Maserati cars

Maserati recalls GranTurismo and Quattroporte for TPMS malfunction

As you probably have noticed we have had tons of recalls in the past few months. It started with 10-20 units recalled here and there and culminated with the monstrous 7.4 million units recalled announced by Toyota. And now Maserati is also joining the recalling list with a total of 485 2012 Quattroporte, Granturismo, GranCabrio, and Granturismo MC vehicles.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) may malfunction due to a software error, preventing the driver from being notified of a low tire pressure situation. And if the driver will continue using the vehicle with a tire that has low air pressure, the tire may fail, increasing the risk of a crash.

So, if you drive such a more you should contact your local dealer and you’ll have the TPMS control unit replaced free of charge. The campaign is expected to begin in early November 2012. You may contact Maserati at 1-201-816-2600 in order to find out more details about the recall.

Ferrari 360 and Maserati GranTurismo with Sexy Models

What’s better than one Italian thoroughbred? We know the answer to that one. Two!

But what’s better than two Italian thoroughbreds? A little tricky, but if you’re answer involves the names Heather Doss and Ashley Valderrama, then you get the jackpot!

So here’s where we’re at: it’s a photoshoot that has a Ferrari 360 and a Maserati GranTurismo. On top of that, we have a pair of too-hot-for-words models in the form of Heather Doss and Ashley Valderrama.

It doesn’t even matter where this shoot took place - apparently, it’s somewhere in the US - what’s important is that this intoxicating combination of Italian exotics and American sexiness is in full display with plenty of amazing photos, thanks to Itzkirb Photography.

Check out the gallery below and try to figure how Itzkirb Photography managed to fit all these pieces of hotness into a steamy batch of photos. Here’s a suggestion, though: don’t over think it and just enjoy the spread.

That’s what we did.

2012 Maserati GranCabrio Sovrano by DMC

In 2011, German tuner DMC unveiled a very cool Sovrano tuning package based on the Maserati GranTurismo. Now, they have applied that same treatment to the GranCabrio model, adding an extra 150 HP to the V8 engine and improving its aerodynamics.

The modifications start with a newly designed front bumper, a new spoiler lip that helps increase downforce on the front axle, and a new light-construction bonnet with additional air inlets and outlets. On the sides, the GranCabrio received some subtle side skirts with zig-zag end-panels, while the rear benefits from a new trunk spoiler, a new rear diffuser, and a number of carbon fiber add-on parts. For the interior, DMC combines leather with a checkered stitch with plenty of carbon fiber and a new set of aluminum pedals.

The biggest update DMC performed was the addition of a new supercharger that is driven using a cogged-tooth belt and increases the 4.7 liter V8 engine’s output up to an impressive 590 HP at 7,300rpm and 348 lb-ft of torque at 5,400rpm.

2012 Maserati GranTurismo Project Deathbolt II by SR Auto Group

Many of us are still under the influence of the beautiful GranCabrio MC that was displayed at the 2012 Paris Auto Show, so we decided to stay on that path and bring you another Maserati to admire. Meet the luscious GranTurismo tuned by our favorite American tuner: SR Auto Group.

This is actually an updated version of the Deathbolt package introduced to the market in September 2011, but the tuner strayed away from the original sleep package to provide the sports car with a more distinguished look. Painted in a bright white exterior finish, the sports car now sits on a new set of PUR 4OUR Depth wheels sized 21" at front and 22" at the rear. The wheels combine a very cool finish of modern black and davinci red. The last addition is a new KW Clubsport Coilover system that gives the car a lower and more powerful look.

All we can say is that this car looks amazing and we definitely want it in our garage!

2013 Maserati GranCabrio MC

Maserati unveiled the GranTurismo MC Stradale at the 2010 Paris Auto Show and two years later, the company is bringing the MC Stradale package back, but it’s the GranCabrio that will benefit from its features.

The GranCabrio MC is 48 millimeters longer than the standard GranCabrio and will adopt a highly sporty and aggressive look. Its front end was inspired by the coupe version of the MC Stradale, while the rear gets a large spoiler, with the third brake light built into the luggage compartment inside the spoiler.

The Maserati GranCabrio MC Stradale will also utilize the Coupe’s 4.7 liter V8 engine that delivers a total of 460 HP and a peak torque of 383 lbs-ft at 4,750 rpm. The engine is mated to an automatic six-speed ZF transmission and will sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and up to a top speed of 179 mph.

UPDATE 10/02/2012: Maserati has unveiled a cool trailer video for their latest GranCabrio MC. In this video, the new MC races through mountain roads, providing us with an opportunity to hear the aggressiveness of its 4.7L V8 engine. Enjoy!

Maserati announces new Quattroporte, Ghibli, and Levante

Maserati has kept itself busy during the 2012 Paris Motor Show: Not only did they unveil the new GranCabrio MC, but they also announced the names of three much-awaited future Maserati products. The new vehicles will join the company’s line-up in an attempt to hit a sales target of 50,000 units per year by 2015.

