RE: Maserati Levante: Driven
Discussion
TurboHatchback said:
I can see why they do it and no doubt it'll help them commercially but to me yes it does ruin the brand. Once upon a time owning or driving a Porsche was something special, no more details required. Now if I hear someone owns or drives a Porsche I assume it's some blinged up diesel SUV as this comprises the bulk of their sales, the name has lost its magic. They could charge over the odds for the Boxster because it was the entry point to a heritage and a name that could be used alongside the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini, dilute that heritage and it has to compete purely on its objective merits.
The same will be true of Maserati, once upon a time anything with the name was something truly special, now they're just another maker of jacked up diesel hatchbacks. Market forces I know but it's still sad.
100% yes.... and Lambo 'going there' soon enough...The same will be true of Maserati, once upon a time anything with the name was something truly special, now they're just another maker of jacked up diesel hatchbacks. Market forces I know but it's still sad.
Can Ferrari stay single minded here given they are offset by Fiat/Alfa/Maserati etc?
and if so I wish Porsche (and Lambo) had stayed so pure and let Skoda/VW/Seat/Audi do the SUV'ing...
Gecko1978 said:
I like this more than the F pace and if I have read it right its same size as an X5 where as the F pace is more an X3 Q5 size. Price is right too.
The F-Pace is closer to the X5 in size than the X3 and sits in between them. Boot size:
X3: 550l
Levante: 580l
X5: 650l
F-Pace: 650l
Q7: 770l
Discovery Sport: 989l
XC90: 998l (hybrid)
The Levante looks about the same size inside as the F-Pace in the back from the pictures but I don't have the measurements.
British Beef said:
generationx said:
Who have Maserati shared the platform with? I find it highly unlikely this is a unique product. Is there a similar Fiat, or can we expect a Ferrari SUV-X?
Doesn't Fiat group own Chrysler? they have a few Cherokee / grand Cherokee type platforms.Good job, it seems. Looking forward to seeing this car, out and about.
I came to this thread with a lusty anticipation of negative comments and, ta-daaa... I am not disappointed.
We really need to create a numbered catalog of the usual whinging. Might speed things up, here on the forum.
Let's see...
PH 1034 SUV produced by sports car OEM: motoring is now dead to me
PH 0072 Why do OEMs persist in a constant state of failure: they almost never launch anything that conforms to my stated beliefs
PH 0810 I know how to correctly spell "tonneau"
PH 0557 Corvette leaf spring
PH 5109 The long-tail exception: the tidal wave of market disruption which you cite, and which is already well underway, will fail because of the unique habit of my uncle's best mate who lives on a cul de sac on the side of a hill on the island of Alderney
PH 0008 Ze Germanz ueber Alles
PH 7505 This £300,000 sports car is so much better than the cheap and cheerful one you've bought
I came to this thread with a lusty anticipation of negative comments and, ta-daaa... I am not disappointed.
We really need to create a numbered catalog of the usual whinging. Might speed things up, here on the forum.
Let's see...
PH 1034 SUV produced by sports car OEM: motoring is now dead to me
PH 0072 Why do OEMs persist in a constant state of failure: they almost never launch anything that conforms to my stated beliefs
PH 0810 I know how to correctly spell "tonneau"
PH 0557 Corvette leaf spring
PH 5109 The long-tail exception: the tidal wave of market disruption which you cite, and which is already well underway, will fail because of the unique habit of my uncle's best mate who lives on a cul de sac on the side of a hill on the island of Alderney
PH 0008 Ze Germanz ueber Alles
PH 7505 This £300,000 sports car is so much better than the cheap and cheerful one you've bought
Quickmoose said:
TurboHatchback said:
I can see why they do it and no doubt it'll help them commercially but to me yes it does ruin the brand. Once upon a time owning or driving a Porsche was something special, no more details required. Now if I hear someone owns or drives a Porsche I assume it's some blinged up diesel SUV as this comprises the bulk of their sales, the name has lost its magic. They could charge over the odds for the Boxster because it was the entry point to a heritage and a name that could be used alongside the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini, dilute that heritage and it has to compete purely on its objective merits.
The same will be true of Maserati, once upon a time anything with the name was something truly special, now they're just another maker of jacked up diesel hatchbacks. Market forces I know but it's still sad.
100% yes.... and Lambo 'going there' soon enough...The same will be true of Maserati, once upon a time anything with the name was something truly special, now they're just another maker of jacked up diesel hatchbacks. Market forces I know but it's still sad.
