According to reports, Maserati has delayed once again the Maserati Alfieri until 2020. The Italian luxury vehicle manufacturer unveiled the Alfieri in 2014. Initially, the 2+2 grand tourer would hit the road in 2016.
Giulio Pastore, the general manager at Maserati Europe, said that the automaker had set its sights on replacing the Maserati GranTurismo and the GranTurismo Convertible, known as GranCabrio outside the United States.
Pastore explained that the aging duo is more vital to Maserati’s lineup than the smaller Alfieri. He stated that once Maserati replaces those models between 2018 and 2019, the carmaker will focus on the 2020 Alfieri.
Marco Tencone, Maserati head designer since 2009, designed the Alfieri. He has also overseen current Maserati models such as the Quattroporte, Ghibli, GranTurismo, and GranCabrio, as well as the upcoming Levante.
Maserati Alfieri, a history of delays set to end in 2020
Maserati first showed the Maserati Alfieri as a concept car at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. Then, at a Fiat Chrysler event in May 2014, Maserati confirmed the Alfieri would enter production in 2016.
However, the weakened Chinese car market forced parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to delay the Alfieri. Instead, Fiat focused on bringing out an updated Alfa Romeo Giulietta (940) and Alfa Romeo MiTo to China.
Recent reports claimed the Alfieri would become a reality by 2018. But now it seems Maserati will finally have the Alfieri on the road in 2020. In its place, Maserati released the Maserati Levante this year.
Maserati fans shouldn’t worry too much. Bases on the 2011 Maserati Kubang concept car, the Levante SUV had to wait five years before entering production. The Alfieri might need a redesign, though.
About the upcoming Maserati Alfieri
Named after Alfieri Maserati, the car company intended to celebrate its 100-year anniversary with the Alfieri model. The Maserati brothers (Ernesto, Bindo, Carlo, Ettore, and Alfieri) established the firm in 1914 in Bologna, Italy.
The Alfieri features design elements of the 1954 Maserati A6GCS and a chassis based on the one from the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale. Reportedly, the production version will offer three V6 engine choices: 410 bhp, 450 bhp, and 520 bhp.
A Ferrari-derived V8 engine that produces 560 bhp is set to follow as well as a convertible Alfieri variant.
Source: Autoblog