Latest news with #Ficili
Auto Car
29-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
Maserati 'cancelled' the electric MC20 - but don't write it off for good...
The electric version of the Maserati MC20 supercar could still see the light of day if the market picks up, says Maserati, after it cancelled the model earlier this year, citing insufficient demand. Promising huge power and similar dynamics to those of the V6 car, the MC20 Folgore would have been the first electric supercar on sale – the circa-2000bhp Rimac Nevera, Pininfarina Battista and Lotus Evija meriting full-bore hypercar status. Its potentially seminal status was ultimately its downfall, though, with nothing comparable on sale against which it could be benchmarked. Maserati wasn't confident it would attract a sufficient number of buyers away from V6 and V8-engined alternatives to recoup the substantial development costs. Maserati CEO Santo Ficili stands by the decision and told Autocar: 'I don't think it's the right time to take this kind of supercar in the electrification direction.' But he added that the MC20 Folgore project was on pause, rather than cancelled, and the car could yet make production as the MCPura Folgore. 'Let's say we will see,' he said when asked if the firm's supercar could yet go electric. 'The project is [advanced], but we decided to wait to understand what is going to happen.' There are no immediate plans to begin development again. Ficili said: 'We have this fantastic [V6] engine that is to the satisfaction of our customers. We hold a different kind of power. This is our engine at this time.' He added that he did not have the 'crystal ball' to see when there will be a market for an electric supercar, and that it was crucial 'to have the customer ready to buy a car like this' before investing further. In the meantime, Ficili went as far as to suggest Maserati could launch a new ICE-powered, manual-shifting super-GT flagship, in partnership with Alfa Romeo. This would be likely to use the 3.0-litre twin-turbo Nettuno V6 that powers the MC20 and Granturismo. The firm's technical boss Davide Danesin Maserati engineering boss Davide Danesin said "there are still customers looking for pure mechanical cars,' because they have a 'bad feeling' about having a battery on board a supercar, due to the heightened complexity and extra weight it brings.
Miami Herald
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
7 People Can Ride In This $1.3M Electric Rolls-Royce
If you are one of the very few people on the planet who's in need of an electric Rolls-Royce that can seat up to seven people, you'll have to go the restomod route. So far, the only production Rolls-Royce EV is the Spectre coupe. Fortunately, British company Lunaz - which specializes in electric restomods of classic luxury cars - has come up with the ultimate Rolls EV. This Phantom V has all the grace and majesty of the original model produced from the late 1950s, but now runs on silent electric power alone. The original Phantom V was equipped with a 6.2-liter V8 engine and four-speed automatic transmission, being based on the Silver Cloud II of the period. Lunaz has not gone into any detail about how much power the electric powertrain produces, beyond saying that it uses an 80-kWh battery pack. We don't expect it to be shockingly quick by modern EV standards, as this is surely the kind of car that is most rewarding when driven gently. In the process of converting this Rolls to an EV, Lunaz replaced or re-engineered over 11,000 components over a period of 5,500 hours. As with the powertrain specs, we also don't know how long this Rolls will take to charge, but it's safe to assume that the buyer of this car has the wherewithal to install a home charger, so this car may never need to experience the indignity of charging alongside someone's old Nissan Leaf. But what about Alfa Romeo? Ficili, also the head of Alfa Romeo, has confirmed that Stellantis will review its strategy, too. He didn't share further details about this, as it seems like the automaker is focusing on Maserati first. We should know more by the end of the month. Alfa Romeo is currently struggling, not only with sales but also with the development of its upcoming products. Specifically, the next-generation Stelvio, Alfa's best-selling model, is in doubt since the company backpedaled from its full-electric lineup strategy, now heading to a hybrid path. However, a new post today suggests something new will be revealed next week: Of note, 15% of Alfa Romeo's sales are from America, the world's second-biggest automotive market. Again, tariffs will play a significant role in both automakers' business plans, for which Stellantis hired the consulting firm McKinsey.