Can Ferrari stay single minded here given they are offset by Fiat/Alfa/Maserati etc?
and if so I wish Porsche (and Lambo) had stayed so pure and let Skoda/VW/Seat/Audi do the SUV'ing...
Lambo I suspect sell enough cars to break even but end of day as part of VW they need to pay for devlopment and add to the over all profits of the corp. Only Bugatti is a pure halo brand.
The American-Italian Board of Chrysler looked at all the data for the launch of what is destined to be their most important vehicle ever for the Maserati brand and came to the conclusion that they could easily get away with only offering the British buyer the s
t-house, brand destroying, poundland punter diesel.
t-house, brand destroying, poundland punter diesel.MikeGalos said:
So, let's see.
It's useless off-road.
It's not particularly "sporty"
It's too compromised to provide much "Utility".
And it puts the "ugh" in ugly.
Yeah, it'll probably sell in the "take the kids to school" market for those who want something different.
you mean they might sell 1000's as a posed to 100's sounds like a good move and of course they still off the MC stradale close to there core values It's useless off-road.
It's not particularly "sporty"
It's too compromised to provide much "Utility".
And it puts the "ugh" in ugly.
Yeah, it'll probably sell in the "take the kids to school" market for those who want something different.
jturn said:
Anyone else getting the Evil Emperor Zurg from Toy Story?
http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/pixar/images/8...
Yes and I quite like it.http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/pixar/images/8...
oldtimer2 said:
A couple of questions for Matt Bird.
1 Did you sit in the back to check the headroom? The roof line looks as though it might compromise headroom
2 How much space is there in the boot?
Two observations:
1 I have always liked the Maserati grill, but in the photos the deeper grill does not look so attractive as on their other cars.
2 The off road performance sounds disappointing, which is surprising given the quoted torque figures of 443 ft/lbs at 2000-6000 rpm.
Hello!1 Did you sit in the back to check the headroom? The roof line looks as though it might compromise headroom
2 How much space is there in the boot?
Two observations:
1 I have always liked the Maserati grill, but in the photos the deeper grill does not look so attractive as on their other cars.
2 The off road performance sounds disappointing, which is surprising given the quoted torque figures of 443 ft/lbs at 2000-6000 rpm.
I did sit in the back when we're doing the off-roading. I'm about six foot three and it was fine, enough leg room too if not exactly huge.
As for the boot, Maserati quotes nearly 600 litres (I will double check the press pack now) and, again, there was more than ample space. Quite a high load lip with my What Car? hat on though...
It was good off-road, don't misunderstand. I think it was more getting used to how the off-road mode worked and the nature of the diesel engine. It's bizarre to drive a car for the first time up a rocky, bumpy hill! Keep the revs above 2,000rpm or so and there are no problems.
Matt
Edited by Matt Bird on Wednesday 13th April 16:08
Matt Bird said:
oldtimer2 said:
A couple of questions for Matt Bird.
1 Did you sit in the back to check the headroom? The roof line looks as though it might compromise headroom
2 How much space is there in the boot?
Two observations:
1 I have always liked the Maserati grill, but in the photos the deeper grill does not look so attractive as on their other cars.
2 The off road performance sounds disappointing, which is surprising given the quoted torque figures of 443 ft/lbs at 2000-6000 rpm.
Hello :wave:1 Did you sit in the back to check the headroom? The roof line looks as though it might compromise headroom
2 How much space is there in the boot?
Two observations:
1 I have always liked the Maserati grill, but in the photos the deeper grill does not look so attractive as on their other cars.
2 The off road performance sounds disappointing, which is surprising given the quoted torque figures of 443 ft/lbs at 2000-6000 rpm.
I did sit in the back when we're doing the off-roading. I'm about six foot three and it was fine, enough leg room too if not exactly huge.
As for the boot, Maserati quotes nearly 600 litres (I will double check the press pack now) and, again, there was more than ample space. Quite a high load lip with my What Car? hat on though...
It was good off-road, don't misunderstand. I think it was more getting used to how the off-road mode worked and the nature of the diesel engine. It's bizarre to drive a car for the first time up a rocky, bumpy hill! Keep the revs above 2,000rpm or so and there are no problems.
Matt
jhonn said:
TurboHatchback said:
.. the name has lost its magic.
But not to the shareholders it hasn't, or indeed the people who continue to enthusiastically buy them. 
(From the Company's perspective, does anyone else matter?)
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