Maserati says yes to hybrids, no to electric cars - ecomento.com
Tightening global emissions standards have many high-end carmakers looking for ways to improve the fuel efficiency of luxury models, supercars, and other products one normally wouldn’t consider very green. The Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) brand will focus on hybrids and possibly hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, but not electric cars, CEO Harald Wester said in a recent interview with Motor Trend. Wester said Maserati will first work to improve the efficiency of standalone internal-combustion engines, and then move on to hybrids, and in the “distant future,” fuel cells. The Maserati CEO believes that fuel-cell powertrains can be packaged to be smaller and lighter than battery-electric ones, or at least that this will be the case by the time Maserati begins considering putting one into production. In the shorter term, Wester said Maserati could maintain its reputation for performance with a sporty hybrid, noting that cars like the Ferrari LaFerrari can be pretty engaging. Fellow performance-luxury brand Porsche is already moving in this direction with its Panamera S E-Hybrid and Cayenne S E-Hybrid models. Over the past few years, FCA has also tried to make Maserati into a more direct competitor with German brands like Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche. Source: ecomento.com
