Maserati had the star of the Geneva motor show. A 2+2 sports coupe concept car, but has all the hallmarks of becoming a production car within two years.
Called the Alfieri, after one of the original Maserati brothers, it is envisaged that Maserati would position this car to run against the Porsche 911 and Jaguar F-Type.
According to those who were at Geneva for the show, the design is well on the way to being production ready, although some of the more extreme styling items on the show car would be dropped for manufacture.
Maserati Alfieri
Unveiling the Alfieri in Geneva, Maserati CEO Harold Wester promised “a neck-snapping motor” and “a foot pedal that is hungry to be floored” in the new car. Giving away nothing, he said, “We are wondering if we can put this car into production,” as a teaser. This is quite common that a manufacturer will gauge the marketability of a possible design by its response at a motor show such as Geneva.
Based on the GranTurismo MC Stradale chassis with a 240 mm shorter wheelbase (now at 2700 mm), the Alfieri measures 4590 mm long, 1930 mm wide and 1280 mm high.
The concept car features the marque’s transaxle platform from the two door GranTurismo. The engine is a 4.7 liter naturally aspirated V8 engine producing 343 kW at 7000 rpm and 520 Nm of torque from 4750.
The transaxle uses a six-speed ‘MC Shift’ robotised manual gearbox fixed directly to the limited-slip differential, keeping the balance fairly close to 50:50.
The brakes are carbon ceramic disc brakes from the GranTurismo MC Stradale, with blue Brembo calipers.
Maserati says the instrument panel has a classic layout of two binnacle dials with two smaller ones in between, with the edge of each embellished with a small ‘Officine Maserati’ label.
In the show car, the driver and passengers sit on a combination of hand-stitched silk and leather, with the two rear seats folding forwards 90 degrees to open up the small luggage portal that sits behind them. It is a 2+2 after all!
“The Alfieri is being unveiled at just the right time to re-establish Maserati’s orientation in terms of design and production,” Maserati said in a statement after the concept car was displayed.
“If the new Quattroporte and Ghibli gave the impression that Maserati was becoming oriented towards sporty, premium four-door saloons, the Alfieri concept is a reminder that the brand has a remarkable racing heritage and a unique tradition in exotic GT cars. There is no doubt that the Alfieri concept represents the true essence of the Maserati brand.”
“Sportier in character than the GranTurismo, the Alfieri boasts proportions that might well be archetypal for a future Gran Sport and are certainly a hint at the brand’s stylistic intentions for the near future,” it says.
Adding weight to the idea that this concept car was a ‘toe in the water’ exercise, Maserati head of global design Lorenzo Ramaciotti said: “We wanted the Alfieri to test future design paths. The car is very aggressive yet subtle in style, forceful but understated.”
Whatever, it certainly is a great looking motor car!
