Last May 21st, Stellantis presented its «Fastlane 2030» plan, a roadmap designed to get the Group back on track after several complicated years. The presentation was eagerly awaited by investors and fans of the Group's various brands alike. However, at the end of the 128 slides, a strange feeling dominated: that of having witnessed a Sergio Marchionne-style presentation, full of promises and ambitious objectives... but especially for the American brands.
On the European side, the discourse was often much more vague. Peugeot and Fiat did receive some concrete information, but for Citroën (apart from confirmation of a 2CV), Lancia, DS Automobiles and Abarth, the content was much more discreet. And when it comes to Alfa Romeo and Maserati, frustration quickly mounted.
Maserati quickly mentioned...
To find the first mention of Maserati in the presentation, you had to wait until slide 19 of 128. And even then, the message was minimalist: no, the brand will not be abandoned, yes, it remains the Group's luxury brand, and two future E-segment models are confirmed.
In fact, we're talking about the future Levante and the future Quattroporte, two models already familiar to brand observers. It's important to remember that the future Quattroporte will not actually replace the current F-segment Quattroporte. Rather, it will take the place left vacant by the Ghibli, which has disappeared from the catalog. An ultimately logical repositioning, but one that also demonstrates the extent to which the Maserati range has been reduced in recent years.
And then... nothing. A few words, two silhouettes of models, and the now almost ironic phrase: «More to come».
Alfa Romeo: the bare minimum
For Alfa Romeo, the wait was even longer. The brand only appeared in slide 109 of 128. Here again, Stellantis contented himself with the bare minimum.
The Group has confirmed the arrival of a new C-SUV by 2030, the famous A4U project we've been talking about regularly for months. A strategic model for the brand, intended to complete a range already based on the Junior, Tonale, Giulia and Stelvio.
Another announcement concerned a new special car. But here again, the mystery remains total. Some (like us) are talking about a limited-edition spider, potentially based on an MC20 Cielo. Others imagine the return of a modern Alfa Romeo Montreal, in the form of an exclusive coupé. Here too, Stellantis simply concluded with a discreet «More to come». It's hard not to be disappointed.
Immense frustration
When you follow Alfa Romeo and Maserati news on a daily basis, there's something deeply frustrating about this presentation. For over a year now, we've been waiting for clear answers about the future of the two Italian brands. Which models? What platforms? What engines? What strategy? What volumes? What long-term vision?
And finally, on May 21, all we got were a few already-known confirmations and a lot of silence. We've made no secret of our disappointment in previous articles. For beyond the announcements, it is above all the general impression that raises questions: how can we explain that two such emblematic brands were dealt with so quickly in a presentation that was supposed to map out the Group's future up to 2030?
A more detailed presentation is already planned
Since that presentation, however, there have been a number of indications that Stellantis may not have told the whole story.
Following our disappointment, we received a message explaining, in broad terms, that a much more detailed presentation concerning Alfa Romeo and Maserati would be scheduled for next week. This meeting will be aimed primarily at investors, and may not be made public. This is already a reassuring signal.
For their part, some Italian media also suggest that the real Maserati product plan could be presented in December 2026. However, we are unable to confirm this at this stage.
Why did you wait?
A central question remains: why didn't you present anything concrete on May 21st? For over a year, we've known that’Alfa Romeo and Maserati seek to strengthen synergies. The two brands need to collaborate more, share certain technologies and build a more coherent strategy within the group. So why have they chosen to keep such a low profile at such an important event?
Most surprisingly, the «global brands» argument doesn't really seem to hold water. Dodge and Chrysler, too, have benefited from more detailed treatment, despite a more limited international scope than some European brands. The prevailing feeling today, therefore, is one of a dossier still under construction, or at the very least of a deliberately restrained communication.
«More To Come»
In the end, perhaps the most important phrase of the presentation was the one that discreetly appeared at the bottom of the slides: «More To Come». The question now is when. Will it be next week? By the end of the year? Or even later? In the meantime, one thing is certain: the next few months will be decisive for Alfa Romeo and Maserati. And between official announcements, investor-only presentations and behind-the-scenes rumours, we'll have to keep a particularly close eye on what happens next.
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I think I've now covered all the information that has come out of this faSTLAne plan.
