The recent news of development collaboration between Alfa Romeo and Maserati has sparked off a wealth of possibilities and rumours portraying an exciting future sports and luxury car line-up. 

With the conclusion of the ‘put’ option saga, Fiat-GM Powertrain  development is now coming to a close, opening up a new horizon of  possibilities without the previous transparent restriction of the technology being fixed to suit the GM range.

A powerful new future: the 405bhp Alfa Romeo Brera GTA

Providing a taste of the new level of top end Alfa Romeo cars, it is now confirmed that the Alfa Romeo Brera GTA will feature a drivetrain that is far more potent than anything currently offered in the range.

Extracting the most out of the Powertrain deal, Paolo Massai and his team have heavily re-worked the internals of the so-called ‘HF V6’, a 3,199 cc block, bolting on twin turbo’s for the extreme GTA experience. 

It appears that literally every component of the engine has been unbolted, and chucked in the skip. New liners have been fixed in position and fresh pistons fitted. Alfa Romeo style manifolds have been added, whilst the injection system and electronics have been designed to optimize engine performance characteristics. In the case of the GTA, the cylinder heads have been fitted with the new UNIAIR system, dispensing with the butterfly throttle valve.  

As a result, the Brera GTA Biturbo engine obtains Euro 5 emissions standards, with power output peaking at an impressive 405bhp @ 6000rpm. Most surprising, however, is the 680Nm of torque that is throttled out through all four wheels, an estimated 13% increase over the 600Nm that would be available with a conventional engine without UNIAIR.

With this stunning engine mated to a six-speed mechanical Selespeed type gearbox, this attractive 2+2 is expected to guide a new generation of joint projects developed by Alfa Romeo and Maserati.

JOINT VENTURES: luxury sedans

At this early stage, it is not clear whether entire bodywork sharing programmes between the two brands will exist, although the designers are clearly feeling upbeat about the closer development that is forecast. A scheme that is currently in the early stages of definition is Progetto 941, a replacement for the Alfa Romeo 166 expected to be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in 2007.

The styling work for this car is currently being finalised, expected to be completed in early spring. With a large wheelbase of 2955mm, the spacious sedan will exude particularly sport oriented characteristics, aimed as a contender to a potential Porsche four-door that is rumoured of being under development, whilst not cannibalising the beautiful Maserati Quattroporte. Progetto 941 is scheduled to hit the show rooms in October 2007.

For Progetto 941, Alfa Romeo and Maserati have jointly developed a transaxle, clearly with the economies of scale related to parts sharing in mind. The two makes are also expected to share a 4-litre V8 Alfa Romeo VM Diesel engine, derived from the modular 3-Litre VM VR630 V6 Diesel unit.
 

Fitted with Multiair, this impressive engine will serve as the Diesel option for both Progetto 941 and the Maserati GT Wagon. A Maserati V8 will also be available for Progetto 941.

JOINT VENTURES: FOUR WHEEL DRIVE

Another parts sharing scheme is in the form of the Alfa Romeo Torsen-C integral four-wheel drive traction system, now in its third evolution with an active rear differential. Maserati will without doubt be searching for a suitable four-wheel-drive system to impel the GT Wagon, with this design being an ideal contender.

Ferrari and Maserati are also rumoured to be developing a new V6 petrol engine, which will be assigned under the bonnet of the Maserati GT Coupé and Spider after 2008. This engine may also filter through to Alfa Romeo models after 2010, although the uncertainty linked with such distant forecasts casts a bank of haze over the certain outcome.

Senior management 'dream team' on the cards?

An Alfa Romeo-Maserati alliance could see a senior management 'dream team' fall naturally into place. Maserati's CEO, Martin Leach, a former boss of Ford Europe, is one of the most highly regarded figures in the automotive industry, and likewise Alfa CEO Karl-Heinz Kalbfell comes with a big reputation.

Both are real 'go getters', and while Leach's strengths are in product and engineering, Kalbfell compliments this with this vast BMW experience in marketing, brand and sales. Combining the two talents would create a potent and experienced force to be recognised.

Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione concept to get the green light?

While discussing any impending tie-up between Alfa Romeo and Maserati, mention must be made of the gorgeous Alfa 8c Competizione concept. This sports car, which has received widespread public and press acclaim, is based around the Maserati Coupe and Spyder's 4.2-litre V8 engine and rear transaxle. As such it is a prime example of the superb synergy between the two brands, available by combining Alfa Romeo heritage and design, with modern day Maserati engineering, and is the perfect example, in the metal, of how collaboration between the two companies could become a reality.

For the near future, the severing of the agreement with GM makes it ever more likely that the 8c Competizione will, after all, receive the green light for a limited series production.