Category: Maserati

Spyshots: Maserati Quattroporte
The car you see here is the facelifted Quattroporte that Maserati will likely unveil in 2010.
It’s hard to tell, but the Quattroporte is four years old and time has come for this limousine to get a revamp. The first spyshots reveal a more extensive facelift than expected.
Designers seem to have focused on the front fascia of which spyshots suggest it will sport the new corporate’s grille that appeared on the GranTurismo. In the meantime, there will also be new headlights to accommodate the new nose. The rear end will be revamped and will feature a new bumper and LED rear lights.
At this early stage, secrecy surrounds the specifications although some observers believe that the revamped Quattrporte will be powered by the more powerful yet economical 4.7-litre petrol unit unveiled in the GranTurismo S.
The facelift is programmed to arrive on time when Aston Martin and Porsche will reveal their new sport-luxury saloons before the Italian marque unveils the next-generation in 2012.
Click here to see the spyshots
Source: Autocar, MotorAuthority
May 20, 2008
Maserati to unveil the GranTurismo S at Geneva
Maserati will unveil a sporty version of its magnificent GranTurismo coupé at the Geneva Motor Show. On the menu: 440bhp, 4.9 seconds, 35 meters and a S moniker.
The new version will be powered by the same engine featured in the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, itself derived the from the current 4.2-litre V8 seen in the GranTurismo. With a displacement of 4.7-litre, the V8 will have a power output of 440bhp up from 405bhp. It will be hooked up to a dual-clutch gearbox which replaces the six-speed automatic gearbox featured in the GranTurismo. The braking system will also be upgraded.
All those improvements will enable the GranTurismo S to shuttle form 0-60nmph in 4.9 seconds and the improved brakes will take 35 meters to stop the car from that speed. The car is displayed in a black color and the interior will likely be slightly changed to become sportier. You can try to imagine the interior with the company’s car configurator.
Source: AutoExpress
February 26, 2008
Maserati might build a 911 competitor

According to insiders, Maserati executives are seriously considering to develop a small coupé set to compete with the Porsche 911.
This doesn’t come as a surprise as the company planned to expand its lineup. Some observers suggested that Maserati would join the SUV fight but his CEO Roberto Ronchi ruled it out in an interview with Reuters because the segment growth is suffering from record-high gas prices and is over crowded. “An SUV model has been ruled out because the segment is declining and is already too crowded,” said Roberto Ronchi.
Instead of a SUV, Maserati plans to make a sports car. Maserati CEO said that “We [Maserati] want to target Porsche with a sports car priced around €80,000 to €90,000,”. A decision will be taken in the first quarter of this year. If given the green light, the small Maserati would be launched 18 to 36 months later. At this early stage, details remain scarce but some observers believe that the small coupé would feature a detuned Maserati 4.2-litre V8 engine limited to 350bhp.
February 1, 2008
Alfa Romeo set to return to the U.S. next year

At the Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance, Maserati North America CEO Jim Selwa announced that Alfa Romeo will return to the U.S. next year selling the exclusive 8C Competizione.
With a price of £108,000/€159,300/$220,000, Alfa Romeo plans to sell 100 cars in the first year via the Maserati dealer network. The car will allow the Italian carmaker to test its popularity among the American consumers. Later it will sell the 159 and the future 167.
The 8c Competizione features the Ferrari/Maserati-derived 4.7-litre V8, which has an output of 443bhp/450hp.
August 6, 2007
First profit for Maserati in 17 years

For the first time in 17 years, Maserati will make a profit for the second quarter of 2007. The amount is small, at £670,000/€1,000,000/$1,383,000, but it is still far better than the £17,500,000/€26,000,000/$36,000,000 loss recorded last year.
The new changes made this year appear to please customers. Thanks to its new automatic gearbox, the sales of the Quattroporte jumped by 39.6% in Europe. The new Gran Turismo coupé has also been well-received by journalists and customers alike. Maserati expects to sell 7,600 this year compared to 5,600 last year.
Source: Automotive News
July 25, 2007
Novitec Maserati Quattroporte

The tuning firm Novitec has turned its attention to the Maserati Quattroporte. Unlike some German counterparts that succeed in making their tuned cars uglier than the original model, Novitec shows some respect to the Italian design.

On probably the most beautiful saloon in the world, the German tuner made minor changes: the body remains unchanged except for the new 20-inch wheels, fitted with 245/35 and 285/30 Pirelli P-Zeros front and rear respectively. The Quattroporte is lowered by an improved suspension.
Under the hood, the changes to the 4.2-litre V8 have been limited to a revised ECU, increasing the power by 13 hp to reach 413hp/407bhp and the torque by 17 Nm/12 lb/ft to reach 468 Nm/345 lb/ft.
July 4, 2007
Maserati RIP
I’m still shocked. The next Maseratis will share their platform with the Alfa Romeos because it’s time for Fiat to make bigger profit with this brand. If the perfectly good Coupe and the charming Quattroporte can’t save this company, then rebadged Alfas certainly won’t. Maseratis will be cheaper? Then they’re not Maseratis. Maseratis should use transverse engines and four-wheel drive, because it provides the best technical solution? Sounds familiar. Ford did the same with Jaguar and we know what happened.
The new Premium platform is great news for Alfa, especially as it gives bigger engined models the option of four wheel-drive. However Maserati has a tradition of building GTs and moving the Italian Aston Martin down is about one of the worst ideas I have ever heard.
The truth is the Premium platform has been forced on Maserati by another company, which had, in turn, been forced to use it. Engineers of both companies want front longitudinal engines and rear-wheel drive, and so we want them. Why is this so difficult for management to grasp?
Fiat, if you continue to reduce your luxury names to brands and badges then you surely will reap your just rewards: zero sales. At least let Maserati die with dignity. Close the plant, save some money and put some decent investment into Lancia, which has nowhere to go but up.
July 19, 2005
Maserati’s sales boosted by the Quattroporte
While Peugeot celebrates the 5 millionth 206, Fiat the 6 millionth Punto, Maserati announce they have built 20,000 cars since 1997, the year Fiat attached Maserati to Ferrari. The 20,000^th Maserati is a grey Quattroporte built for the Italian carmaker’s main market, the USA.
Maserati obtained excellent worldwide sales results in 2004, up by 60% from 2003, with 4,600 cars sold. With 2,800 copies made in 2004, the Quattroporte is the key-element to this achievement, Maserati hoping to increase this figure by 80% this year.
Indeed 2005 is following the right trend, which should allow Maserati to be profitable again.
CEO Karl-Heinz Kalfbell emphasizes the possibility for the customer to customize his car as much as he wants is part of the brand’s success, in addition to the qualitative and technical improvements lead by Ferrari.
Maserati built less than 700 cars in 1998, and now it’s united with Alfa Romeo, its expansion should continue.
June 10, 2005