamber combustion system and maximum power of 630 HP. There is a persistent rumor circulating about the existence of a project to create a variant of Neptune from reduced displacement to 2.5 liters, to be maintained at the threshold of 500 HP of power. Then came the news of the birth of the engine from America Hurricane 4 Turbo 2.0 liter, with injection technology derived from the Maserati Nettuno and can also be used as part of hybrid and plug-in powertrains. A possible new Alfa Romeo range is thus being built naturally, based on engines developed from the beginning for the Giorgio platform. Not a compromise, but therefore a efficient and exciting return.
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