Geneva 2014: Maserati reveals stunning Alfieri concept

Maserati has shown its Alfieri 2+2 concept sports car at the Geneva auto show. Maserati calls it a realistic and 100% functional prototype that previews the design of future Maserati sports cars.

Named after one of the Maserati brothers who founded the company in Bologna 100 years ago. The Alfieri was created at the Maserati Centro Stile in Turin by a group of talented young designers, under the direction of Marco Tencone overseen by Lorenzo Ramaciotti.

Alfieri is a sleek, Italian style 2+2 like the 1957 3500 GT, the 1959 5000 GT and the 1969 Indy before it, and clearly affirms Maserati’s racing DNA. Sportier in character than the GranTurismo, the Alfieri boasts proportions that might well be archetypal for a future Gran Sport and are certainly a hint at the brand’s stylistic intentions for the near future.“

Alfieri received inspiration from the A6 GCS-53 Pininfarina-designed race car from 1954. The new concept also features a long, low nose, and an extra-wide windsheld. The car is coated in a special “Steel Flair” liquid-metal like color, Maserati calling it a “metallic veil over a naked body.”

The interior features a TFT display panel that replaces traditional analog instruments, with a rotating indicator displaying speed and RPM, magnifying the numbers Apple OS-style. The floor imitates the finish of oxidized steel.

The seat profile inserts, gearbox lever and oval clock on the central console are milled from single piece aluminium billets, hand finished and anodised in a natural copper colour. All other aluminium components, including the pedals, gearbox paddles and steering wheel spokes are also hand finished and anodised in a palladium colour.

The Alfieri is based on the GranTurismo MC Stradale chassis with a 24 centimetre shorter wheelbase, giving it the proportions of a genuine supercar. Alfieri is 4,590mm long with a 2,700mm wheelbase, 1,930mm wide and 1,280mm high. Under the sleek body lies the transaxle platform of the Maserati GranTurismo. This 4.7 litre, naturally aspirated, V8 engine from Maranello develops 460bhp at 7,000rpm and 520Nm at 4,750rpm.

Maserati announced that it has increased its sales, from 2102 to 2013, by 150%, from 6,200 to 15,400 cars. A unit of the Fiat group, Maserati is a global automotive player with a complete model range made up of two four-door sedans, two GT sports cars, four engines (a V8, a V6 Twin Turbo, a V8 NA and a Turbo Diesel), two different architectures (AWD & RWD) and an SUV due to arrive shortly.

According to designer Lorenzo Ramaciotti, “The Alfieri is a transition point between 100 glorious years of history and the future that is opening up before us. 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.”