Automotive News reported that the Ghibli would be discontinued after the 2022 model year. If true, no more sedans in the future (they also talk about the QP being discontinued in a few years)! Only SUVs and coupes. I love gorgeous sport sedans, not happy about this potentiality. What about you?
This is not news, it been part of Maserati’s plan for a number of years. The Ghibli/Quattroporte will be replaced by a single model sized in between the two cars.
There will be a new QP with short and longer wheelbase! It was not very clever of Macchionne to push the Ghibli III into the market as it clearly cuts the sale numbers of the -more expensive!- QP! Completely GoGa of him was to give the name of one of the most iconic GT-sports car to a business carrier with 4 doors... And most stupid decision was to push the Ghibli III into the leasing market. Audi, BMW and Mercedes answered and...won!
while things are different in the EU, in the USA at the level Maserati is competing the vast majority of the cars are leased. The Ghibli was never meant to compete directly with Audi, BMW, MB in sales numbers. It was targeted as an Italian alternative the sterile German cars.
I think there's a very basic difference in attitude towards Maserati from members on this forum than that of the typical buying public. We look at Maserati more as having a long history of exclusive and beautiful cars albeit with some quirks that you had to put up with for the u7nique experience. In truth, that's pretty much the case for most Italian cars though. But once Maserati began selling Ghibli IIIs, Levantes and even the QP 6(the latest and least remarkable looking QP ever) they became much more of an automotive commodity just like all the other manufacturers. When Maserati first embarked upon trying to become an alternative to BMW, Mercedes, Audi or even Porsche I was highly skeptical that they could provide any close to the same level of dealer experience that those marques do. Though it has had some fits getting there It seems like they're not doing all that bad in that department now. Leasing is just a fact of life here if you want to sell expensive cars to people who cannot afford to buy them outright or want a new car every 3 years or so. That's a massive swath of the American public. I'm not a part of it but I know it's the dominant way cars are marketed here. When I lived in California I could use very nice cars every day and also keep them pristine looking. It's why people shopping for off lease or used cars look for one that has lived in California or other easy climate locations. You don't typically want one from the NE or Midwest. I live in a car killer environment of snow, ice, salt and crappy pot hole populated roads. I drive my 22 year old Suburban AWD truck during those months but most the high end and exotic cars I see and I see a lot actually do get driven in those conditions and then dumped after 3 years. They all suffer from conditions irrespective of brand and fixing what can be fixed is expensive as hell. This creates a lot of no so desirable but much more attainable formerly high end cars on the market place for the more average Joe. That drives resale values for what were some very expensive cars down sharply. Here's another thing at work. If you frequent some of the other forum sections here you can easily detect a common theme among those with plenty of cash to buy these cars. Not only do they want the very latest stuff but when it comes to say cars like a high end Mercedes AMG they want out of that car ASAP once the service and warranty isn't fully covered because they know how expensive it gets. Because of the proximity of Wall Street here there are many such people blowing a lot of dough on these status symbols even if it's their only car. Even some Lamborghinis have gotten commoditized around here, Gallardos.
