Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo has decreed that there will be no SUV, four-door or a smaller and more affordable car built with the Prancing Horse on its nose, squashing widespread rumours that the Maranello sportscar maker plans to expand its portfolio beyond the sports car and GT market. Pure electric cars are ruled out too, at least while he’s still in charge he said.
“It just wouldn’t fit the brand,” claimed di Montezemolo in the Autocar UK report. “Our emphasis is on our heritage and expertise. We will manufacture new models in the future, but the market position of them will always begin with where we stand with relation to our history.”
Such out-of-character cars will be handled by sister company Maserati, which has already entered the executive sedan market with the new Ghibli and will introduce a sporty SUV in the near future. Ferrari on the other hand will stick to what it knows best, with the top boss claiming that he wishes to sell fewer cars this year than the record 7,318 units they made in 2012 to preserve the brand’s exclusivity.
That’s all good but the problem is, it’s hard to define Ferrari’s current core market. While the 458 Italia and F12berlinetta are both thoroughbred Ferraris through and through, less so can be said of the company’s other models. The California is more Paris Hilton than Danica Patrick, and the FF, with its giant hatchback looks and four-wheel drive isn’t exactly what Enzo ordered.
So perhaps the more appropriate message is for Ferrari to not betray its roots/heritage/expertise any more than they already have. What’s your take on the Ferrari situation?
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my take is no money to buy in this lifetime or the next so no point comment
my honest opinion is that as long as they r making it a two-door version and with low ground clearance, it’s still relevant, definitely not a betrayal to its root and heritage.
‘he wishes to sell fewer cars this year than the record 7,318 units they made in 2012 to preserve the brand’s exclusivity’
These kind of statements are normally made when they are losing market share and just to save face (Lotus always does that). Why not just cap a limit for each model they make?
That Prancing Horse badge is one of the, if not THE most recognisable and famous brand in the world. Do you really think wealthy buyers won’t line up to buy any Ferrari-badged sedans or suvs?
Its refreshing that Ferrari is not following in the footsteps of Porsche even after all those sales records set by the Cayenne and Panamera.
Ferrari is not bothered about the number of sales they can make. It’s a super exclusive brand and they can’t just build an suv or a 4 for sedan just to compete with the market.
If there were to be many Ferrari suv on the road just like the Cayenne, the excitement of seeing a prancing horse zoom pass you would just be gone.
Agreed!!
Agreed!
The only model I fancied is the F40. As for racing, I don’t mind using an old GTR.