Alfieri headed for production based on strong Maserati sales

Fri, 18 Apr 2014

Maserati has been on a heck of a product surge recently. After years of subsiding on versions of the previous Quattroporte and the aging GranTurismo, the Modense automaker rolled out the new Quattroporte the year before last, the Ghibli last year, it will introduce the Levante crossover next year and – according to the latest intel – will begin production of the Alfieri sports car the year after that.

The Alfieri concept debuted just last month at the Geneva Motor Show, taking the form of a two-door sports car foreshadowing the brand's new design language. Reception was positive, but it appears that sales of Maserati's existing models is what's giving the Alfieri the green light.

According to Automotive News, citing an interview given by Maserati chief Harald Wester on Bloomberg Television, the brand has been getting 3,500 orders per month, putting it on track to sell 42,000 units this year – nearly three times as much as the 15,400 it sold in 2013. The profits generated off those orders could be enough by themselves to offset the losses which Fiat is expected to record this year based on flagging sales for the Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Jeep brands in Europe.

Sources says that it wouldn't take much for the Alfieri to be put into production. If and when it does, it would target the likes of the Porsche 911 and Jaguar F-Type, but we wouldn't be surprised to see it ditch the old V8 from the GranTurismo and adopt the newer twin-turbocharged V6 or V8 engines that power the latest QP and Ghibli.

By Noah Joseph