All Entries Tagged With: "chrysler tc by maserati"
Maserati is Playing With Fire
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img Maserati | Autoblog ::: Maserati “baby Quattroporte”
OR maybe Maserati’s being unwillingly pushed closer to the fire pit by callous Fiat bosses looking out for the bottom line. Either way, the latest news from Maserati regarding product coming down Modena’s pike isn’t encouraging.
There’s been talk of a”baby Quattroporte” and “baby GranTurismo” that in the next two to four years will play happy encore roles to the 1980s Biturbo generation and act as a brand extension bridge between Alfa Romeo’s top end and Maserati’s sub-€100K bottom.
All that would be fine except Fiat is going to have the baby Masers use the same platform as the 2012 Chrysler 300C (below).
History’s iPod has an insipid repeat mode for the worst tracks. Anyone remember the Chrysler TC by Maserati? Bad as that badge engineered bastardization was, this time, there’s a new twist.
In a hey-they’re-doing-it-too pass straight from the Jaguar playbook, Maserati will offer a twin-turbo, 400 horsepower V6 diesel engine co-developed with ChryCo. The catche of premium performance and the economy of diesel mix about as well as e85 and brake fluid. And so much for trickle-down Ferrari magic.
Somebody’s going to get burnt by a smoldering trident.
Ferrari Snubs Detroit Auto Show, But Shows Support For Chrysler
By Gunnar Heinrich
SIGNALING an end of days for the all-encompassing, omnipotent, omniscient, and hugely expensive auto show is nigh, Ferrari took the unusual step of announcing that its official display will not grace the upcoming the North American International Auto Show (a.k.a. “Detroit Auto Show”).
But in a curious twist, Ferrari also announced that a Ferrari 599XX will be on display at the Chrysler stand to “celebrate the Fiat-Chrysler partnership”.
It’s a strange world we live in. But then again, times were a lot stranger in earlier days.
To mark this momentous occasion and in the spirit of amity, Ferrari stablemate and Fiat subsidiary Maserati didn’t announce that they wouldn’t display a Chrysler TC by Maserati as a tribute to the Trident’s former partnership with ChryCo.
Aston Martin Cygnet: When Sports Car Makers Aim For The Guardrail
- Behold! Aston’s $43,000 Aztec.
- Aston Martin Cygnet based on Toyota iQ; featuring Toyota engine
- Recalls botched joint efforts of yore
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG Aston Martin
TEAM Ferrari has to be howling at this one.
The Aston Cygnet – a joint, face plant project where an Aston Martin’s likeness (read: iconic fascia) is artistically transplanted onto a little Toyota iQ economy hatch- is a sad insight into the economic realities facing a small, independent sports car manufacturer.
The little “Aston” will be brought to markets next year.
Plainly the Cygnet was born of a need to increase revenue whilst simultaneously jumping through the completely-pointless environmental, one-size-fits-all fleet emissions standards set forth by, what Mrs. Thatcher would’ve called, “the bureacracy in Brussels.”
While Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bugatti, and the like are more sheltered from fleet average regulations thanks to their sheltered status as subsidiaries of larger automotive conglomerates, Aston, it would seem, does not have this luxury.
Though, if push came to shove on placing unfair restrictions of fuel economy, Aston’s mangement could highlight that Ford is still a major shareholder in the company.
Still, this decision was part of extending brand awareness while being paid for it.
According to Car & Driver, the Cygnet’s largest engine option, rippling with all the power of an orange salamander – a 1.3 liter Toyota four cylinder motor – will produce a 0-60 time in a blistering 12 seconds and likely set the not-so-hot hatch’s price as high as €30,000 ($43,000).
By the way, speaking of bogus brand extensions – does anyone remember the Chrysler TC by Maserati?
Aston’s next GT, had better come with the looks of an Alfa 8C and the performance on an Enzo to make up for this bull $#!t.
