Some new rumors are floating around the mill regarding Maserati’s next efforts to expand its lineup and replace the wonderful, but aging Quattroporte. Word says that an all-new Quattroporte will possibly debut at next year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Reports have stated the new Quattroporte will be six inches wider and two inches longer than the current version. But despite the increase in size, the new Quattroporte is also said to get a 220lb diet.

Within that same rumor, there was a hint that Maserati could also introduce a smaller version of the Quattroporte for 2013. Though despite the sparse details, the “baby Quattroporte” will be roughly the same size as the current BMW 5-Series (which is still huge) and will be powered by either the choice of a turbocharged V6 gas or diesel engine.

In terms of Maserati’s other cars, reports also say that the Kubang SUV concept could see a production version as early as 2014 and will be based on the current Jeep Grand Cherokee. As for the also aging GranTurismo and GranCabrio, replacements are projected for 2015.

- By: Chris Chin

Source: WorldCarFans

Based on the same platform as the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, which was sourced from Mercedes-Benz, the Kubang is Maserati’s first ever venture into the SUV market.

Judging by its size and where Maserati plans to take the Kubang, it’s safe to assume that this is their answer to SUVs like the Range Rover Supercharged, Porsche Cayenne, BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz ML just to name a few.

Details regarding performance, kit and launch dates have yet to be announced. But from the press release, all we can say is that the Kubang will come with an 8-speed automatic.

All Photos Copyright © Omar Rana - egmCarTech.

- By: Chris Chin

So far, Maserati still hasn’t confirm when and if the Kubang will enter production but it is almost inevitable as the brand is looking to diversify its product range, increase sales and its presence in the sport luxury market.

Maserati has said that the Kubang sits on the Jeep Grand Cherokee platform and has an engine lineup designed in Modena by Paolo Martinelli – Head of the Maserati Powertrain Department and for nearly 30 years at Ferrari.

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has previously said that the production version of the Kubang will be built in the United States. It was recently reported that the production model will be called ‘Cinqueporte.’

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Free Press

Back in 2008, Ferrari teamed up with the Fiat brand to offer its 500 subcompact courtesy car for its customers. Two other Fiat brands have now teamed tup two offer similar service – Maserati and Alfa Romeo.

Maserati has chosen Alfa Romeo’s Giulietta as a courtesy car for its clients in Europe.

Known as the Giulietta for Maserati, the model carries special touches on the outside including 18-inch alloy wheels with large red brake calipers. Inside, the Giulietta for Maserati features ‘Maserati Brown’ Venere leather, brushed aluminum inserts along with a plaque that reads ‘Alfa Romeo for Maserati.’

The Giulietta for Maserati is based on the range-topping Quadrifoglio Verde line, which is powered by a 1.8 liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine making 235-hp.

- By: Omar Rana

Outside, the Limited Edition is coated in Sebring Blue paint in a matte finish, and includes carbon fiber accents, a set of 20-inch alloy wheels, and polished aluminum brake calipers. The interior gets a set of sport seats covered in Alcantara, special Anniversary badges on the center console, and more carbon fiber trim.

Power comes from the same 4.7-liter V8 that produces 444-hp and 376lb-ft of torque found in the standard GranTurismo S, which enables it to go from 0-62 mph time of 4.9 seconds, and a top speed of 183 mph.

- By: Alexandra Koken

At a time when the defense ministry in Italy is supposed to be reducing its budget by €2.5bn ($3.4 billion USD) over the next three years, 19 top-of-the-line Maserati Quattroporte sedans are headed into the hands of Italian officials.

Eyebrows were raised by opposition MPs that said it was it was an outrageous indulgence at a time when the defense ministry should be cutting back.

An MP from the opposition Democratic Party, Emanuele Fiano, raised the issue in parliament saying: ”At a time when millions of Italians are being affected by a very serious economic crisis, is there good reason for the defence minister to feel it necessary to add 19 armoured Maseratis to the ministry’s car park?” he said.

The defense minister Ignazio La Russa, said that the statement was a “witch hunt” by the opposition and said the Quattroporte sedans had been paid for with money out of the 2008-2009 budget.

“What’s the problem? Maseratis are Italian and they cost less than their German equivalents,” he said. He’s got a point. However, he did forget to mention that each Quattroporte by Maserati starts at around $110,000.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Telegraph

“Ferrari doesn’t play with Bentley and with Porsche, it plays in its own box,” Marchionne said in an interview.