West Australian
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- West Australian
‘Very powerful' Alfa Romeo special editions coming with Prada input
Alfa Romeo has announced a partnership that its boss says will spawn a series of lighter and 'more powerful' special-edition Quadrifoglio model variants, with the first to be unveiled in early 2026. The unique road cars will come from Alfa Romeo's new technology sharing partnership with Luna Rossa, an Italian challenger for the 38th America's Cup yacht race that's set to take place in Naples, Italy, in 2027. The America's Cup – won by Australia II in 1983 – sees high-tech vessels vie for line honours on the water, in a competition as technically challenging as Formula 1. When asked about whether the technical tie-up between the Italian automaker and Luna Rossa will extend to special-edition road cars, Alfa Romeo CEO Santo Ficili was emphatic that it would. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now . 'Yes – the answer is absolutely yes, and there is a lot of excitement about this, because we are working as two teams,' Mr Ficili said during a media call attended by CarExpert. 'The partnership is going to start now, and I believe in the next six to eight months we are going to be really working together – we have started already. 'I believe that Q1 2026 {the first quarter of next year] we would like to start with something we have in our mind – very limited, very powerful – and then we would like to continue.' The Alfa boss added that the special editions will peak – or 'apex', as he called it – around the time of the 2027 America's Cup, which is scheduled to take place between March and August of that year in Naples, where the Alfa Romeo Tonale small SUV is made. He also said the Quadrifoglio name will still hold its place as the halo model grade of the Italian brand's performance vehicle lineup. 'The first thing we are trying to work out together [on] is starting from the Quadrifoglio, which is our top performance brand, to find something that embeds the research of materials that we are doing together,' he said. 'Of course, it has to be something embedded into the Quadrifoglio brand – so it's going to be basically something around Quadrifoglio.' Alfa Romeo currently offers Quadrifoglio versions of its Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV, which are both at the end of their lifecycles and will be replaced some time next year by hybrid and electric successors. Alfa Romeo's global marketing boss, Cristiano Fiorio, has essentially confirmed ongoing petrol power for the brand after it cancelled plans to go all-electric by 2027 . 'Personally, I do not see a Quadrifoglio EV,' Fiorio said to British publication Autocar earlier this year. And it seems the special editions won't wait for Alfa Romeo's next-generation models, which are due to be outlined when the automaker announces its new strategic plan on June 23. 'The current range – we have to consider Junior [a new small hybrid and electric SUV due in Australia later in 2025], Tonale, Giulia and Stelvio,' said Mr Ficili. 'So, we will start from these four fantastic models we have today in our range, then we will see also in the future, but there is already space to work with the current range of Alfa Romeo.' The centenary of the iconic Italian Mille Miglia – which means 1000 miles – road race will also take place in 2027, and the Luna Rossa team is set to race an Alfa Romeo 1900 SS in this year's historic running for pre-1957 cars. Driving the car during the June 17-21 event will be Italian rally driver – and head of corporate responsibility at fashion brand Prada – Lorenzo Bertelli. 'We are working with the team Luna Rossa and with Lorenzo in order to put all the know-how, the expertise of the design, the speed, the light materials into also some limited-edition cars,' said Mr Ficili.
7NEWS
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
‘Very powerful' Alfa Romeo special editions coming with Prada input
Alfa Romeo has announced a partnership that its boss says will spawn a series of lighter and 'more powerful' special-edition Quadrifoglio model variants, with the first to be unveiled in early 2026. The unique road cars will come from Alfa Romeo's new technology sharing partnership with Luna Rossa, an Italian challenger for the 38th America's Cup yacht race that's set to take place in Naples, Italy, in 2027. The America's Cup – won by Australia II in 1983 – sees high-tech vessels vie for line honours on the water, in a competition as technically challenging as Formula 1. When asked about whether the technical tie-up between the Italian automaker and Luna Rossa will extend to special-edition road cars, Alfa Romeo CEO Santo Ficili was emphatic that it would. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. 'Yes – the answer is absolutely yes, and there is a lot of excitement about this, because we are working as two teams,' Mr Ficili said during a media call attended by CarExpert. 'The partnership is going to start now, and I believe in the next six to eight months we are going to be really working together – we have started already. 'I believe that Q1 2026 {the first quarter of next year] we would like to start with something we have in our mind – very limited, very powerful – and then we would like to continue.' The Alfa boss added that the special editions will peak – or 'apex', as he called it – around the time of the 2027 America's Cup, which is scheduled to take place between March and August of that year in Naples, where the Alfa Romeo Tonale small SUV is made. He also said the Quadrifoglio name will still hold its place as the halo model grade of the Italian brand's performance vehicle lineup. 'The first thing we are trying to work out together [on] is starting from the Quadrifoglio, which is our top performance brand, to find something that embeds the research of materials that we are doing together,' he said. 'Of course, it has to be something embedded into the Quadrifoglio brand – so it's going to be basically something around Quadrifoglio.' Alfa Romeo currently offers Quadrifoglio versions of its Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV, which are both at the end of their lifecycles and will be replaced some time next year by hybrid and electric successors. Alfa Romeo's global marketing boss, Cristiano Fiorio, has essentially confirmed ongoing petrol power for the brand after it cancelled plans to go all-electric by 2027. 'Personally, I do not see a Quadrifoglio EV,' Fiorio said to British publication Autocar earlier this year. And it seems the special editions won't wait for Alfa Romeo's next-generation models, which are due to be outlined when the automaker announces its new strategic plan on June 23. 'The current range – we have to consider Junior [a new small hybrid and electric SUV due in Australia later in 2025], Tonale, Giulia and Stelvio,' said Mr Ficili. 'So, we will start from these four fantastic models we have today in our range, then we will see also in the future, but there is already space to work with the current range of Alfa Romeo.' The centenary of the iconic Italian Mille Miglia – which means 1000 miles – road race will also take place in 2027, and the Luna Rossa team is set to race an Alfa Romeo 1900 SS in this year's historic running for pre-1957 cars. Driving the car during the June 17-21 event will be Italian rally driver – and head of corporate responsibility at fashion brand Prada – Lorenzo Bertelli.