The first model to arrive on the market will be the new generation Quattroporte - a sports luxury sedan that will continue the 50-year success story that began in 1963. If rumors are to be trusted, we will see this model in March 2013 at the Geneva Motor Show.

Next, there will be the long rumored baby Quattroporte - a new high-end E segment four-door sedan. The new model will be called Ghibli – a name used on a Gran Turismo car produced between 1966–73 and then from 1992–97. It will arrive on the market a few months after the new generation Quattroporte.

Finally, the production version of the Kubang Concept will be called the Levante. The SUV takes its name from the Via Emilia Levante in Bologna, where the Maserati brothers, almost a century ago, dreamt of the company that today still bears their name. The Levante will be unveiled in 2014 - just in time to celebrate Maserati’s centennial.

Say Hello to the 2013 Maserati GranCabrio MC

As promised, the 2013 Maserati GranCabrio MC Stradale will be making its official debut next week at the Paris Auto Show, but unfortunately for Maserati, someone couldn’t manage to keep the car a secret. We have found the first images of the next GranCabrio MC leaked onto the internet in their beautiful drop-top glory.

As expected, the GranCabrio version looks identical to the GranTurismo MC Stradale version, except for its convertible roof. These leaked images didn’t have any specifications attached to them, but we expect the GranCabrio MC to feature the same technologies as its coupe counterpart. This means that it is powered by a 4.7 liter V8 engine that delivers a total of 450 HP. Performance numbers won’t be as impressive as the coupe since the convertible adds a bit more weight, but it shouldn’t stray too far from the coupe’s 0-60 mph sprint time of 4.6 seconds or its top speed of 186 mph. Its engine will also be mated to an electro-actuated six-speed manual gearbox that can shift gears in only 60 milliseconds (0.06 seconds) thanks to its computer control and optimized gear selection.

More details on the 2013 Maserati GranCabrio MC Stradale will be unveiled next week. Stay tuned!

Video: Lionel Messi scores out of the pitch, buys a Maserati Gran Turismo MC Stradale

When we brought you the football installment of Car and Athlete last month, we described how superstar Lionel Messi, despite being considered the best football player in the world, had a pretty modest car collection compared to his peers.

Well, Messi is certainly doing his part building up his garage when a video on YouTube showed the Argentinian taking delivery of a brand-spankin’ new Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale.

The Italian supercar, with its 450-horsepower, 4.7-liter V8 engine has the credentials fitting of a world-class athlete like Messi. And while he still doesn’t have the car collection that his rival, Cristiano Ronaldo has, his new Maserati definitely brings those automotive swag credentials up a notch.

His new toy surely looks pretty sweet when lined up with his other high-priced rides. But if Messi really wants to make a statement, he should have ordered a one-off Pagani Zonda.

Now THAT would put Ronaldo in his place.

Video: 2013 Maserati Quattroporte caught road testing in camouflage

The new Maserati Quattroporte has been making quite the rounds in public recently. Two months ago, we saw the Italian automaker’s flagship luxury sedan putting in some work at Ferrari’s Fiorano race circuit and now a new sighting of the Quattroporte at the Brenner motorway near the Italian border has been captured on video by the folks from Autoblog.it.

Prior reports have claimed that the Quattroporte will carry a turbocharged V8 engine under its hood. While we won’t know for sure until the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, there are also rumors flying around that one powertrain option will be a 4.7-liter V8 engine that can produce 475 horsepower and will be mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.

This video captured of the new Quattroporte doesn’t come close enough to warrant an audible sound of the engine, but the previous spy video seems to suggest that there could be some "turbo-ness" to the Quattrporte’s engine.

Stick around these pages and we’ll be sure to have more updates of Maserati’s new flagship, luxury sedan in the coming months leading up to its debut in Detroit next year. There’s something about this car that we feel has yet to be revealed and we’re no less excited than all of you to find out what it could be.

Spy Shots: Maserati Levante mule caught testing

A future baby Quattroporte has been churning the rumor-mill for awhile, but we can finally say that Maserati has started intensive testing of the future baby sedan. Rumored to be called "Levante," the smaller Quattroporte will be looking to trample the sales of the Mercedes E-Class, the Audi A6, and the BMW 5-Series when it comes out in late 2013.

What we have in these spy shots is a mule of the upcoming model, not the real deal and not just some random Quattroporte. The wheels don’t really fit into the wheel arches, especially at the front wheel - a clear sign for a shorter wheel base. We can also see that the brakes are smaller than the ones we have seen on all of the Quattroporte prototypes.

The upcoming Maserati Levante will be offered with both V6 and V8 engines, connected to a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox. We’re really hoping that the V6 engine will be a new unit developed in cooperation with Ferrari and not by Chrysler Pentastar.