Prior to the conceptualization of Maserati’s first ever SUV, Marchionne had considered branding their at-the-time “new luxury SUV” idea as a Ferrari. However, he didn’t feel that was suitable for Ferrari’s image. And to add, Marchionne clearly pointed out that Ferrari has no plans to launch a four-door rival to the Aston Marton Rapide as the Maserati Quattroporte is more of a suitable competitor.

“We have invested as heavily as we have in Maserati because this brand has all the elements of the proper DNA to play in that fight,” he said.

Unlike the rest of the Fiat brand, Ferrari’s growth will still be limited to an annual sales figure of just 10,000 in the mid-term, up from 7,000 last year, he continued. He also said that increasing the annual sales of Ferrari would be “dangerous” to the integrity of the brand.

“It’s absolutely crucial,” he pointed out. “The uniqueness of that brand cannot be minimized and so we are very, very careful.”

After Marchionne’s plans for Maserati set in, he hopes the brand will increase their annual sales tenfold to about 55,000-60,000 units, up from just 5,675 from last year. And to help with this goal would be Maserati’s two new four-door sedans: a replacement to the aging Quattroporte and a smaller, baby version.

“The two sedans are being industrialized and they are great, trust me,” Marchionne concluded.

- By: Chris Chin

Source: Automotive News

The report states that Maserati has filed a patent application in Europe for the ‘Cinqueporte’ name which leads us to believe that’s probably the name it will use for its five-door SUV.

Whatever they want to call it – it’s much better than Kubang.

Click here for our original article on the Maserati Kubang.

While the SUV will be based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee platform, most of the design and development work will be taken care of by Maserati. The final design will be put together by a team led by Lorenzo Ramaciotti. Engine choices will be put together in Modena by Paolo Martinelli – Head of the Maserati Powertrain Department who has worked for nearly 30 years at Ferrari. The engine will be mated to an 8 speed automatic transmission that will be developed in Modena as well.

We’re waiting patiently.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Unica Strada (via CarsUK)

Power mods include a new supercharger, custom injectors, an upgraded ECU, and water-to-air intercooler. In addition, the GranTurismo MC Stradle is lowered, fitted with a sport exhaust system and gets a fresh set of alloys, sized at 21-inches in the front, and 22-inches in the rear.

The new supercharger conversion gives the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale a total of 646-hp at 7,500 rpm (an increase of almost 200-hp) with a maximum torque of 460 lb-ft at 5,600 rpm. The engine offers an extremely wide usable rev range from idle speed to the rev limiter.

Click here for more news on the Maserati GranTurismo.

0 to 62 mph comes in just 3.9 seconds, 0 to 124 mph in 11.4 seconds and a top speed of 205 mph.

The power conversion is available for a nice 23,900 euros or ($32,096 USD).

By: Alexandra Koken

What’s more exciting then running into some very exclusive supercars on the road? Watching those supercars getting seized by police in Paris.

That’s exactly what happened to YouTube user alexsmolik who ran into a Maserati MC12, Aston Martin V8 V600 Le Mans (only 40 in existence), a Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe and a Porsche 911 Carrera GT. All cars were being seized by police – but for what reason?

Click here for more news on Supercars.

No word on why but the cars apparently belong to the son of the African president of Equatorial Guinea.

Make the jump for the video.

- By: Omar Rana

Maserati hasn’t confirmed when the Kubang will enter production – however, reports suggest it should be sometime late next year as a 2013 model year.

Maserati will be teaming up with Jeep to produce the Kubang.

Click here for our original article on the Maserati Kubang.

Follow the jump for the video.

- By: Omar Rana

“For some reason SUVs today never seem to offer the kind of uplifting driving pleasure and luxury atmosphere that are two givens of today’s high-end sports and luxury cars,” Maserati said in a statement. “And this is precisely what Maserati set out to do with its new sport luxury SUV concept that is being unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show today, the forerunner of the future Maserati range, creating at once discontinuity by entering a new segment, and continuity by maintaining the integrity of Maserati’s DNA.”

Maserati went onto say that it’s been thinking about doing an SUV since it showed the first iteration of the Kubang Concept at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show. Now, with a partner like Jeep, creating an SUV for Maserati is just more feasible.

The Maserati Kubang SUV will have the basis of three important factors from within Fiat/Chrysler:

• It will be based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee platform.
• Concept design and final design will be carried out by the Maserati Style Center headed by Lorenzo Ramaciotti.
• Engine choices will be designed Modena by Paolo Martinelli – Head of the Maserati Powertrain Department and for nearly 30 years at Ferrari, where he also served as engine chief of the Formula One racing team – and will be produced in Maranello by Ferrari.
• An AT 8 speed automatic transmission and specific performance settings such as suspensions, brakes, steering will be exclusively developed in Modena for the Maserati sport luxury SUV by the Maserati Product Development Department.