Firstly, the idea of merging the two brands seems to me to be a done deal. The foundation stone for this plan was laid when Filosa brought together the management of the two brands and created the joint Botegga Furioserie department. These two brands will form a small group within the Stellantis group. You'll notice that no future Stelvio or Giulia have been announced. The future Levante and Quattroporte will have no internal competition in this small group.
Now here's what I fear. At no time do I see this little duo prospering within Stellantis. I really think that Maserati's future sedan and SUV will be based on Chinese materials... Like Alfa's future SUV, for that matter. Just as Opel will end up in the hands of Leapmotors one day, I have a good feeling that these two brands will end up with Dongfeng in time, along with Cassino and Modena. Maybe it'll start with a 51-49 stake (phew, it's still in the group!) before a subsequent sale. That way, no one will be able to say that Filosa lied. W&S...
Exactly. Americans don't buy enough of the Italian cars to make profit?
Frankly, with this new product plan, it's not at all like Imparato's famous announcements when he told us that the group would release a model every year. This product plan clearly leaves us wanting more. Clearly, the Alfa Romeo Fiat Maserati partnership needs to be strengthened from a strategic point of view.
«The future Quattroporte won't actually replace the current F-segment Quattroporte, but rather take the place left vacant by the Ghibl«.«
If that's the case, it's complete nonsense!!!!
They've already turned what was supposed to be the 6C into the MC20, and maybe they're now slipping what was supposed to be the future Giulia and Stelvio into Maserati, and telling us that these are the future Quattroporte and Levante.
Don't you find it disturbing? Overnight, the 2 Alfa models disappear from the radar, and Maserati announces 2 new models, one of which is a smaller sedan than the old Quattroporte...
It was already said a few months ago that the Giulia and Stelvio would be the largest models in the range, and that the sizes above them would be left to Maserati. At least nobody's stepping on each other's toes. There's just the Grecale, which works in both segments, but is surely a good loss leader...
The Giulia/Stelvio duo has no offspring, according to the slides. And yet we remember last year's spyshots of the future Stelvio proto. In the end, Potté was right: as the Quattroporte moves into the lower segment (that of the Giulia), it's quite likely that Stellantis had the prototypes «slipped» to Maserati. It fits. And it's probably the same for the Levante, which will pick up the Stelvio's lower-segment proto... In the end, I was betting on a Chinese base, but this hypothesis convinces me too.
Because the slides don't actually show anything. There will be an offspring, that's obvious 🙂
No, the quattroporte is in the size segment above the giulia. It's the large sedan above the giulia that there won't be.
In any case, the future Stelvio is slightly larger than the current one.
Reply to Alexandre: We hope so! In any case, we have to admit that even on a simple slide, the product plan is not at all clear, whereas this is the case with FIAT, Peugeot, US brands etc...
But plans change every week with Stellantis :/ And, as far as I'm concerned, I don't trust them...
exactly, which is why... I don't believe in much anymore... I think the A4U is believable because it's almost as advanced as the Gamma, it's multi-energy... so there's no reason to postpone it. As for the rest... let's not rehash history...
Neither do I.
But it doesn't matter, because once we've all moved on to the Japanese or continue to maintain the latest used models, don't be surprised if there's no turning back!!!!
Exactly. Just like trump changes his mind every day. Bad idea bringing European cars here and making a profit. They have been trying to sell these brands to us since the 1950’s.
But where did you see that Giulia and Stelvio had disappeared from the radar?
Read the May 21 presentation slides and you'll see that Alfa is talking about ADDED models, not planned replacements.
It seems that Alfa has issued a press release to remind us that Giulia and Stelvio have simply been delayed until 2028 (which we already knew).
So in this eventuality (that no one else has «noticed») communication is VERY poor.
It's a mistake for the Giulia and Stelvio to get bigger, and for Maserati to go downmarket again. If they wanted to make real clones, they should have migrated the Grecale to Lancia, Chrysler, Citroën and Dodge. Maserati is the sporty «limousine» par excellence, and customers are fed up with waiting for it, believe me, to rub shoulders with them all the time.
Alfa, Dodge (sport), Lancia, Chrysler and Citroën (premium) must occupy the road sedan and SUV segments that complement them.
