Posts Tagged ‘maserati quattroporte’

First Look: 2014 Maserati Ghibli

Critical new offering debuting in Shanghai.

by on Apr.09, 2013

Maserati will reveal the 2014 Ghibli in Shanghai.

With the last of the big global car shows approaching fast, we’re getting teasers covering a wide range of products set to debut at the 2013 Shanghai Motor Show – and one of the more important, certainly from a brand standpoint, is the promised debut of the 2014 Maserati Ghibli.

Basically a “Baby Quattroporte,” the Ghibli is promised to become the highest-volume model in the Italian maker’s line-up and is expected to be the car of choice for those who want four-door functionality without the performance and handling trade-offs of the bigger sedan.

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Laying it out in simple form, Maserati says, “The Ghibli will have a sportier character compared to the larger Quattroporte, launched at the beginning of this year. The Ghibli will be available with two turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engines, an eight-speed automatic transmission and both rear-wheel drive and the new “Q4″ all-wheel drive system.

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Maserati Betting on Larger, Faster Quattroporte

New line-up could bring Italian maker into luxury mainstream.

by on Jan.16, 2013

Maserati's new Quattroporte is longer, lower and faster than the outgoing model.

It’s one of those brand names seemingly everyone knows but few luxury buyers ever consider, a conundrum that Maserati has barely survived.  But with this week’s launch of a completely redesigned Quattroporte flagship at the North American International Auto Show – and more products to come – the Italian maker hopes to take a giant step closer to the automotive mainstream.

The outgoing Quattroporte – Italian for “four doors” – has always won raves for its svelte and seductive design. But it was something of a “tweener,” a vehicle not quite big enough to effectively compete with the products it was targeting, such as the BMW 7-Series.

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And despite the ambitious expectations of Maserati and its parent, Fiat SpA, the sedan came nowhere close to what was needed from a business case scenario.

“Three years ago, I though the lights were going to be turned out,” said Rob Allan, the maker’s U.S. product planner.

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First Look: 2013 Maserati GranTurismo Sport

More power, updated looks.

by on Feb.20, 2012

Maserati will unveil the GranTurismo Sport in Geneva.

It’s been a good couple of years for Maserati, the Modenese maker finally getting some traction as it prepares for a wave of new products that could finally position it as a serious global luxury contender.

Among the new models on the horizon are a replacement for the flagship Quattroportes, as well as downsized version of the four-door nicknamed the “Baby” Quattroporte.  There’ll also be the Italian maker’s first crossover-utility vehicle – built in the U.S. and based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee, albeit powered by a Ferrari drivetrain.

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But the roll-out gets a kick-off at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show with the introduction of an updated Maserati GranTurismo.  Dubbed the GranTurismo Sport, it will replace the Maserati GranTurismo S.

There are a number of attractive visual updates, starting with a new fascia and revised grille, which is now surrounded by larger air intakes. The headlamps go LED – as do the darkened taillamps.  The revised interior, meanwhile, features an updated sport steering wheel and seats.

The Sport package features a new front fascia, bigger intakes, revised lamps and lots more power.

But the big news is easier to feel than see, the GranTurismo Sport getting a beefed-up version of the old S-edition’s 4.7-liter V-8.  That translates into 460 horsepower, 26 more than before.

Maserati isn’t talking price or on-sale date, though we’d expect to see the new GranTurismo Sport reach U.S. showrooms soon after the Geneva Motor Show.

The GranTurismo, incidentally, is now in its fifth year. Though the design still looks surprisingly fresh, an all-new coupe is reportedly also in the works and likely will show up by around 2014.

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Maserati Ready to Reveal Jeep-Based Luxury SUV

Unveiling at Frankfurt - two other products may also debut.

by on Aug.05, 2011

Maserati aims to grow global sales nearly tenfold.

Maserati is expected to pull the wraps off its eagerly awaited SUV at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show, several well-placed sources have confirmed, while there are reports the Italian automaker might also reveal two new sedans, as well.

The three models are key pieces in the grand expansion that is planned for Fiat’s luxury subsidiary, which is looking to boost its global sales volume almost tenfold in the coming years.

The sport-utility vehicle, in particular, reveals the significant changes underway not only at Maserati but throughout the Fiat empire.  The new model will share its underpinnings with the latest-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, and will roll off the same assembly line along the Detroit riverfront.

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Under terms of the 2009 bailout of Chrysler, Fiat took a 20% stake in the U.S. maker – which it expects to steadily expand to a 70% share within the next couple years.  A recent shake-up effectively consolidated the management of the trans-Atlantic allies and Sergio Marchionne, who serves as CEO of the two companies, has ordered a consolidation of their product development programs, as well.

Already, a number of U.S.-made products have appeared wearing Lancia and Fiat badges in Europe, including the flagship Lancia Thema, a version of the Chrysler 300.

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