- By: Omar Rana

While browsing through Automotive News Europe’s 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show Pocket Guide, you’ll notice a pictures of the Maserati SUV Concept that will be making its public debut next week. Is this what the Jeep Grand Cherokee-based Maserati SUV Concept going to look like? We’re not sure – but if it does – is it something that you find attractive? Let us know in the comments section after the jump.

Sales of the production version of Maserati’s SUV is expected to start in 2013. Adding an SUV to Masearti’s lineup is a part of Fiat SpA CEO Sergio Marchionne’s goals to increase sales of the brand to more than 50,000 units on an annual basis. Maserati sold 5,675 units last year.

The Maserati SUV is most likely to be powered the company’s 4.7 liter V8 engine making 450-hp and is likely to be mated to an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission.

A diesel option could be offered for Europe.

The Maserati SUV will enter production alongside the Jeep Grand Cherokee at Chrysler’s Jefferson North plant in Detroit.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News Europe

At the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, Maserati will show up with a GranCabrio outfitted with some exclusivity from Fendy. Designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi, the Maserati GranCabrio Fendi shows how two brands from Italy share common values such as craftsmanship and tradition.

The Maserati GranCabrio Fendi features three-layered body color named Grigio Fiamma Fendi is a special dark gray with an iridescent golden finish on the surface. Inside, the special-edition model gets wood trim Pergamena Fendi across the dashboard, on the doors and on the top of the gear lever. The Maserati GranCabrio Fendi also gets leather from Fendi’s Selleria line and has been used to cover the instrument cluster, gear lever, and the floor mats.

Fendi has also left its mark with Fendi’s F-logo stitched on the seat. It also shows up on the center of the 20-inch Trident alloy wheels and along the rocker panel.

Of course, no bespoke package is complete with out luggage. Fendi added its Limited Edition Travel Set of luggage and accessories.

All that and a 4.7 liter V8 engine is quite a combination.

Maserati GranCabrio Fendi:

- By: Omar Rana

Fiat and Chrysler are hard at work and as a part of these efforts, Fiat-owned Maserati planned an expansion of their lineup. One these models is a new Maserati SUV, which has just received more plans for its first US-made SUV at Chrysler’s Jefferson North assembly plant in Detroit.

The Maserati SUV is currently slated to run on the current Jeep Grand Cherokee platform, which is essentially a reworked Mercedes-Benz W164 M-Class chassis. However, despite the SUV’s German and American roots, Maserati is adamant about making their version of the SUV significantly different than its counterparts.

“It should be a real Maserati and not just another SUV,” said Fletcher. “A Maserati SUV goes in the right direction. It just needs to sit within the rest of the range.”

Click here for more news on the Maserati SUV.

The concept is pegged to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Interestingly enough, Maserati and Chrysler have past history of teaming up before. In the 1980s, Maserati was a hopelessly struggling manufacturer and as a part of attempting to expand their lineup back in the day, Maserati took a Chrysler LeBaron convertible and rebadged it as a Maserati TC. And the result was a complete and utter failure. However, times are different now and once again, Maserati and Chrysler has teamed up. Neither of the companies appear to be struggling so either way, it would be interesting to see the results.

Note: The picture above is just an artist rendering.

- By: Chris Chin

Source: Automotive News

Maserati of North America has just issued a recall for 801 GranTurismos and Quattroportes in the US and Canada. The recall is for a defective part that could cause the entire rear suspension to fail, said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“The rear suspension left side and right side wheel alignment toe-in tie-rods may fail due to incorrect machining,” said the NHTSA in the report. “A failed tie-rod could lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.”

The report also said that the problem can be exacerbated by rough or uneven roads, especially potholes.

The cars affected were manufactured from July 3, 2008 to September 30, 2008. Maserati said that they will replace the affected tie-rods, install a new kit and perform a wheel alignment. The recall will begin in September and owners can contact Maserati at 1-201-816-2600.

- By: Chris Chin

Source: InsideLine

Chrysler Group LLC and Fiat SpA CEO Sergio Marchionne has a lot of ambition for the Maserati brand as he focuses on increasing sales of the brand from 5,675 last year to 50,00 units a year by the end of the decade.

How does he plan on doing that? First up, Maserati will start offering an SUV, a concept version of which will debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. The Maserati SUV will be build on the Jeep Grand Cherokee platform and will most likely be fitted with Chrysler Pentastar V6 as one of the engine options.