Do they want efficient sharing? The Grecale is a «real base», all that's left is to build the sedan that goes with it, and there's no shortage of V6s and L6s, but an SUV and customer follow-ups worthy of their respective coats of arms!
On the slide in question concerning Alfa, there is the current range of representatives AND the models to come before 2030 (effective end of the program). You'll agree with me that «added» means «added» to the range. At no point are the Giulia/Stelvio included. This suggests that they won't be renewed before that date. Peugeot's slides, for example, show the 308, and its replacement (multi-energy model Segment C). There's no doubt about it. At Alfa, it's not at all clear.
I disagree!
The Ghibli was obviously a bigger seller than the Quatrroporte. Replacing 2 similar sedans with a single model is much smarter and more cost-effective, given the low volumes and declining appeal of low-slung sedans in general. A model probably equidistant from the two previous versions, both in terms of price and length, would be a good idea.
The Quattroporte sold better in its target markets than the Ghibli, which had a more balanced design. In Switzerland, for example, you can see how many Quattroporte and Ghibli models you come across, and above all, how popular some Quattroporte models are in the passenger transport sector, which the Ghibli is not.
Marchionne was the champion at making deals and exploiting cash cows, but certainly not the best at developing brands. We get the same impression from Filosa, who doesn't know what to do with Alfa and Maserati, and doesn't seem to understand European brands.
No, it's the other way around, Marchionne had understood Alfa's potential, but he screwed up by announcing the end of Lancia, whereas the 159 was a Lancia Thema 2 disguised as an Alfa that deserved a Gamma with a 5-door Brera to complete its range, and gave the team time to come up with the Giulia by modernizing the 156 with the 4WDs of the (Cross/Sportwagon) and cancelling out the progress made on the Busso sismaux, not to have used the 4C as an Abarth flagship whose motto, like Lotus, is Light.
What's more, Marchionne made the mistake of letting Maserati encroach on Lancia with the Ghibli and the Grecale, because what Maserati lacked was an even longer version of the Quattroporte and an after-sales service worthy of Lexus or Ferrari. Not like now, when they're more like Mercedes, Peugeot or Audi.
Alfa Romeo - Maserati combination would be the most logical
Absolutely. A true Alfa/Maserati duo would be perfect. Alfa could occupy the B to D segments, and Maserati the rest above. This small group would occupy a wide range without stepping on each other's toes (CF the Giulia/Stelvio case mentioned above). Modena and Cassino must be fully integrated into this duo. They should have their own shared R&D center. They could even become independent of Stellantis via a takeover bid. But please, no sale to the Chinese... (which I fear).
Potté, the Lancia/ Maserati combination would be more logical. If you want to share with Alfa, Dodge is a better choice, but sorry, the products below the Giulietta must disappear and the models must come out in combustion and hybrid versions with at least the 2.0 GME and above. If you were to buy a petrol Giulietta ⛽️ that would lose almost none of its value because not everyone has it and many would want it, wouldn't you be ecstatic?
As far as Alfa Romeo news is concerned, according to the passionne auto italiane and club alfa it websites, there are plans for a new suv to replace the Tonale on a Stla medium base and a new compact to replace the Giulietta on a Stla one base, followed by the Stelvio and Giulia, the launch of which has been postponed.
with all due respect, stop reading club alfa, it's a site owned by a company in the canary islands that only repompes content from other sites. they have no journalists, it's probably written with AI, i've never come across them at any press tests or italian car events. In short, Italpassion is the best. To date, all we know is C-SUV A4U. The rest is baseless.
And the new Bottega Fuoriserie, and the replacement of the Giulia/Stelvio.
That said, passione.auto.italiane also reports on the shifting calendar for the Giulia/Stelvio duo (we knew that!) and the C-SUV, based on an Alfa press release. Any news?
there is no alfa romeo press release... I have access to all the info, there is no such document beyond what we saw in the presentation.
What if the C-SUV A4U was called «Alfetta»?
The code name would be A4U = «Alfetta for you».
I say that, after all, why not, right?
It doesn't work that way.
