Roberti Fedeli has a new job at BMW – but what is it?

BMW already makes some of the best road-going driver’s cars you can buy, but then, so does Ferrari. Could a marriage between the two create something even better?

Roberto Fedeli has been a part of Ferrari since 1988. In 2007, he took the reigns as the lead engineering for the company. Yes, that means he was in charge of the engineering for the LaFerrari hypercar. Clearly, Fedeli is a man who knows a thing or two about performance in the modern automotive landscape. He could certainly bring some of his expertise over and fit right in at any of BMW AG’s automotive divisions. Imagine, if you will, a BMW M3  or a Mini Cooper with some Italian DNA.

Pictured at the unveiling of LaFerrari at the Geneva show in March are Roberto Fedeli (second from right) with (from left) Ferrari design head Flavio Manzoni; Fiat Chairman John Elkann; Ferrari’s outgoing chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo; Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa; and Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne.
(Photo: Automotive News)

Or a Rolls Royce that has sporting characteristics, my personal favorite thought from this new marriage.

Unfortunately, BMW has not flapped their gums on what exactly Fedeli will be doing for them. The current PR line is that they “currently can’t say what his role will be.”

Fedeli put in his resignation on September 13th, but a Ferrari spokesperson stated that his departure was in no way linked to that of chairman Luca de Montezemolo. The spokesperson noted that Fedeli left the company first, in fact.

If you’re wondering who will replace him, Ferrari is on top of it. The new engineering lead for Ferrari is Michael Leiters, who was the chief technological officer. He joined Ferrari in January after leaving Porsche, and while there, he was program manager for the Cayenne SUV.

What do you think Fedeli will do at BMW?

http://www.autonews.com/article/20141008/COPY01/310089974/bmw-hires-ferraris-chief-engineer-sources-say

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