That won’t be the only Chrysler Group and Maserati mash-up. Maserati will reportedly borrow a bunch of systems and components from the Chrysler 300 and the Dodge Avenger to create two new sedans that will replace the company’s Quattroporte flagship sedan.

While the Maserati Quattroporte is known to be too big to be a driver’s car and too small to be a proper chauffeur’s car, the new sedans will solve those  issues.

At the end of next year, Maserati will add a sedan smaller than the Quattroporte. It will keep Maserati’s traditional layout of front longitudinal engine and rear-wheel-drive. The model will debut a revised 3.0 liter version of Chrysler’s 3.6 liter Pentastar V6. The engine will get Fiat’s MultiAir variable valve timing, twin turbochargers and direct injection – helping it pump out more than 400-hp. Prices will start somewhere around $79,000 and will go up to $101,000.

Following the baby-Quattroporte, Maserati will unveil a large and true replacement for the model in mid-2013. The larger sedan will be 2.5 inches longer than the current Quattroporte and 8.7 inches longer than the baby-Quattroporte.

Power will come from a revised version of Ferrari’s 4.7 liter V8 making around 475-hp. The engine will be mated to a ZF 8-speed transmission.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News

Maserati’s head turning Grand Turismo S now has a ‘Superior Black Edition’ crafted by tuner Anderson Germany. If you haven’t already gathered, the car is coated, inside and out, in black. But it’s defiantly not as plain looking as it sounds.

The car’s exterior is repainted in matte black, with tinted front and tail lights to match. Shining black accents include the front grille, rear logo and window frames. A set of 21 inch black gloss wheels replace the Maserati’s standards, and the car is dropped all the way around. Carbon fiber wraps exterior pieces including the mirrors, roof ledges, tailgate, and lateral air inlets.

Click here for more news on the Maserati GranTurismo.

Inside the Maserati Superior Black Edition there is, naturally, more black. Carbon fiber details extend to the interior on the door knobs, air inlets, door sill panels, roof liner, seat regulation levers, the steering wheel, radio mask, and even the shifting panels. A ton of media upgrades are included as well, such as the customer sound system, monitors in the headrests, a PS3, sub woofer and amp, and a loud speaker. Black Alcantara, carbon leather, and red stitching finish off the interior’s details.

Of course, no tuner would be complete without at least some kind of power enhancement. Upgrades to the exhaust system help put out an upgraded 485-hp on the car’s 4.7-liter V8.

Maserati GranTurismo S Superior Black Edition:

Press Release:

MASERATI GRAN TURISMO S SUPERIOR BLACK EDITION

To choose a Maserati GranTurismo, a coupé manufactured by the world famous Italian premium car workhop, as a base for possible gentle corrections of this near to perfection driving machine, it demands a lot of mastership and workmanship. But ANDERSON Germany, at home at Dusseldorf and other places in Germany, has rendered several spectacular examples of its efficient inventiveness.

Solely the complete car coating in silky matt black makes blood run cold for many apologists of automobile art made in Italy. Only the window frames, grill and the rear logo are made in shining black. Matching to the whole ensemble both front and tail lamps are tinted.

This cannot go without a tire-wheel-combination of special nature. ANDERSON has chosen proprietary glossy black exclusive rims with carbon framing in 21″ all around, completed by sized 265 tires in front and 295 rear. Not thinkable without adequate lowering. Besides, the exclusive sports engine bonnet, the exterior packet in Carbon – exterior mirrors, the tailgate and roof ledges, as well as the lateral left and right air inlets – merits to be mentioned. Corresponding to the high exclusive demands, the premium car manufacturer has given to the car more sportive front and rear aprons with matching to central exhaust system having remote controllable valve command in two sound levels. The result of this indispensable measure is, on the one side, 13 kg economy of weight and, on the other hand, a more of about 12 HP. The whole made by ANDERSON power increase by means of exhaust enhancement, racing cats and software optimization climbs from already fine 440 serial hp up to meanwhile 492 hp.

The interior also has been pushed up by carbon packet, containing the air inlets, door knobs, the switch desk in the roof liner, the door sill panels, the steering wheel, the seat regulation levers, the shifting paddles, as well as the radio mask. Apropos infotainment: of course, customized sound system with especially made monitor in the dash board, monitors in the headrests, PS3 player, loud speaker, subwoofer and amplifier ensure the appropriate sound. The other grafting works of the interior in black carbon leather combined with also black Alcantara, keder piping and red rhombus seams are based upon the exclusivity of the whole „Synthesis of the arts” and, thus, suitable without any limits!

By: Alexandra Koken