Autoblog

Maserati will use Chrysler and Fiat parts to make Quattroporte replacements

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Maserati

Maserati needs to make major moves if it wants to hit Fiat Group CEO Sergio Marchionne's aggressive sales target. Marchionne wants to see a tenfold increase in Maserati sales, and one of the models that will help him get there is a new sedan, presumably the next-generation Quattroporte. Actually, make that two different sedans, because Marchionne is prepping luxury sleds both small and large.

What will underpin the four-door Maseratis? Since Sergio has the Chrysler parts bin to play with, he will call upon components from both the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Avenger. Also, he has Fiat powertrain parts at his fingertips, so you can expect to see a completely reworked version of the MultiAir engine. In Maserati guise, it will take advantage of forced induction, and should see power output in the 400-horsepower range.

Maserati will use Chrysler and Fiat parts to make Quattroporte replacements originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marchionne seeking 10x sales increase for Maserati?

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 08:32:00 EST

Filed under: Maserati, Fiat

Sergio Marchionne is looking to expand the Fiat Group empire, and one of Mr. M's plans is to bringing more Maserati vehicles into the world. And we're not talking about a small jump in sales either. Marchionne wants to expand Maserati sales tenfold.

That's a rather bold undertaking, and would require Maserati to climb from 5,675 units sold last year to over 50,000 per year. How does Marchionne intend to accomplish this feat? Through the introduction of new models to reach a wider audience.

The planned new additions include a Quattroporte replacement, a smaller sedan and a sport utility vehicle. The larger family will certainly help attract more eyeballs, but is it enough to push sales 10 times higher? We think that might be a bit ambitious, but as the number of wealthy citizens climbs around the world it's certainly possible.

Marchionne seeking 10x sales increase for Maserati? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat officially splits into two corporate groups

Noah Joseph — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Earnings/Financials, Fiat

With all the mergers and acquisitions going on in the automotive industry these days, few corporate structures have been as tumultuous as that of Fiat. The Italian group was once very centralized, but recently, it split its divisions into quasi-autonomous subsidiaries, then it stepped in and took the reins at Chrysler, and is now it is splitting itself into two distinct groups.

The first is to be known as Fiat SpA, and will encompass the automotive brands, including Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Maserati and, of course, Fiat. The second, Fiat Industrial SpA, will presumably include the likes of Iveco, Case New Holland and French motorcoach division Irisbus. (Ferrari's future hangs in the balance as reports alternately confirm and deny plans to sell off parts of the Maranello-based automaker and racing team.)

The de-merger was made in accordance with a shareholder vote on September 16. As a result, both new corporate groups have received new logos to help differentiate one from another, as both will be listed separately on the Milan Stock Exchange. While the move likely won't have any immediate, direct impact on the Chrysler Group, if an official merger is to take place between the Turin and Auburn Hills auto groups, it's likely to encompass the Fiat auto group and leave the industrial group alone. Official announcement in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Fiat (both of 'em)]

Continue reading Fiat officially splits into two corporate groups

Fiat officially splits into two corporate groups originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat unites Maserati, Abarth, Alfa Romeo under one CEO

Noah Joseph — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Fiat

With the unification of Fiat and Chrysler, we're been expecting major changes in the corporate structure of the two automakers and their various brands. Most recently, Lancia chief executive Olivier Francois was named head of the Chrysler division, leading to reports that the two brands - similarly positioned in the sub-luxury premium segment - will be integrated into one unit. Now similar reports place the Abarth, Maserati and Alfa Romeo brands under common leadership.

Let's get ready to play musical chairs for a moment... This news comes with the appointment of Harald Wester as CEO of Alfa Romeo. In his new role, Wester replaces Sergio Cravero, who himself was recently promoted from the brand's communications directorate to serve as a replacement for the departing Luca de Meo who will change to a new role as head of product planning for the entire Fiat Group.

Wester, meanwhile, retains not only his roles as group chief technical officer, but also as CEO of both the Abarth and Maserati brands. As a result, we can expect to see a deeper level of collaboration between these performance-oriented brands within the expanding Fiat empire. Details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Fiat]

Continue reading Fiat unites Maserati, Abarth, Alfa Romeo under one CEO

Fiat unites Maserati, Abarth, Alfa Romeo under one CEO originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lancia gets wet in Venice with model Catrinel Menghia and Martini Racing [w/VIDEO]

Noah Joseph — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:37:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Fiat

Lancia di Lancia launches in Venice - Click either image for high-res image gallery

Considering that somewhere between two-thirds and three-quarters of the earth's surface is covered by water - and that, if the global warming alarmists are right, that proportion of aqua to terra firma will only increase - it should come as no great surprise that the world's automakers and their designers have been setting sail on the open sea. Recent examples have included 28-foot speedboats and 135-foot catamaran megayachts penned by Porsche Design, sailboats and motor yachts from BMW DesignWorks USA, and speedboats from former Jaguar and Spyker supercar designers. The list goes on and on, and probably will continue to grow until we get the go-ahead to spin off Aquablog.

The latest pair - both rigid inflatables measuring over 40 feet long and packing ludicrous power - come from the collaboration between Italian shipyard SACS Marine and the Fiat Group: a white, outboard-powered open-plan tender for Abarth and a sleek black vessel for Lancia. The latter shares its nautical name with the motor launches that navigate the canals and waterways of Venice in the place of cars on any other city's streets. And that's just the venue the Italian automaker chose to launch - in every sense of the word - its stunning speedboat, during the international film festival it sponsored there this weekend.

