Maserati has unveiled the Alfieri, a 2+2 concept car to celebrate the brand's centenary, at the Geneva show. Named after one of the founding Maserati brothers, the Alfieri is billed as an exciting but realistic and 100% functional prototype that says much about the design DNA of future Maseratis.
Created at the Maserati Centro Stile in Turin by a group of young designers, under the direction of Marco Tencone and overseen by Fiat group design chief Lorenzo Ramaciotti, the Maserati Alfieri is sportier in character and proportions than the current GranTurismo.
"I can't honestly say that we'll see this car in production in the next two years, but I'm certain we'll see something very similar," Ramaciotti said.
The Alfieri's long, low nose is an evolution from contemporary Maseratis. The grille is divided vertically into two concave sections and the led DRLs are connected by a clear decorative line with a stylistic central element. The headlights incorporate a characteristic brow, and the same decorative element is repeated on the twin exhaust pipes. Prominent air ducts give the rear a race car-look.
Inside, minimalism is the theme. The suspended dashboard is conceptually inspired by that of the 1959 Maserati 5000 GT. The dashboard boasts a clean, organic, two-tone design built around a central TFT screen.
The instrument panel has a classic layout with two binnacle dials with two smaller ones in between. The edge of each is embellished with a small "Officine Maserati" label.
The Maserati Alfieri is based on the GranTurismo MC Stradale chassis with 240 mm lopped of the wheelbase to make 2,700 mm. Under that shapely body lies the transaxle platform of the GranTurismo. The 4.7 litre naturally aspirated V8 does 460 bhp and 520 Nm of torque, and is mated to a six-speed, electro-actuated MC Shift gearbox. The weight distribution is slightly rear biased.
What do you think of the Alfieri as a GranTurismo replacement and Porsche 911/Jaguar F-Type rival?
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