RE: FIAT and Ferrari

["Michael S. Sweigart" <ms@domain.elided>]

Alfa would be smart to see how Maserati has handled their re-entry into the
USA. One of our clients is a Maserati dealer and all of his cars are sold
out well in advance. They have coupled their Maserati dealership with their
Ferrari, Bentley, Rolls, and Aston dealerships. The new Spyder just looks
50k more expensive sitting next to a Ferrari =)

I would think it would be a smarter move to tie Alfas in with other luxo
brands as opposed to Cadillacs and even Saabs.

On a side note, one of the advantages of being an Automotive ad
agency/Internet agency is that we get to see lotsa new brochures, cds, and
have access to media footage unavailable to the public eye. I have a few new
Ferrari and Maserati brochures sitting here now...<sigh>

-Michael in New Joisey

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-alfa@domain.elided [mailto:owner-alfa@domain.elided]On Behalf Of
Nicky Avery
Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2002 11:51 PM
To: alfa@domain.elided
Subject: Re: FIAT and Ferrari


Nick is right to be suspicious of rumors of FIAT selling out to GM. Richard
Waggoner or someone close in rank was reported some months ago as saying
that GM
has no desire to buy FIAT. I find this believable as GM would not appear to
need
any more stretcher cases at this time especially when it is heaving Olds
(and,
perhaps, Buick) overboard.

I still think the plan is to see how the relaunch of Alfa (see, Alfa content
after all) fares here and perhaps buy it then from FIAT if the price is
right.
Alfa is pretty much the last purchasable luxury brand of any size with some
"exotic" allure.

Some while back I suggested the only way that Alfa could return to the USA
was
by going upmarket. No listers appeared to agree at the time but I offer the
Brera as evidence that this may indeed be the strategy. On the other side I
may
be proven wrong by the BMW Mini: if it is to be a runaway success, FIAT and
GM
may decide the 147 or its successor looks a good idea. I'm sure they're
watching
with great interest on both sides of the Atlantic. Does anyone know how the
Mini
is affecting the 147? Nick?


Nicky
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