As we reported a couple of weeks ago, the Lancia di Lancia is a 13-meter rigid inflatable speedboat packing a pair of 560hp 6.7-liter 24-valve common-rail six-cylinder turbodiesels from Fiat Powertrain Technologies. It's capable of carrying 11 passengers on board in unparalleled style and topping out at 55 knots - impressive for an eight-and-a-half ton vessel, and easily the most dramatic vehicle to bear the Lancia name in decades. So much so, in fact, that Lancia and its onetime iconic sponsor Martini Racing rekindled their relationship for this speedboat. And just for kicks, they brought along Romanian supermodel Catrinel Menghia - the face of Giorgio Armani and Lise Charmel lingerie - for a cruise around the picturesque canals. You can enjoy the results in the high-resolution image gallery below and in the quartet of videos embedded (along with a press release) after the jump.

Gallery: Lancia di Lancia speedboat launches in Venice

[Source: Lancia]

Continue reading Lancia gets wet in Venice with model Catrinel Menghia and Martini Racing [w/VIDEO]

Lancia gets wet in Venice with model Catrinel Menghia and Martini Racing [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Fiat marketing chief & Alfa Romeo CEO Luca de Meo defects to Volkswagen

Noah Joseph — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 06:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Marketing/Advertising, Volkswagen, Alfa Romeo, Fiat

Luca de Meo was charting a course to rise to the top of the Fiat group, but if reports emanating from Europe are accurate, he's changed directions as the promising young auto executive has reportedly left Fiat to become the new head of marketing for the Volkswagen group.

De Meo took his biggest step up the Fiat ladder when group CEO Sergio Marchionne handed over the reins of the Fiat auto division to him. De Meo then took on the additional task of re-launching the Abarth performance sub-brand before switching from the Fiat division to assume the leadership of Alfa Romeo as well as marketing for the entire group, including its automotive, agricultural and commercial divisions. Poaching Marchionne's protégé is undoubtedly a huge coup for Volkswagen, whose leaders are evidently banking on De Meo's talent for marketing small, cheap cars - having masterminded the 500's success and most recently formulated the plan for Fiat's new budget-oriented division - to imbue the up! project with success while giving the entire Volkswagen automotive empire and the 100 new projects on which it is reportedly working a youthful Latin flair.

De Meo joins a roster of Italians who've recently come to VW, Europe's largest automaker, and another list of talented young executives who've left Fiat, Europe's third largest (after PSA Peugeot-Citroen). Alfa's longtime marketing director and Fiat group veteran Sergio Cravero is tipped to take over as CEO of Alfa Romeo, Maserati CEO and group chief technical officer Harald J. Wester will assume responsibility for Abarth while the group's marketing role will be split into several different jobs. No word yet on what effect this will have on Volkswagen's current sales and marketing director Detlef Wittig, however.

[Source: Automotive News Europe - Sub. Req.]

REPORT: Fiat marketing chief & Alfa Romeo CEO Luca de Meo defects to Volkswagen originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 06:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat group preparing new sports cars for Abarth, Lancia, Alfa

Noah Joseph — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Alfa Romeo, Fiat

Any day in which we bring you news of a new Italian sports car is a good day by any account. Today we bring you news of three new sports cars under development under the Fiat group umbrella, which we needn't point out controls most of the Italian automotive industry, including Fiat, Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Maserati and Ferrari.

First up to bat is the unique sports car which, as we reported back in March, Fiat is developing for its recently revived Abarth performance brand. Reports now suggest that the Abarth roadster would take an Elise-style approach, and could even borrow underpinnings from Lotus. Power could come from the turbo four in the Punto and 500 Abarth, mounted amidships, but unburdened by a lightweight two-seater chassis.

While we wait for more news on that front, there are parallel reports of a new Lancia coupe-cabrio on the horizon. (This in addition to the rumored Aurelia flagship, anticipated for unveiling in Geneva next March.) Previewed by the Fulvia concept from Frankfurt 2003 (pictured above), the Lancia convertible could also spawn an Alfa Romeo variant. The stage is set, and we'll be keeping a sharp eye out for more news as it emerges.

[Source: 4Car]

Fiat group preparing new sports cars for Abarth, Lancia, Alfa originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat posts another profitable quarter, raises forecast

Stuart Waterman — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 18:54:00 EST

Filed under: Earnings/Financials

With second quarter results made all the more remarkable by the overall weakness in the European auto market, the Fiat Group blew by analysts' forecasts to post a $831.9 million quarterly profit, up 83 percent from last year's results in the same period.

More important than the group result is the fact that the automotive business, Fiat Auto, posted its third consecutive quarterly profit, a healthy $111.1 million. In the same quarter a year ago, the then-struggling auto group posted a loss of $111 million. Massive restructuring of the automotive operation and the introduction of successful new models led by Fiat's Grande Punto (at right), are credited with the turnaround.

Fiat Group also raised its yearly profit forecast for 2006 Monday, to $2.3 billion.

[Sources: Reuters, Fiat Group]

Fiat posts another profitable quarter, raises forecast originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Jul 2006 18:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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