Perth Now
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
‘Very powerful' Alfa Romeo special editions coming with Prada input
Alfa Romeo has announced a partnership that its boss says will spawn a series of lighter and 'more powerful' special-edition Quadrifoglio model variants, with the first to be unveiled in early 2026. The unique road cars will come from Alfa Romeo's new technology sharing partnership with Luna Rossa, an Italian challenger for the 38th America's Cup yacht race that's set to take place in Naples, Italy, in 2027. The America's Cup – won by Australia II in 1983 – sees high-tech vessels vie for line honours on the water, in a competition as technically challenging as Formula 1. When asked about whether the technical tie-up between the Italian automaker and Luna Rossa will extend to special-edition road cars, Alfa Romeo CEO Santo Ficili was emphatic that it would. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert 'Yes – the answer is absolutely yes, and there is a lot of excitement about this, because we are working as two teams,' Mr Ficili said during a media call attended by CarExpert. 'The partnership is going to start now, and I believe in the next six to eight months we are going to be really working together – we have started already. 'I believe that Q1 2026 {the first quarter of next year] we would like to start with something we have in our mind – very limited, very powerful – and then we would like to continue.' The Alfa boss added that the special editions will peak – or 'apex', as he called it – around the time of the 2027 America's Cup, which is scheduled to take place between March and August of that year in Naples, where the Alfa Romeo Tonale small SUV is made. Supplied Credit: CarExpert He also said the Quadrifoglio name will still hold its place as the halo model grade of the Italian brand's performance vehicle lineup. 'The first thing we are trying to work out together [on] is starting from the Quadrifoglio, which is our top performance brand, to find something that embeds the research of materials that we are doing together,' he said. 'Of course, it has to be something embedded into the Quadrifoglio brand – so it's going to be basically something around Quadrifoglio.' Alfa Romeo currently offers Quadrifoglio versions of its Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV, which are both at the end of their lifecycles and will be replaced some time next year by hybrid and electric successors. Alfa Romeo's global marketing boss, Cristiano Fiorio, has essentially confirmed ongoing petrol power for the brand after it cancelled plans to go all-electric by 2027. Supplied Credit: CarExpert 'Personally, I do not see a Quadrifoglio EV,' Fiorio said to British publication Autocar earlier this year. And it seems the special editions won't wait for Alfa Romeo's next-generation models, which are due to be outlined when the automaker announces its new strategic plan on June 23. 'The current range – we have to consider Junior [a new small hybrid and electric SUV due in Australia later in 2025], Tonale, Giulia and Stelvio,' said Mr Ficili. 'So, we will start from these four fantastic models we have today in our range, then we will see also in the future, but there is already space to work with the current range of Alfa Romeo.' Supplied Credit: CarExpert The centenary of the iconic Italian Mille Miglia – which means 1000 miles – road race will also take place in 2027, and the Luna Rossa team is set to race an Alfa Romeo 1900 SS in this year's historic running for pre-1957 cars. Driving the car during the June 17-21 event will be Italian rally driver – and head of corporate responsibility at fashion brand Prada – Lorenzo Bertelli. 'We are working with the team Luna Rossa and with Lorenzo in order to put all the know-how, the expertise of the design, the speed, the light materials into also some limited-edition cars,' said Mr Ficili.