A4U = Alfa Romeo Size 4 SUV
A5S = Alfa Romeo Size 5 Sedan
A5U = Alfa Romeo Size 5 SUV
Maserati has :
M9S: size 9 sedan
M6U: size 6 suv
At Fiat it's the same: F4U, F2U, F2X...
Well you see Italpassion confirms the same information as Club alfa it that you criticize for spreading false information !!!!
M. it makes me sick to my stomach but I'll say it again: club alfa is a company based in the canary islands, they don't have any journalists, they take news from rss feeds or from competing sites without ever quoting a source. In over 10 years, I've never come across them at any motoring event, and there's never a report on their site. I've been in conflict with them several times because they used photos of mine without authorization. So please be more lenient in your judgement.
I don't give a damn about the Canary Islands, what interests me is the news from club alfa it and then passionne auto italiane, which were broadcast long before Italpassion.
You like the far west, that's fine. I invite you to stop coming here and stay there.
A quattroporte that goes from the F segment to the E, why not D, you never know with Stellantis, in any case if Alfa and Maserati will form a duo in the future and they won't be stepping on each other's toes, it doesn't look good for the Stelvio or even the Giulia, I fear the worst like Seg B and C Alfa and D E Maserati!
I don't think so, he's from FCA!
But I get the impression from reading the comments everywhere that everyone has their own opinion, frustrations and desires (which is legitimate).
But no one is thinking about industrial constraints, financial pressure, ever-increasing competition, ever-increasing regulations (EU), US mistakes, political management, consumer tastes, technical challenges... It's not just «bunch of incompetents». I'm talking about comments from people who feel they're better managers sitting in their armchairs than guys running multinationals!
Because you think other groups don't have the same constraints? How many brands does the Volkswagen Group have? How is BMW doing in electric vehicles?
No other group gives the impression of sailing so blindly, with cost-cutting as its sole leitmotiv, at all costs...
Certainly, but VW is not doing well: plant(s) for sale, extremely low profitability, changes in strategy (parallel ID range on probation, apparently). BUGATTI has been sold off, Audi is lost in nomenclature and name strategies, Seat is withering away, Skoda has left China after having made a killing. I'm not saying it's better at Stellantis, I'm saying that all European groups have a problem!
Cupra loopt lekker, Lamborghini gaat heel goed. In China staat VW op, samen met Audi. Skoda richt zich op India. Bentley en Porsche zijn wat wiebelig, maar daar is de inzet tenminste maximaal. En ja, een ander merk, zoals de BMW-groep of de Renault-groep, doen het best aardig. Al die excuses voor Stellantis: ze zijn op.
It remains strange, with all those tremendous successes in terms of design and emotion-from the Giulia to the QP V to the 33 Stradale-that they haven't managed to turn it into a commercial success. Even Imparato has produced air bubbles. When will a clear mind get behind the wheel?
Just take a look at who bought the Stelvio and Giulia Quadrifoglio, most of whom are «real fans» or Ferrari buyers who won't be able to find this type of product at the horse's mouth, which means there's a huge difference with Maserati.
Maserati represents excellence in terms of performance and prestige, but the products not found in its range should normally be found at Lancia (which is precisely the role of premium), and Grecale distributes them as it does under this banner (hence the synergy between them, which is imperative).
It's about time people understood that buying a Maserati, an Alfa or a Lancia costs a lot of money, and limiting the number of examples allows their vehicles to keep a stable value that will rise very quickly after 20 years.
Do they want volume? That's what Fiat, Peugeot and Opel are there for.
Out of their 60 billion, they'd do better to create a training center and a real, competent after-sales service and, above all, to rediscover exemplary reliability!
Alfa must absolutely and solely produce in Milan, Maserati Modena and Lancia Turin, for reasons of stability and credibility.
French DS/Citroën ditto. Jeep/Dodge ditto.
The rest is for volume, so who cares?.
Two brands that you just want to buy, two brands that you love... It's legitimate to wonder whether Stellantis' managers have a passion for cars. It's legitimate to wonder whether they want to make money from these brands... They're simply being scuttled... The best thing that can happen to them is for them to be bought by a group with a passion for cars that will listen to customers.
Mr Filluzeau, you can see that the truth bothers you. I will continue to visit Italpassion whether it bothers you or not. .
Exactly. Americans don't buy enough of the Italian cars to make profit?